Red Larch is a Protestant village at the crossing of all the overland roads and paths, three days’ journey by land from New Amsterdam, toward the south of Manhattan island.
| Type | Place |
| Religion | Protestant |
| Spanish entry | Red Larch |
Description
Hills and mountains surround it; “in the distance a tower is sometimes seen” among stones and birds. The core sits on the crossroads: an inn, a tavern, “a sort of boarding house”, and a church that also serves as a school. Outward lie rooms, locals’ houses, farms and apple orchards. There are said to be “exactly 22 important locations”, shared between the core and the rural ring.
People wear wide-brimmed hats, buckles and leather boots. Ten at night does not count as late: at that hour Jürgen was seen returning with a butchered pig, and no one raised an eyebrow.
Economy
The three lodgings serve outsiders passing the crossing. In spring itinerant workers come for the apple harvest; this seasonal flow is the whole economy.
Government
Religious life is led by somewhat lax (medio tranca) Protestants who hold various services and offices. The church is the only authority: “There is no other authority. There is no mayor, there is no governor. But things are decided more or less together.”
Conflicting accounts
The name translates a French place-name, and accounts differ on its meaning:
- “being a reddened tree”, related to Baton Rouge, another offshoot of the same French name;
- “something like red fir”.
Open questions
- The original French name is not recorded.
- Of the 22 locations only four are named (inn, tavern, boarding house, church-school).
- Population, the number of spring workers, the buildings’ materials and size, who officiates, the money used and lodging prices are not recorded.
- How decisions are made “together” in practice (assembly, council, custom) is unknown.