14 DUTCH AND ENGLISH ON THE HUDSON
visit the ship. Here they showed the cunning and
the thieving propensities of which Hudson accused
them, for while some engaged the attention of the
crew on deck, one of their number ran his canoe
under the stern and contrived to climb by the aid
of the rudder-post into.the cabin.
To understand how this theft was carried out
it is necessary to remember the build of the seven-
teenth century Dutch sailing-vessels in which the
forecastle and poop rose high above the waist of
the ship. In the poop were situated the cabins of
the captain and the mate. Of Hudson's cabin we
have a detailed description. Its height was five
feet three inches. It was provided with lockers, a
berth, a table, and a bench with four divisions, a
most desirable addition when the vessel lurched
suddenly. Under the berth were a box of books
and a medicine-chest, besides such other equip-
ment as a globe, a compass, a silver sun-dial, a
cross staff, a brass tinder-box, pewter plates,
spoons, a mortar and pestle, and the half-hour
glass which marked the different watches on deck.
Doubtless the savage intruder would have been
glad to capture some of this rich booty; but it must
have been the mate's cabin into which he stumbled,
for he obtained only a pillow and a couple of shirts,