104 DUTCH AND ENGLISH ON THE HUDSON

floor and walls with timber and placing over it a
roof of spars covered with bark or green sods.
Even with this rude housing he suggests planting
at once a garden with all sorts of pot-herbs and
maize, or Indian corn, which might serve as food
for man and beast alike. Naturally these pioneer
conditions of living lasted longer in the farming
region than at New Amsterdam, where as early as
1640 we see simple but comfortable little houses
clustered in the shelter of the fort, and gathered
close about the stone tavern, the West India Com-
pany's stores, and the Church of St. Nicholas.
The gallows and pillory, in full view, seemed to
serve notice that law and order had asserted them-
selves and that settlers might safely solidify their
houses and holdings.

In 1648 the building of wooden chimneys was
forbidden, and roofs of reed were replaced with
more solid and less inflammable material. The
constant threat of fire led to drastic regulations
for the cleaning of chimneys. It was ordered that
"if anyone prove negligent he shall, whenever the
Firewardens find the chimneys foul, forthwith
without any contradiction, pay them a fine of three
guilders for every flue found on examination to be
dirty, to be expended for fire ladders, hooks and