Shortly after his landing, Ridder inspected the country for several miles around the fort. In his opinion it was well suited for cattle-raising and farming; but the seed had spoiled on the journey, and little new ground could be planted or sown, before other supplies were received. The fort was in poor condition, the walls being ready “to fall down in three places”; but the skipper forbade him to make any extensive repairs, and he had no orders from Sweden to do so. He mended the cracks and improved the parapets, however, wherever necessary, reporting that “on the land side the wall ought to be lengthened and on the water edge it should be raised.” Moreover supplies of cannon, powder and bullets were wanted for the proper defence of the fort. As the stronghold was located too far from the Delaware to be of much service, he recommended that a new one be built near the river, “so that the crown’s fort would be the key to New Sweden.” Ridder also suggested that the national coat-of-arms of stone or wood be sent over and placed above the gates of the fort. Within the paling three new houses were built for the shelter of the people, and two old ones were moved to the east embankment. “Two horses and a colt which were in the colony fared well”, but three more mares for work and breeding were needed. Ridder further requested the company to ship over several cows and “two pair of strong oxen” on the next expedition, as there was plenty of pasture and more than enough work, oxen being most serviceable on the plantations. He complained bitterly that he had not a man, able to build a common peasant’s house or saw a board of lumber. The general condition of the colonists was such he said, that “it would be impossible to find more stupid people in all Sweden.” Carpenters and other workmen were therefore sorely wanted. Ridder’s complaints were overestimated, for we know that he built some houses, but they give a fair idea of the class of settlers that were in the colony before 1641. Ridder also proposed to make bricks, “for there was good clay to be had”, and to manufacture lumber, as there was an inexhaustible supply of trees and splendid water power. In addition he made a list of desirable and essential commodities, such as “glass windows”, steel, hemp, salt, brandy, a few barrels of tar, grain for seeds (as rye, barley, beans, peas, cabbage), turnips and parsnip seed and provisions for a year. The friendly intercourse with the Indians begun by Minuit were continued by Ridder. The latter distributed gifts among the chiefs, and assured them of his good will and kindly intentions, which was reciprocated by the savages in their usual way. The Indian trade was renewed in May, shortly after the arrival of the _Kalmar Nyckel_, causing great injury to the Dutch; and a big cargo of furs was bought from the natives, largely through the efforts of Huygen.