On the 21st, _before_ reaching the second stream which he noted later

as having crossed, he wrote that "half a mile" _west_ of Canajohare Creek

he came to a village of "nine houses of the name of _Osquage,_" which

gave name to the stream now known as the _Otsquage,_ which he also called

_Okquage_ and _Okwahohage,_ "Wolves"--a village of the Wolf tribe. On the

23d he forded the Otsquage, and after going "half a mile" (Dutch) _west_

of that stream, came "to a village named _Cawaoge._" It had fourteen

houses and stood "on a very high hill." On his return trip he wrote the

name _Nawaoga;_ on old maps it is _Canawadage,_ and has since 1635 been

known as the _Nowadage_ or Fort Plain Creek. _He did not cross this

stream,_ but after stopping at the village for a short time moved on "by

land," presumably inland either north or south, and "going another mile"

came to the "Fourth Castle," which he called _Tenotoge_ and _Tenotohage,_

and Father Jogues called _Te-ouonte-ogén,_ and also "the furthest castle."

It was no doubt the principal castle of the Wolf tribe, strongly palisaded

to defend the western approach to the seat of the nation, as was

_Onekagoncka_ to guard the east. It was, he wrote, composed of fifty-five

houses like the others. It stood in a valley evidently, probably on the

bank of the creek, as he wrote that the stream (Otsquaga) which he had

crossed in the morning "ran past" the castle; that he saw on the opposite

(east) "bank" of the stream "a good many houses filled with corn and

beans," and also extensive flat lands. Further than this topographical

description the location of the castle cannot be determined. [FN-10] Van

Curler's miles to the castle from _Onekagonka,_ as nearly as can be

counted from his Journal, were about six Dutch or about twenty-one

English, or as General Clark counted Dutch miles, about eighteen English.

As Van Curler traveled "on the ice" for the most considerable part of the

way from _Onekagoncka,_ and followed necessarily the bend in the river

and diverged at times from the shore line, exact computation of his miles

cannot be made. General Clark located the castle at Spraker's Basin,

thirteen miles by rail west of Aurie's Creek. Van Curler located it _on

the west side of Otsquage Creek._ On Simeon DeWitt's map of survey of

patents in 1790 (Doc. Hist. N. Y., i, 420), the direct line from the west

side of the mouth of Otsquage Creek to the west side of the mouth of

Aurie's Creek is fifteen and three-tenths miles; following the bend in

the Mohawk, as Van Curler did, it is seventeen and one-half miles.

Granting that the lithographic reproduction of the map may vary from the

original, it nevertheless shows conclusively that _Onekagoncka_ must have

been located at or near Aurie's Creek, The suggestion that it was located

on a hill on the east side of Schohare Creek is untenable, as is also the

suggestion that it was at Klein, eight miles east of Schohare Creek.

There may have been villages at a later date at the places suggested, but

never one of the ancient castles. Counted from the east or from the west

there is no location that meets Van Curler's miles, or Father Jogues'

"leagues," so certainly as does Aurie's Creek. (See Oghracke.)

In addition to the locations of the ancient castles, Van Curler's notes

supply interesting evidence of the strength of the Mohawks when the Dutch

first met them, which was then at its highest known point in number and

in the number of their settlements, namely: Two hundred and twenty-five

"long houses" in castles and villages, without including villages on the

lower Mohawk "where the ice drifted fast," which he passed without

particular note, and those in villages or settlements which he did not

see. Two hundred and twenty-five houses were capable of holding and no

doubt did hold a very large number of people, packed as they were packed.

Father Pierron reported, in 1669, after the French invasion of 1666, that

he visited every week "six large villages, covering seven and one-half

leagues distance," around Caughnawaga where he was stationed. In almost

constant wars with the French, and with the Hurons and other Indian

tribes as allies of the French, their number had dwindled to an estimate

of eighty warriors in 1735. The story of their greatness and of their

decay is of the deepest interest. No student of American history can

dispense with its perusal and be well-informed in the events of the

pioneer era.

* * * * *

[FN-1] Arent Van Curler, in 1635, in his "Journal of a Visit to the

Seneca Country," wrote: "I was shown a parcel of flint-stones with which

they make a fire when in the forest. These stones would do very well for

flint-lock guns."

Roger Williams wrote of the Narraganset Indians in 1643: "I have seen

a native go into the woods with his hatchet, carrying a basket of corn

with him, and stones to strike a fire." Father Le June wrote, in 1634:

"They strike together two metallic stones, just as we do with a piece

of flint and iron or steel. . . . That is how they light their fire."

The "Metallic stones" spoken of are presumed, by some writers, to have

been iron pyrites, as they may have been in some cases, but the national

emblem was the flint.

[FN-2] "_Sankhicani,_ the Mohawk's, from _Sankhican,_ a gun-lock."

(Heckewelder.) The name appears first on the Carte Figurative of 1614-16,

in application to the Indians of northern New Jersey (Delawares), who

were, by some writers, called "The Fire-workers." They seem to have

manufactured stone implements by the application of fire. Presumably

they were "Fire-strikers" as well as the Mohawks. Certainly they were

not Mohawks. Were the Mohawks the discoverers of the fire-striking

properties of the flint?

[FN-3] State Historian Hastings writes me: "The map of which you

inquire, appeared originally in a pamphlet published at Middleburgh,

Holland, at the Hague, 1666. It was first reproduced by the late Hon.

Henry C. Murphy in his translation of the 'Vertoogh van Nieu Nederland,'

etc. His reproduction gives _Canagere,_ as the name of the second

castle, and _Caneray_ as the name of the first, precisely as they appear

in order in our reproduction in our Third Report."

[FN-4] _Oneongoure_ is a form of the name in Colonial History. In the

standard translation of Jesuit Relations it is _Oneugiouré._ _Oneon_ is

a clerical error. The letters _u_ and _ou_ represent a sound produced

by the Indian in the throat without motion of the lips. Bruyas wrote it

8{_sic_ ȣ?}; it is now read _w-Onew._ Adding an _a,_ we have very nearly

M. Cuoq's _Ohnawah,_ "current," "swift river"; with suffix _gowa,_

"great," the reference being to the great rapids near which the castle

was located. The omission of the locative participle shows that it was

not "at" or "on" the great rapids.

[FN-5] "Their three castles destroyed and themselves dispersed." (Col.

Hist. N. Y., iv, 20, 22.) The castles referred to Caughnawaga, Canagora,

and Tiononteogen. A castle on the south side of the Mohawk, said to have

been about two miles inland, escaped. Presumably it was the village of

the Beaver family, but we have nothing further concerning it. The attack

was made on the night of Feb. 16, 1693. The warriors of the first two

castles were absent, and the few old men and the women made little

resistance. At the third, the warriors fought bravely but unsuccessfully.

The three castles were burned; that at Caughnawaga was given to the

flames on the morning of February 20, 1693.

[FN-6] Journal of Arent van Curler, of a visit to the Seneca country,

1634-5 O. S., translated by General James Grant Wilson, printed in "The

Independent," N. Y., Oct. 5, 1895. Republished by National Historical

Society.

[FN-7] General Wilson wrote me that the Journal was translated for him

by a Hollander, now (1905) dead, and that the manuscript had passed out

of his hands. The question of hours and miles is not important here. On

his return travel he gave the distance from the little hunters' cabin

(which in the meantime had been burned), as "A long walk," which will

not be disputed. It may be added that it is not justifiable to count

his two days' travel as one, and count the two as thirty-two English

miles from Fort Orange. The two days' travel are very distinct in the

Journal.

[FN-8] Doc. Hist. N. Y., iii, 1087.

[FN-9] Father Jogues noted in his narrative a "torrent" which passed

"At the foot of their village"--a brook or creek which was swollen by

rains into a torrent, and from which, on the later recedence of the

water, he recovered the remains of the body of his companion, Rene

Goupil, who had been murdered and his body thrown into it, probably with

the expectation that it would be carried down into the Mohawk, "At the

foot of their village," or at the foot of the hill on which the village

stood.

[FN-10] In the town of Minden, four miles south of Fort Plain, on a

tongue of land formed by the Otsquaga Creek and one of its tributaries,

are the remains of an ancient fortification, showing a curved line two

hundred and forty feet in length, inclosing an area of about seven

acres. The remains are, of course, claimed as belonging to the age of

the mound-builders, but with equal probability are the remains of the

ancient fort which Van Curler visited.

[Illustration: The Mohawk River]

* * * * *

Kahoos, Kahoes, Cohoes, Co'os, forms of the familiar name of the falls

of the Mohawk River at the junction of that stream with Hudson's River,

has had several interpretations based on the presumption that it is from

the Mohawk-Iroquoian dialect, but none that have been satisfactory to

students of that dialect, nor any that have not been purely conjectural.

One writer has read it: "From _Kaho,_ a boat or ship," commemorative of

Hudson's advent at Half-Moon Point in 1609. Beauchamp repeated from

Morgan: "A shipwrecked canoe," and, in another connection: "From _Kaho,_

a torrent." Another writer has read it: "Cahoes, 'the parting of the

waters,' the reference being to the separation of the stream into three

channels at its junction with the Hudson." The late Horatio Hale wrote

me: "Morgan gives, as the Iroquois form of the name, _Gä-hŏ-oose_ (in

which _ä_ represents the Italian _a_ as in father), with the signification

of 'ship-wrecked canoe.' This, I presume, is correct, though I cannot

analize the word to my satisfaction." The obvious reason for this

uncertainty is that the name is _not_ Mohawk-Iroquoian, but an early

Dutch orthography of the Algonquian generic _Koowa,_ "Pine"; _Koaaés,_

"Small pine," or "Small pine trees"; written with locative _it,_ "Place

of small pine trees"; now applied to a small island. On the Connecticut

River this generic is met in _Co'os_ and _Co'hos._ The "Upper Co-hos

Interval" on that stream (Sauthier's map) [FN-1] was a tract of low small

pine trees, between the hills and the river, corresponding with the

topography at the falls on the Hudson. The Dutch termination _-hoos,_

meaning in that language, "Water-spout," may have given rise to the

interpretation "The Great Falls," but if so the reading was simply

descriptive. The presumption that the name was Mohawk-Iroquoian was no

doubt from the general impression that the falls were primarily in a

Mohawk district, but the fact is precisely the reverse. The Hudson, on

both sides, was held by Algonquian-Mahicans when the Dutch located at

Albany, and for some years later, and the Dutch no doubt received the

name from them, as they did others. What few Mohawk names are met in this

district are of later introduction. It may be noted that there is no

element in the name in any dialect which refers to falls. [FN-2] When the

falls were first known they were regarded as the most wonderful in the

world, and even as late as 1680 they were so called by visitors. In early

days the stream poured a flood nine-hundred feet wide and eight feet deep

over a rocky declivity of seventy-eight feet, of which forty feet was

perpendicular, in addition to which are the rapids above and below. The

roar of the falling waters, and in the breaking up and precipitation of

ice, was very distinctly heard at Fort Orange, nine miles distant, and

the hills on which Albany now stands trembled under the impact. Primarily

the falls were much higher than they are now, the stream having cut its

way through one hundred feet of rock which rises on either side in

massive wall. Below the falls the water separates in four branches or

"Sprouts," the northerly and the southerly one reaching the Hudson five

miles apart, at Waterford and West Troy respectively.

* * * * *

[FN-1] "L. Intervale-Cowass or Kohas (Coas) meadows." (Pownal's Map.)

[FN-2] The name having been submitted to the Bureau of Ethnology for

interpretation, the late Prof. J. W. Powell, Chief, wrote me, as the

opinion of himself and his co-laborers: "The name is unquestionably

from the Algonquian _Koowa._"

Wathoiack, of record as the name of "The Great Rift above Kahoes Falls"

(Cal. Land Papers, 134, etc.) is also written _Wathojax, D'Wathoiack,_

and _DeWathojaaks,_ means, substantially, what it describes, a rift or

rapid. The cis-locative _De_ locates a place "On this side of the rapid,"

or the side toward the speaker. The flow of water is between walls of

rock over a rocky bed, and the rapids extend for a distance of

thirty-five or forty feet. (Ses Kahoes.)

Niskayune, now so written as the name of a town and of a village in

Schenectady County, is from _Kanistagionne,_ primarily located on the

north side of the Mohawk, _Canastagiowane_ (1667) being the oldest form

of record. The locative description reads: "Lying at a place called

_Neastegaione,_ . . . known by the name of _Kanistegaione._" West of

Schenectady the Mohawk is a succession of rapids. At or below Schenectady

it makes a bend to the northeast in the form of a crescent, around which

the water flows in a sluggish current. At the north point of the crescent

was, and probably is a place called by the Dutch the Aal-plaat

(Eel-place), marked on maps by a small stream from the north which still

bears the name, and which formed the eastern boundmark of the Schenectady

Patent. In Barber's collection it is stated that there was an Indian

village here called _Canastagaones,_ or "People of the Eel-place."

Naturally there would be fishing villages in the vicinity. The location

of the Aal-plaat is particularly identified in the Mohawk deed for five

small islands lying at Kanastagiowne, in 1667, and by the abstract of

title filed by one Evart van Ness in 1715. (Cal. Land Papers.) The name

is from _Keantsica,_ "Fish," of the larger kind, and _-gionni,

"Long"--tsi,_ "Very long"--constructively, "The Long-fish place," the

Aal-plaat, or Eel-place, of the Dutch. The suggestion by Pearson (Hist.

Schenectady) that the name "was properly that of the flat on the north

side of the river," is untenable from the name itself. The reading by

the late Dr. E. B. O'Callaghan: "From _Oneasti,_ 'Maize,' and _Couane,_

'Great'--'Great maize field'"--is also erroneous. The generic name for

the field or flat was _Shenondohawah,_ compressed by the Dutch to

_Skonowa._ In the vicinity of the Aal-plaat was the ancient crossing-place

of the path from Fort Orange to the Mohawk castles, in early days

regarded as the "Best" as it was the "Most traveled." The path continued

north from the crossing as well as west to the castles.

Schenectady, now so written, is claimed by some authorities to be an

Anglicism of a Mohawk-Iroquoian verbal primarily applied by them to Fort

Orange (Albany), with the interpretations, "The place we arrive at by

passing through the pine trees" (Bleecker); "Beyond the opening" (L. H.

Morgan); "Beyond (or on the other side) of the door" (O'Callaghan), and

by Horatio Hale: "The name means simply, 'beyond the pines.' from

_oneghta_ (or _skaneghet_), 'pine,' and _adi_ or _ati,_ a prepositional

suffix (if such an expression may be allowed), meaning 'beyond,' or 'on

the other side of.' The suffix is derived from _skati,_ side. It was

equally applicable to Albany or Schenectady, both being reached from the

Mohawk castles by passing through openings in the pine forest." Mr.

Hale's interpretation, from the standpoint of a Mohawk term, is

exhaustive and no doubt correct, and the correctness of the preceding

interpretations may be admitted from the combinations which may have

been employed to determine the object of which _askati_ was "one side,"

as in "_Skannátati,_ de un coste du village," or the end of, as in

"_Skannhahati,_ a l'autre bout de la cabane" (Bruyas). The word does not

appear to mean "beyond," but one side or one end of anything. Aside from

a critical rendering, it would seem to be evident that all the

interpretations are in error, not in the translation of the name as a

Mohawk word-sentence, but in the assumption that Schenectady was primarily

a Mohawk phrase, instead of a confusion of the Mohawk _Skannatati_ with

the original Dutch _Schaenhecstede,_ the primary application of which is

amply sustained by official record, while the Mohawk term is without

standing in that connection, or later except as a corrupt Mohawk-Dutch

[FN-1] substitution. The facts of primary application may be briefly

stated. The deed from the Mohawk owners of the Schenectady flats, in

1661, reads: "A certain parcel of land called in Dutch the Groote

Vlachte, lying behind Fort Orange, between the same and the Mohawk

country called in Indian _Skonowe._" _Skonowe_ is the equivalent of the

Dutch "great flat," and nothing more. Its Mohawk equivalent is written

on the section _Shenondohawah,_ which the Dutch reduced to _Skonowe._

(See Shannondhoi.) Van der Donck wrote on his map (1656), in pure Dutch,

_Schoon Vlaack Land,_ or "Fine flat land." It was not continued in

application to the Dutch settlement, the proprietors of which immediately

(1661) gave to it the Dutch name _Schaenechstede,_ "as the town came to

be called." (Munsell's Annals of Albany, ii, 49, 52; Brodhead's Hist.

N. Y., i, 691.) Under that name the tract was surveyed (1664), and it

has remained apparent in the synthesis of the many corrupt forms in which

it is of record. _Schaenechstede_ is a clear orthographic pronunciation

of the Dutch _Schoonehetstede,_ signifying, literally, "The beautiful

town." The syllable _het_ is properly _hek,_ "fence, rail, gate," etc.,

and in this connection indicates an enclosed or palisaded town. In 1680,

_Schaenschentendeel_ appears--a pronunciation of _Schoonehettendal,_

"Beautiful valley," or the equivalent of the German _Schooneseckthal,_

"Beautiful corner or turn of a valley." The German Labadists, Jasper

Bankers and Peter Sluyter, made no mistake in their recognition of the

name when they wrote _Schoon-echten-deel_ in their Journal in 1679-80,

describing the town as a square set off by palisades. [FN-2] Unfortunately

for the Dutch name it was conferred and came into use during the period

of the transition of the province from the Dutch to the English, with the

probability of its conversion to Mohawk-Dutch, as already noted. Certain

it is that the name is not met in any form until after its introduction

by the Dutch, and is not of record in any connection except at

Schenectady, the statement by Brodhead, on the authority of Schoolcraft,

that it was applied in one form, by the Mohawks, to a place some two

miles above Albany, as "the end of a portage path of the Mohawks coming

from the west," being without anterior or subsequent record, though

possibly traditional, and it may be added that it was never the name of

Albany, nor is there record that there ever was a Mohawk village "on the

site of the present city of Albany," nor anywhere near it. The Mohawks

did go there to trade and on business with the government and occupied

temporary encampments probably. The occupants primarily were Mahicans.

The evolution of the name from the original Dutch to its present form

may be readily traced in the channels through which it has passed. Even

though clouded by traditional and theoretical rendering, the truth of

history will ever rest in _Schoonehetstede_ (Schaenechstede) and in the

interpretation which it was designed to express by the intelligent men

who conferred it. It is not expected that the correction will be adopted,

now that the term has passed to the domain of a "proper name." With the

aroma of assumed Mohawk origin and the negative "beyond" clinging to it,

it will remain at least as a harmless fiction, although the honor due to

a Dutch ancestry would seem to warrant a different result. By ancient

measurements Schenectady is "about nine miles (English) above the falls

called Cahoes" (1792).

* * * * *

[FN-1] A considerable number of the early settlers had Indian wives.

(Dominie Megapolensis wrote: "The Dutch are continually running after

the Mohawk women.") The children, growing up with Indian relatives,

among the tribes and with men speaking so great a variety of tongues,

built up a patois of their own, the "Mohawk-Dutch," many words in it

defying the dictionaries of the schools. Many words are untranslatable

save by the context. (Hist. Schenectady Patent, 388.)

[FN-2] Memoirs Long Island Hist. Soc, i, 315.

Shannondhoi and Shenondohawah are record forms of the name of a section

of Saratoga County now embraced in Clifton Park, Half-Moon, etc. It is

a sandy plain running west from the clay bluffs on the Hudson to the foot

of the mountain, and extends across the Mohawk into Schenectady County.

The name is generic Iroquois, signifying "Great plain," and as such was

their name for Wyoming, Pa., where it is written _Schahandoanah_ (Col.

Hist. N. Y., vi, 48), and _Skehandowana_ (Reichel). Scanandanani,

Schenondehowe, Skenandoah, and Shanandoah, are among other forms met in

application. Skonowe is followed on Van der Donck's map of 1656, by the

Dutch legend _Schoon Vlaack Land,_ literally, "Fine, flat land," and for

all these years the name has been accepted as meaning, "Great meadow,"

or "Great plain." The late Horatio Hale wrote: "The name is readily

accounted for by the word _Kahenta_ (or _Kahenda_), meaning

'plain'--frequently abridged to _Kenta_ (or _Kenda_)--with the nominal

prefix _S_ and the augmentative suffix _owa_ (or _owana_)." "The great

flat or plain in Pennsylvania was called, in the Minsi dialect,

'_M'chewomink_, at (or on) the great plain.' From this word we have the

modern name Wyoming. The Iroquois word for this flat was _Skahentowane,_

'Great meadow (or plain),' a term which was applied also to extensive

meadows in other localities and became corrupted to Shenandoah."

(Gerard.)

Quaquarionu, of record, Calendar Land Papers, p. 6: "Bounds of a tract

of land above Schenectady purchased of the Mohawk Indians, extending from

Schenectady three miles westward, along both sides of the river, ending

at Quaquarionu, _where the last Mohawk castle stands._" The deed of same

date (1672) reads: "The lands lying near the town of Schenhectady within

three Dutch miles in compass on both sides of the river westward, which

ends at Kinaquariones, where the last battle was between the Mohawks and

the North Indians." (Col. Hist. N. Y., xiii, 465.) _Canaquarioeny_ is the

orthography in another deed. In Pearson's History of Schenectady: "Lands

lying near the town of Schonnhectade within three Dutch miles [about

twelve English miles] on both sides of the river westward, which ends at

Hinquariones [Towareoune], where the last battle was between the Mohoax

and North Indians." The last battle in that section of country explains

the text. Father Pierron, in 1669, located the battle "In a place that

was precipitous, . . . about eight leagues [French] east of Gandauague"

(Caughnawaga), or about sixteen miles English, and modern authorities

have added, "A steep rocky hill on the north side of the Mohawk, just

west of Hoffman's Ferry, now called Towareoune Hill, east of Chucktanunda

Creek, a stream which is supposed to have taken its name from the

overhanging rocks of the hill." [FN] Dr. Beauchamp, on the authority of

Albert Cusick, an educated Tuscarorian, translated: "_Kinaquarioune,_

'She arrow-maker,' the name of a person who resided there." Rev. Isaac

Bearfoot, an educated Onondagian, especially instructed in the Mohawk

dialect, and an educator on the Canada Reservation, supplied to W. Max

Reid of Amsterdam, N. Y., the reading: "_Ki-na-qua-ri-one_, 'He killed

the Bear,' or, the place where the Bears die, or any place of death. It

seems to have been used to denote the place of the last great battle with

the Mahicans." The battle referred to occurred on the 18th of August,

1669. An account of it is given in Jesuit Relations, iii, 137, by Father

Pierron, the Jesuit missionary, who was then stationed at Caughnawaga.

The war which was then raging was continued until 1673, when the Governor

of New York succeeded in negotiating peace and by treaty "linked

together" the opposing nations as allies of the English government, a

relation which they subsequently sustained until the war of the

Revolution, when the Mahicans united with the revolutionists.

* * * * *

[FN] In a deed of 1685 is the entry: "Opposite a place called

Jucktumunda, that is ye stone houses, being a hollow rock on ye river

bank where ye Indians generally lie under when they travel."

Onekee-dsi-enos is of record in a deed of land purchased by one Abraham

Cuyler of Albany, in 1714, "from the native owners of the land at

Schohare, on the west side of Schohare creek, beginning on the north by

a stone mountain called by the Indians Onekeedsienos." (Cal. N. Y. Land

Papers, 110.) The name is probably an equivalent of Bruyas'

_Onueja-tsi-entos,_ a composition from _Onne'ja,_ "Stone"; _tsi_ or

_dsi,_ augmentative, "Very hard," such as stones used for making

hatchets, axes, etc., and _entos,_ plural inflection--"very hard stones,"

or "where there are hard stones." The location has been claimed for Flint

Hill at Klein, Montgomery County, which, it is said, the name correctly

describes. Positive identification, however, can only be made from the

lines of the survey of Cuyler's purchase. It has also been claimed that

the Mohawk castle called _Onekagoncka_ by Van Curler in 1635, and the

_Osseruenon_ of 1642, was located at Klein, about eight miles east of

Schohare Creek. This claim is based on what is certainly an erroneous

computation of Van Curler's miles' travel, but particularly on the

location on Van der Donck's map of _Carenay_ directly north of a small

lake now in the town of Duane, Schenectady County. Van der Donck's map

locations are merely approximative, however, and of no other value than

as showing that the places existed. On an ancient map reprinted by the

War Department at Washington, the lake and the castle are both located

east of Schenectady. The old maps are from traders' descriptions in

general terms.

Onuntadass, _Onuntasasha,_ etc., "six miles west from Schoharie between

the mountains of Schoharie and the hill called by the Indians Onuntadass"

(Cal. N. Y. Land Papers), describes a hill or mountain--_Ononté_--with

adjective termination _es_ or _ese,_ meaning "long" or "high."

_Jonondese,_ "It is a high hill." The hill has not been located. The name

could be applied to any long or high hill.

Schoharie, now so written as the name of a creek and of a county and

town, would properly be written without the _i_. The stream came into

notice particularly after 1693-4, when the Tortoise tribe retreated from

Caughnawaga and located their principal town on the west side of the

stream a short distance south of its junction with the Mohawk, taking

with them their ancient title of "The First Mohawk Castle," and where its

location became known by the name of _Ti-onondar-aga_ and

_Ti-ononta-ogen;_ but later from the location on the creek about sixteen

miles above its mouth of what was known in modern times as "The Third

Mohawk Castle," more frequently called "The Schohare Castle," a mixed

aggregation of Mohawks and Tuscaroras who had been converted by the

Jesuit missionaries and persuaded to remove to Canada, but subsequently

induced to return. "A few emigrants at Schohare," wrote Sir William

Johnson in 1763. In the same district was also gathered a settlement of

Mahicans and other Algonquian emigrants. From the elements which were

gathered in both settlements came what were, long known as the Schohare

Indians. The early record name of the creek, _To-was-sho'hare,_ was

rendered for me by Mr. J. B. N. Hewitt, of the Bureau of Ethnology,

_T-yo^c-skoⁿ-hà-re,_ "An obstruction by drift wood." [FN] In Colonial

History, "_Skohere_, the Bear," means that the chief so called was of the

Bear tribe. He was otherwise known by the title, "He is the great

wood-drift."

* * * * *

[FN] "Schoharie, according to Brant, is an Indian word signifying drift

or flood-wood, the creek of that name running at the foot of a steep

precipice for many miles, from which it collected great quantities of

wood." (Spofford's Gazetteer.)

Ti-onondar-aga and Tiononta-ogen are forms of the name by which the

"First Mohawk Castle" was located after the Tortoise tribe was driven by

the French from Caughnawaga in 1693. The castle was located on the _west_

side and near the mouth of Schohare Creek, as shown by a rough map in

Doc. Hist. N. Y., iii, 902, and also by a French Itinerary in 1757, in

the same work, Vol. i, 526. [FN-1] For the protection of the settlement,

the government erected, in 1710, what was known as Fort Hunter, by which

name the place is still known. The settlement was ruled over for a number

of years by "Little Abraham," brother of the Great King Hendrick of the

"Upper Mohawk Castle," at Canajohare. Its occupants were especially

classed as "Praying Maquas," and had a chapel and a bell and a priest of

the Church of England. In the war of the Revolution they professed to be

neutral but came to be regarded by the settlers as being composed of

spies and informers. So it came about that General Clinton sent out, in

1779, a detachment, captured all the inmates, and seized their stock and

property. [FN-2] There were only four houses--very good frame

buildings--then standing, and on the solicitation of settlers, who had

been made houseless in the Brant and Johnson raids, they were given to

them. It was the last Mohawk castle to disappear from the valley proper.

_Ti-onondar-ága_ and _Te-ononte-ógen_ are related terms but are not

precisely of the same meaning. The first has the locative particle _ke,_

or _acu_, as Zeisberger wrote it, and the second, _ógen,_ means "A space

between," or "between two mountains," an intervale, or valley, a very

proper name for Schohare Valley. It is a generic composition and was also

employed in connection with the "Upper (Third) Mohawk Castle" (1635-'66).

* * * * *

[FN-1] The settlement included "Some thirty cabins of Mohawk Indians"

in 1757. as stated in the French Itinerary referred to, Rev. Gideon

Hawley described it, in 1753, as on the southwest side of the creek "Not

far from the place where it discharges its waters into Mohawk River."

The place is still known as "Fort Hunter," although the fort and the

Indian settlement disappeared years ago.

[FN-2] A detachment of one hundred men, sent out for that purpose,

surprised the castle on the 29th of October, 1779, making prisoners of

"Every Indian inmate." The houseless settlers took possession of the four

houses and of all the stock, grain and furniture of the tribe. The tribe

made claim for restitution on the ground of neutrality, which the

settlers denied. They had come to hate the very name of Mohawk.

Kadarode, of record in 1693 as the name of a tract of land "Lying upon

Trinderogues (Schohare) creek, on both sides, made over to John Petersen

Mabie by _Roode,_ the Indian, in his life time, [FN] principal sachem,

by and with the consent of the rest of the Praying Indian Castle in the

Mohawk country" (Land Papers, 61), is further referred to in grant of

permission to Mabie, in 1715, to purchase additional land "known as

Kadarode," on the _east_ side of the creek, and also lands "adjoining"

his lands on the _west_ side of the stream. (Ib. 118.) By the DeWitt map

of survey of 1790, Mabie's entire purchase extended east from the mouth

of Aurie's Creek to a point on the east side of Schohare Creek, a distance

of about four miles, the territory covering the presumed site of the

early Mohawk castle called by different writers from names which they had

heard spoken, Onekagoncka, Caneray, Osseruenon, and Oneugioure, now the

site of the Shrine, "Our Lady of Martyrs." The Mohawk River, west of the

long rapids, above and including the mouth of Schohare Creek, flows "in

a broad, dark stream, with no apparent current," giving it the appearance

of a lake--"a long stretch of still water in a river." The section was

much favored by the Tortoise tribe, whose castle in 1635 and again in

1693-4 was seated upon it. The record name, _Kadarode,_ has obviously

lost some letters. Its locative suggests its derivation from _Kanitare,_

"Lake," and _-okte_, "End, side, edge," etc. Van Curler wrote here, in

1635, _Canowarode,_ the name of a village which he passed while walking

on the ice which had frozen over the Mohawk; it was evidently on the side

of the stream. _Carenay_ or _Kaneray,_ Van der Donck's name of the

castle, may easily have been from _Kanitare._ The letters _d_ and _t_ are

equivalent sounds in the Mohawk tongue. The aspirate _k_ was frequently

dropped by European scribes; it does not represent a radical element. The

several record names which are met here is a point of interest to

students.

* * * * *

[FN] _Roode_ was living in 1683. An additional name was given to him in

a Schenectady patent of that year, indicating that the name by which he

was generally known was from his place of residence. He could easily

have been a sachem in 1635.

Oghrackee, Orachkee, Oghrackie, orthographies of the record name of what

is now known as Aurie's Creek, appear in connection with land patented

to John Scott, 1722. In the survey of the patent by Cadwallader Colden,

in the same year, the description reads: "On the south side of Mohawk's

river, about two miles above Fort Hunter, . . . beginning at a certain

brook called by the Indians Oghrackie, otherwise known as Arie's creek,

where it falls into Maquas river." (N. Y. Land Papers, 164.) In other

words the name was that of a place at the mouth of the brook. Near the

brook at Auriesville, which takes its name from that of the stream, has

been located the Shrine, "Our Lady of Martyrs," marking the presumed site

of the Mohawk castle called by Father Jogues _Osserueñon,_ in which he

suffered martyrdom in 1646. [FN] The Indian name, _Oghrackie,_ has no

meaning as it stands; some part of it was probably lost by mishearing.

The digraph _gh_ is not a radical element in Mohawk speech; it is

frequently dropped, as in _Orachkee,_ one of the forms of the name here.

Omitting it from Colden's _Oghrackie,_ and inserting the particle _se_ or

_sa,_ yields _Osarake,_ "At the beaver dam," from _Osara,_ "Beaver dam,"

and locative participle _ke,_ "At." (Hale.) This interpretation is

confirmed, substantially, by the Bureau of Ethnology in an interpretation

of _Osseruenon_ which Father Jogues gave as that of the castle. W. H.

Holmes, Chief of the Bureau, wrote me, under date of March 8, 1906, as

has been above stated, "The term _Osserueñon_ (or _Osserneñon, Asserua,

Osserion, Osserrinon_) appears to be from the Mohawk dialect of the

Iroquoian stock of languages. It signifies, if its English dress gives

any approximation to the sound of the original expression, 'At the beaver

dam.'" This expert testimony has its value in the force which it gives

to the conclusion that the castle in which Father Jogues suffered was at

or near Aurie's Creek. The relation between Megapolensis' _Assarue_ and

Jogues's _Osseru_ is readily seen by changing the initial _A_ in the

former to _O._

_Aurie's,_ the present name of the stream, otherwise written _Arie's,_ is

Dutch for _Adrian_ or _Adrianus_ (Latin) "Of or pertaining to the sea."

It is suggestive of the name _Adriochten,_ written by Van Curler as that

of the ruling sachem of the castle which he visited and called

_Onekagoncka_ in 1635. The only tangible fact, however, is that the

stream took its present name from Aurie, a ruling sachem who resided on

or near it.

In this connection the several names by which the castle was called, viz:

_Onekagoncka, Carenay_ or _Caneray, Osserueñon, Assarue,_ and

_Oneugiouré,_ may be again referred to. As already stated, the "best

expert authority" of the Bureau of Ethnology reads _Onekagoncka_ as

signifying, "At the junction of the waters," and _Osserueñon,_ in any of

its forms, as signifying "At the beaver-dam." Possibly the names might be

read differently by a less expert authority, but _Oneka_ certainly means

"Water," and _Ossera_ means "Beaver-dam." Add the reading by the late

Horatio Hale of _Oghracke,_ "At the beaver-dam," and the locative chain

is complete at the mouth of Aurie's Creek (Oghracke). _Tribally,_ the

names referred to one and the same castle, as has been noted, and the

evidence seems to be clear that the location was the same. There is no

evidence whatever that any other than one and the same place was occupied

by the "first castle" between the years 1635 and 1667. It is not strictly

correct to say that "castles were frequently removed." Villages that were

not palisaded may have been frequently changed to new sites, but the

evidence is that palisaded towns remained in one place for a number of

years unless the tribe occupying was driven out by an enemy or by

continued unhealthfulness, as the known history of all the old castles

shows; nor were they ever removed to any considerable distance from their

original sites.

Van Curler's description of the castle has been quoted. He did not say

that it was palisaded, but he did call it a "fort," which means the same

thing. Rev. Megapolensis wrote, in 1644: "These [the Tortoise tribe] have

built a fort of palisades and call their castle _Assarue._" It was not

an old castle when Van Curler visited it in 1635, or when Father Jogues

was a prisoner in it in 1642, but in its then short existence it had had

an incident in the wars between the Mohawks and the Mahicans of which

there is no mention in our written histories. On his return trip Van

Curler wrote that after leaving _Onekagoncka_ and walking about "two

miles," or about six English miles, his guide pointed to a high hill on

which the immediately preceding castle of the tribe had stood and from

which it had been driven by the Mahicans "nine years" previously, _i. e._

in 1627, when the war was raging between the Mohawks and the Mahicans of

which Wassenaer wrote. It was obviously about that time that the tribe,

retreating from its enemies, rallied west of Schohare Creek and founded

the castle of which we are speaking, and there it remained until it was

driven out by the French under De Tracey in 1666, when its occupants

gathered together at Caughnawaga on the north side of the Mohawk, where

they remained until 1693 when their castle was again destroyed by the

French, and the tribe found a resting place on the west side of the mouth

of Schohare Creek. The remarkable episode in the early history of the

castle, the torture and murder of Father Jogues in 1646, is available in

many publications. The location in Brodhead's and other histories of the

castle in which he suffered as at Caughnawaga, is now known to be

erroneous. Caughnawaga was not occupied by the tribal castle until over

twenty years later.

* * * * *

[FN] The site of the Shrine was approved by the Society of Jesus mainly

on examinations and measurements made by General John S. Clark, the

locally eminent antiquarian of Auburn, N. Y., who gave the most

conscientious attention to the work of investigation. The data supplied

by Van Curler's Journal, which he did not have before him, may suggest

corrections in some of his locations.

Senatsycrossy, written by Van Curler, in 1635, as the name of a Mohawk

Village west of _Canowarode,_ seems to have been in the vicinity of

Fultonville, where tradition has always located one, but where General

John S. Clark asserts that there never was one. It may not have remained

at the place named for a number of years. Villages that were not palisaded

were sometimes removed in a single night. Van Curler described it as a

village of twelve houses. It was, presumably, the seat of a sub-tribe or

gens of the Tortoise tribe. Its precise location is not important. A gens

or sub-tribe was a family of the original stock more or less numerous

from natural increase and intermarriages, and always springing from a

single pair--the old, old story of Adam and Eve, the founders of the

Hebrews. The sachem or first man of these gens was never a ruler of the

tribe proper. They did sign deeds for possessions which were admitted to

be their own, but never a treaty on the part of the nation.

Caughnawaga, probably the best known of the Mohawk castles of what may

be called the middle era (1667-93), and the immediate successor of

_Onekagoncka_ of 1635, was located on the north side of the Mohawk, on

the edge of a hill, near the river, half a mile west of the mouth of

Cayuadutta Creek, in the present village of Fonda. The hill on which it

was built is now known as Kaneagah, writes Mr. W. Max Read of Amsterdam.

Its name appears first in French notation, in Jesuit Relations (1667),

_Gandaouagué._ [FN] Contemporaneous Dutch scribes wrote it _Kaghnawaga_

and _Caughnawaga,_ and Greenhalgh, an English trader, who visited the

castle in 1677, wrote it _Cahaniaga,_ and described it as "about a bowshot

from the river, doubly stockaded around, with four ports, and twenty-four

houses." The most salient points in its history are in connection with

its wars with the French and with the labors of the Jesuit missionaries,

who, after the murder of Father Jogues and the destruction of the castle

in which he suffered and the peace of 1667, were very successful, so much

so that in 1671 the occupants of the castle erected in its public square

a Cross, and a year later a very large number of the tribe under the lead

of the famous warrior Krin, removed to Canada and became allies of the

French. The members of the tribe who remained occupied the castle until

the winter of 1693, when it was captured and burned by the French, and

the tribe returned to the south side of the river and located on the

flats on the west side of Schohare Creek, where they were especially

known as "The Praying Maquaas," and where they remained until 1779, when

they were dispersed by the Revolutionary forces under General Clinton.

_Caughnawaga_ is accepted as meaning "At the rapids," more correctly "At

the rapid current." It is from the Huron radical _Gannawa_ (Bruyas),

for which M. Cuoq wrote in his Lexicon _Ohnawagh,_ "Swift current," or

very nearly the Dutch _Kaghnawa_; with locative particle _-ge_ or _-ga,_

"At the rapids." It is a generic term and is met of record in several

places. As has been noted elsewhere, the rapids of the Mohawk extend at

intervals fifteen in number from Schenectady to Little Falls, the longest

being east of the mouth of Schohare Creek. The rapid or rift at

Caughnawaga extends about half a mile.

* * * * *

[FN] The letters _ou,_ in _Gandaouaga_ and in other names, represents

a sound produced by the Mohawks in the throat without motion of the

lips. Bruyas wrote it 8. {_sic_ ȣ?} It is now generally written

_w--Gandawaga._

Cayudutta, modern orthography; _Caniadutta_ and _Caniahdutta,_ 1752.

"Beginning at a great rock, lying on the west side of a creek, called by

the Indians Caniadutta." (Cal. Land Papers, 270.) The name was that of

the rock, from which it was extended to the stream. It was probably a

rock of the calciferous sandstone type containing garnets, quartz and

flint, which are met in the vicinity. "The name is from _Onenhia,_ or

_Onenya,_ 'stone,' and _Kaniote,_ 'to be elevated,' or standing" (Hale).

[FN] Dr. Beauchamp translated the name, "Stone standing out of the

water." The meaning, however, seems to be simply, "Standing stone," or

an elevated rock. Its location is stated in the patent description as

"lying on the west side of the creek." The place is claimed for Fulton

County. (See Caughnawaga.)

* * * * *

[FN] The same word is now written as the name of the Oneida nation. Van

Curler's trip, in 1635, extended to the castle of the Oneidas, which he

called' _Enneyuttehage,_ "The standing-stone town." (Hale.)

Canagere, written by Van Curler, in 1635, as the name of the "Second

Castle" or tribal town, was written _Gandagiro_ by Father Jogues, in

1643; _Banigiro_ by Rev. Megapolensis; _Gandagora_ in Jesuit Relations

in 1669, and _Canagora_ by Greenhalgh in 1677. The several orthographies

are claimed to stand for _Canajohare,_ from the fact that the castle was

"built on a high hill" east of Canajohare Creek. It was, however, the

castle of the Bear tribe, the _Ganniagwari,_ or Grand Bear of the nation,

and carried its name with it to the north side of the Mohawk in 1667.

_Ganniagwari_ and _Canajohare_ are easily confused. The creek called

_Canajohare_ gave a general locative name to a considerable district of

country around it. It took the name from a pot-hole in a mass of limestone

in its bed at the falls on the stream about one mile from its mouth.

Bruyas wrote "_Ganna-tsi-ohare,_ laver de chaudiere" (to wash the cauldron

or large kettle). Rev. Samuel Kirkland, the noted missionary to the

Oneidas, wrote the same word "_Kanaohare_, or Great Boiling Pot, as it is

called by the Six Nations." (Dr. Dwight.) The letter _j_ stands for

_tsi,_ augmentative, and the radical _ohare_ means "To wash." (Bruyas.)

The hole was obviously worn by a round stone or by pebbles, which, moved

by the action of the current, literally washed the kettle. Van Curler

described the castle as containing "sixteen houses, fifty, sixty, seventy,

or eighty paces long, and one of five paces containing a bear," which he

presumed was "to be fattened." No matter what may be said in regard to

precise location, this castle was _east_ of Canajohare Creek.

Sohanidisse, a castle so called by Van Curler, and denominated by him as

the "Third Castle," is marked on Van der Donck's map _Schanatisse._ It

is described by Van Curler as "on a very high hill," _west_ of Canajohare

Creek, was composed of thirty-two long houses, and was not enclosed by

palisades. "Near this castle was plenty of flat land and the woods were

full of oak trees." The "very high hill" west of Canajohare Creek and the

flat lands remain to verify its position. It is supposed to have been the

castle of the Beaver tribe--a sub-gens.

Osquage, Ohquage, Otsquage, etc., was written by Van Curler as the name

of a village of nine houses situated east of what has been known since

1635 as Osquage or Otsquage Creek. The chief of the village was called

"_Oguoho,_ that is Wolf." Megapolensis wrote the same term _Okwaho_; Van

Curler later wrote it _Ohquage,_ and in vocabulary "_Okwahohage,_ wolves,"

accessorily, "Place of wolves." From the form _Osquage_ we no doubt have

_Otsquage_ or _Okquage._

Cawaoge, a village so called by Van Curler, was described by him as on a

"very high hill" west of _Osquage._ On his return trip he wrote the name

_Nawoga;_ on old maps it is _Canawadoga,_ of which _Cawaoge_ is a

compression, apparently from _Gannawake._ For centuries the name has been

preserved in _Nowadaga_ as that of Fort Plain Creek.

Tenotoge and Tenotehage, Van Curler; _t' Jonoutego,_ Van der Donck;

_Te-onont-ogeu,_ Jogues; _Thenondigo,_ Megapolensis--called by Van Curler

the "Fourth Castle" and known later as the castle of the Wolf tribe, and

as the "Upper Mohawk Castle," was described by Van Curler as composed of

fifty-five houses "surrounded by three rows of palisades." It stood in a

valley evidently, as Van Curler wrote that the stream called the Osquaga

"ran past this castle." On the opposite (east) side of the stream he saw

"a good many houses filled with corn and beans," and extensive flat

lands. It was undoubtedly strongly palisaded to defend the western door

of the nation as was Onekagoncka on the east. _Te-onont-ogen,_ which is

probably the most correct form of the name, means "Between two mountains,"

an intervale or space between, from _Te,_ "two"; _-ononte,_ "mountain,"

and _-ogen,_ "between." The same name is met later at the mouth of

Schohare Creek. General John S. Clark located this castle at Spraker's

Basin, thirteen miles (railroad) _west_ of Auriesville and three miles

_east_ of Nowedaga Creek. The correctness of this location must be

determined by the topographical features stated by Van Curler and not

otherwise. General Clark did an excellent work in searching for the sites

of ancient castles from remaining evidences of Indian occupation, but the

remaining evidence of names and topographical features where they are met

of record must govern. In this case the creek that "ran past the door of

this castle," is an indisputable mark. The French destroyed the castle in

October, 1666. In the account of the occurrence (Doc. Hist. N. Y., ii,

70) it is described as being surrounded by "A triple palisade, twenty

feet in height and flanked by four bastions." The tribe did not defend

their possession, only a few old persons remaining who were too feeble to

follow the retreat of the warriors and kindred. The tribe rebuilt the

castle on the north side of the Mohawk under the name of _Onondagowa,_

"A Great Hill." The French destroyed it again in 1693, and the tribe

returned to the south side of the river and located on the flat at the

mouth of the Nowadaga or Fort Plain Creek, where the government built,

in 1710, Fort Hendrick for its protection, and where it became known as

the Upper or Canajohare Castle.

Aschalege, Oschalage, Otsgarege, etc., are record forms of the name given

as that of the stream now known as Cobel's Kill, a branch of Schohare

Creek in Schohare County. Morgan translated it from _Askwa_ or _Oskwa,_

a scaffolding or platform of any kind, and _ge,_ locative, the combination

yielding "At or on a bridge." Bruyas wrote _Otserage,_ "A causeway," a

way or road raised above the natural level of the ground, serving as a

passage over wet or marshy grounds. Otsgarage is now applied to a noted

cavern near the stream in the town of Cobel's Kill.

Oneyagine, "called by the Indians _Oneyagine,_ and by the Christians

Stone Kill," is the record name of a creek in Schohare County. J. B. N.

Hewitt read it from _Onehya_ (_Onne'ja,_ Bruyas), "stone"; _Oneyagine,_

"At the broken stone," from which transferred to the stream.

Kanendenra, "a hill called by the Indians Kanendenra, otherwise by the

Christians Anthony's Nose"--"to a point on Mohawk River near a hill called

by the Indians Kanandenra, and by the Christians Anthony's Nose"--"to a

certain hill called Anthony's Nose, whose point comes into the said

river"--"Kanendahhere, a hill on the south side of the Mohawk, by the

Christians lately called Anthony's Nose"--now known as "The Noses" and

applied to a range of hills that rises abruptly from the banks of the

Mohawk just below Spraker's. The name is an abstract noun, possessing a

specialized sense. The nose is the terminal peak of the Au Sable range.

The rock formation is gneiss, covered by heavy masses of calciferous

limestone containing garnets. "Anthony's Nose," probably so called from

resemblance to Anthony's Nose on the Hudson.

Etagragon, now so written, the name of a boundmark on the Mohawk, is of

record "_Estaragoha,_ a certain rock." The locative is on the south side

of the river about twenty-four miles above Schenectady. (Cal. N. Y. Land

Papers, 121.) The name is an equivalent of _Astenra-kowa,_ "A large

rock." Modern _Otsteara-kowa,_ Elliot.

Astenrogen, of record as the name of "the first carrying place," now

Little Falls, is from _Ostenra,_ "rock," and _ogen,_ "divisionem"

(Bruyas), literally, "Divided or separated rock." The east end of the

gorge was the eastern boundmark of what is known as the "German Flats,"

which was purchased and settled by a part of the Palatine immigrants who

had been located on the Livingston Patent in 1710. The patent to the

Germans here was granted in 1723. The description in it reads: "Beginning

at the first carrying place, being the easternmost bounds, called by the

natives _Astenrogen,_ running along on both sides of said river westerly

unto _Ganendagaren,_ or the upper end [_i. e._ of the flats, a fine

alluvial plain on both sides of the river], [FN] being about twenty-four

miles." (Cal. N. Y. Land Papers, 182.) The passage between the rocks, now

Little Falls, covered a distance of "about three-quarters of a mile" and

the rapids "the height of thirty-nine feet," according to the survey of

1792. The Mohawk here breaks through the Allegheny ridge which primarily

divided the waters of the Ontario Basin from the Hudson. The overflow

from the basin here formed a waterfall that probably rivaled Niagara and

gradually wore away the rock. The channel of the stream was very deep and

on the subsidence of the ice sheet, which spread over the northern part

of the continent, became filled with drift. The opening in the ridge and

the formation of the valley of the Mohawk as now known are studies in the

work of creation. The settlements known as the German Flats were on both

sides of the river. The one that was on the north side was burned by the

French in the war of 1756-7. It was then composed of sixty houses. The

one on the south side was known as Fort Kouari and later as Fort

Herkimer. The district shared largely in the historic events in the

Mohawk Valley during the Revolution. There are very few districts of

country in the nation in which so many subjects for consideration are

centered.

* * * * *

[FN] _Ganendagraen_ is probably from _Gahenta_ (Gahenda), "Prairie."

* * * * *

On the Delaware.

Keht-hanne, Heckewelder--_Kittan,_ Zeisberger--"The principal or greatest

stream," _i. e._ of the country through which it passes, was the generic

name of the Delaware River, and _Lenapewihittuck,_ "The river or stream

of the Lenape," its specific name, more especially referring to the

stream where its waters are affected by tidal currents. In the Minisink

country it was known as _Minisinks River,_ or "River of the Minisinks."

At the Lehigh junction the main stream was called the East Branch and the

Lehigh the West Branch (Sauthier's map), but above that point the main

stream was known as the West Branch to its head in Utsyantha [FN-1] Lake,

on the north-east line of Delaware County, N. Y., where it was known as

the Mohawk's Branch. It forms the southwestern boundary of the State from

nearly its head to Port Jervis, Orange County, Where it enters or becomes

the western boundary of New Jersey. At Hancock, Delaware County, it

receives the waters of what was called by the Indians the _Paghkataghan,_

and by the English the East Branch. The West Branch was here known to the

Indians as the _Namaes-sipu_ and its equivalent _Lamas-sépos,_ or "Fish

River," by Europeans, Fish-Kill, "Because," says an affidavit of 1785,

"There was great numbers of _Maskunamack_ (that is Bass) and _Guwam_

(that is Shad) [FN-2] went up that branch at Shokan, and but few or none

went up the East [Paghkataghan] Branch." [FN-3] In the course of time the

East or Paghkataghan [FN-4] Branch became known as the Papagonck from a

place so called. The lower part of the stream was called by the Dutch the

"Zuiden River," or South River. In early days the main or West Branch was

navigable by flat-boats from Cochecton Falls to Philadelphia and

Wilmington. Smith, in his "History of New Jersey," wrote: "From Cochecton

to Trenton are fourteen considerable rifts, yet all passable in the long

flat boats used in the navigation of these parts, some carrying 500 or

600 bushels of wheat." _Meggeckesson_ (Col. Hist. N. Y., xii, 225) was

the name of what are now known as Trenton Falls, or rapids. It means,

briefly, "Strong water." Heckewelder's _Maskek-it-ong_ and his

interpretation of it, "Strong falls at," are wrong, the name which he

quoted being that of a swamp in the vicinity of the falls, as noted in

Col. Hist. N. Y., and as shown by the name itself.

The Delaware was the seat of the _Lenni-Lenapé_ (_a_ as _a_ in father,

_é_ as _a_ in mate--_Lenahpa_), or "Original people," or people born of

the earth on which they lived, who were recognized, at the time of the

discovery, as the head or "Grandfather" of the Algonquian nations. From

their principal seat on the tide-waters of the Delaware, and their

jurisdiction on that stream, they became known and are generally met in

history as the Delawares. In tribal and sub-tribal organizations they

extended over Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and

New York as far north as the Katskills, speaking dialects radically the

same as that of the parent stock. [FN-5] They were composed of three

primary totemic tribes, the _Minsi_ or Wolf, the _Unulachtigo_ or Turkey,

and the _Unami_ or Turtle, of whom the Turtle held the primacy. They were

a milder and less barbaric people than the Iroquoian tribes, with whom

they had little affinity and with whom they were almost constantly in

conflict until they were broken up by the incoming tide of Europeans, the

earliest and the succeeding waves of which fell upon their shores, and

the later alliance of the English with their ancient enemies, the

confederated Six Nations of New York, who, from their geographical

position and greater strength from their remoteness from the

demoralization of early European contact, offered the most substantial

advantages for repelling the advances of the French in Canada. Ultimately

conquered by the Six Nations, and made "Women," in their figurative

language, _i. e._ a people without power to make war or enter into

treaties except with the consent of their rulers, they nevertheless

maintained their integrity and won the title of "Men" as the outcome of

the war of 1754-6. Their history has been fully--perhaps too

favorably--written by Heckewelder and others. The geographical names

which they gave to the hills and streams of their native land are their

most remindful memorial. While western New York was Iroquoian, southern

New York was Lenni-Lenape or Algonquian.

* * * * *

[FN-1] Also written _Oteseontio_ and claimed as the name of a spring.

The lake is a small body of water lying 1,800 feet above tide level, in

the town of Jefferson, Schohare County. It is usually quoted as the head

of the West Branch of Delaware River.

[FN-2] "_Guwam;_ modifications, _Choam, Schawan._ The stem appears to be

_Shawano,_ 'South,' 'Coming from the south,' or from salt water."

(Brinton.)

[FN-3] Affidavit of Johannes Decker, Hist. Or. Co. (quarto) p. 699:

"Called by the Indians Lamas-Sepos, or Fish Kill, because they caught

the shad there." (Cal. N. Y. Land Papers, 698, _et. seq._)

[FN-4] _Paghkataghan_ means "The division or branch of a stream"--"Where

the stream divides or separates." The Moravian missionaries wrote the

name _Pachgahgoch,_ from which, by corruption, _Papagonck._ The

Papagoncks seem to have been, primarily, Esopus Indians, and to have

retreated to that point after yielding up their Esopus lands. (See

Schaghticoke.)

[FN-5] Two slightly different dialects prevailed among the Delawares,

the one spoken by the Unami and the Unulachtigo, the other the Minsi.

The dialect which the missionaries Learned, and in which they composed

their works, was that of the Lehigh Valley. We may fairly consider it

to have been the upper or inland Unami. It stood between the Unulachto

and Southern Unami and the true Minsi. (Dr. Brinton.) The dialects

spoken in the valley of Hudson's River have been referred to in another

connection.

Minisink, now so written and preserved as the name of a town in Orange

County, appears primarily, in 1656, on Van der Donck's map, "Minnessinck

ofte t' Landt van Bacham," which may be read, constructively, "Indians

inhabiting the back or upper lands," or the highlands. [FN] Heckewelder

wrote: "The Minsi, which we have corrupted to Monsey, extended their

settlements from the Minisink, a place named after them, where they had

their council seat and fire," and Reichel added, "The Minisinks, _i. e._

the habitation of the Monseys or Minsis." The application was both

general and specific to the district of country occupied by the Minsi

tribe and to the place where its council fire was held. The former

embraced the mountainous country of the Delaware River above the Forks

or junction of the Lehigh Branch; the latter was on Minnisink Plains in

New Jersey, about eight miles south of Port Jervis, Orange County. It was

obviously known to the Dutch long before Van der Donck wrote the name.

It was visited, in 1694, by Arent Schuyler, a credited interpreter, who

wrote, in his Journal, Minissink and Menissink as the name of the tribal

seat. Although it is claimed that there was another council-seat on the

East Branch of the Delaware, that on Minisink Plains was no doubt the

principal seat of the tribe, as records show that it was there that all

official intercourse with the tribe was conducted for many years.

Schuyler met sachems and members of the tribe there and the place was

later made a point for missionary labor. Their village was palisaded.

On one of the early maps it is represented as a circular enclosure. In

August, 1663, they asked the Dutch authorities at New Amsterdam, through

_Oratamy,_ sachem of the Hackinsacks, "For a small piece of ordnance to

use in their fort against the _Sinuakas_ and protect their corn." (Col.

Hist. N. Y., xiii, 290.) In the blanket deed which the tribe gave in

1758, to their territory in New Jersey they were styled "Minsis, Monseys,

or Minnisinks." _Minsis_ and _Monseys_ are convertible terms of which the

late Dr. D. G. Brinton wrote: "From investigation among living Delawares,

_Minsi,_ properly _Minsiu,_ formerly _Min-assin-iu,_ means 'People of the

stony country,' or briefly, 'Mountaineers.' It is the synthesis of

_Minthiu,_ 'To be scattered,' and _Achsin,_ 'Stone.' according to the

best native authority." Apparently from _Min-assin_ we have Van der

Donck's _Minn-essin;_ with locative _-k, -ck, -g, -gh, Minn-essin-ks,_

"People of the stony country," back-landers or highlanders.

Interpretations of less merit have been made. One that is widely quoted

is from Old Algonquian and Chippeway _Minnis,_ "Island," and _-ink,_

locative; but there is no evidence that _Minnis_ was in the dialect spoken

here; on the contrary the record name of Great Minnisink Island, which

is supposed to have been referred to, was _Menag'nock,_ by the German

notation _Menach'hen-ak._ Aside from this _Minnissingh_ is of record at

Poughkeepsie, in 1683, where no island is known to have existed, and in

Westchester County the same term is met in _Men-assink_ (_Min-assin-ink_),

"At a place of small stones." The deed description at Poughkeepsie

located the tract conveyed "On the bank of the river," _i. e._ on the

back or ridge lands. (See Minnis-ingh.) The final _s_ which appears in

many of the forms of the name, and especially in _Minsis,_ is a foreign

plural.

* * * * *

[FN] "Minnessinck ofte t' Landt Van Bacham," apparently received some

of its letters from the engraver of the map. _Ofte_--Dutch and Old Saxon,

_av_--English _of_--was probably used in the sense of identity or

equivalency. Bacham--Dutch, _bak;_ Old High-German, _Bahhoham_--describes

"An extended upper part, as of a mountain or ridge." In application to

a tribe, "Ridge-landers," "Highlanders," or "Mountaineers." On the

Hudson the tribe was generally known as Highlanders. The double _n_ and

the double _s,_ in many of the forms, show that _e_ was pronounced

short, or _i._

Menagnock, the record name of what has long been known as "The Great

Mennissincks Island"--"The Great Island of the Mennisinks"--is probably

an equivalent of _Menach'henak_ (Minsi) meaning "Islands." The island,

so called, is a flat cut up by water courses, forming several small

islands.

Namenock, an island so called by Rev. Casparus Freymout in 1737, is

probably an equivalent of Naman-ock and Namee-ock, L. I., which was

translated by Dr. Trumbull from Mass. _Namau-ohke,_ "Fishing place," or

"Fish country"--_Namauk,_ Del, "Fishing place." Perhaps it was the site

of a weir or dam for impounding fish. Such dams or fishing places became

boundmarks in some cases. The name was corrupted to _Nomin-ack,_ as the

name of a church and of a fort three or four miles below what is now

Montague, N. J. On Long Island the name is corrupted to _Nomin-ick._

(See Moriches.)

Magatsoot--A tract of land "Called and known by the name of Magockomack

and Magatsoot"--so entered in petition of Philip French for Minisink

Patent in 1703, is noted in petition of Ebenezer Wilson (same patent),

in 1702, "Beginning on the northwest side of the mouth of Weachackamack

Creek where it enters Minisink River." The creek was then given the name

of the field called Maghaghkamieck; it is now called Neversink.

_Magatsoot_ was the name of the mouth of the stream, "Where it enters

Minisink River," or the Delaware. It is an equivalent of _Machaak-sók,_

[FN] meaning, "The great outlet," or mouth of a river. Although specific

in application to the mouth of the river, it is more strictly the name

of the stream than that which it now bears. (See Magaat-Ramis.)

* * * * *

[FN] _Machaak,_ Moh., _Mechek,_ Len.; "Great, large"; _soot, sók, sóhk,

sauk,_ "Pouring out," hence mouth or outlet of a river.

Maghagh-kamieck, so written in patent to Arent Schuyler in 1694, and

described therein as "A certain tract of land at a place called

Maghaghkamieck," which "Place" was granted, in 1697, to Swartwout,

Coddebeck, and others, has been handed down in many orthographies. The

precise location of the "Place" was never ascertained by survey, but by

occupation it consisted of some portion of a very fine section of

bottom-land extending along the northeast side of Neversink River from

near or in the vicinity of the junction of that stream and the Delaware

at Carpenter's Point to the junction of Basha's Kill [FN-1] and the

Neversink, in the present county of Sullivan, a distance of about eleven

miles. In general terms its boundaries are described in the patent as

extending from "The western bounds of the lands called _Nepeneck_ to a

small run of water called by the Indian name _Assawaghkemek,_ and so along

the same and the lands of Mansjoor, the Indian." It matters not that in

later years it was reported by a commission that the patent "Contained

no particular boundaries, but appeared rather to be a description of a

certain tract of country in which 1,200 acres were to be taken up," the

name nevertheless was that of a certain field or place so distinct in

character as to become a general locative of the whole, as in the Schuyler

grant of 1694. It may reasonably be presumed that the district to which

it was extended began at Carpenter's Point (Nepeneck) and ended on the

north side of Basha's Kill. (See Assawaghkemek.) The same name is met in

New Jersey on the Peaquaneck River, where it is of record in 1649,

"_Mechgacham-ik,_ or Indian field" (Col. Hist. N. Y., xiii, 25); noted

as an Indian settlement in the Journal of Arent Schuyler, in 1694, giving

an account of his visit to the Minissinck country, in February of that

year, in which the orthography is _Maghagh-kamieck,_ indicating very

clearly that the original was _Maghk-aghk-kamighk,_ a combination of

_Maghaghk,_ "Pumpkin," and _-kamik,_ "Field," or place limited, where

those vegetables were cultivated, and a place that was widely known

evidently. [FN-2] The German missionaries wrote _Machg-ack,_ "Pumpkin,"

and Captain John Smith, in his Virginia notes of 1620, wrote the same

sound in _Mahcawq._ No mention is made of an Indian village here. If

there was one it certainly was not visited by Arent Schuyler in 1694,

as is shown by the general direction of his route, as well as by maps of

Indian paths. To have visited Maghaghkamik in Orange County would have

taken him many miles out of his way. Maghaghkamik Fork and Maghaghkamik

Church lost those names many years ago, but the ancient name is still

in use in some connections in Port Jervis, and most wretchedly spelled.

* * * * *

[FN-1] Basha's Kill, so called from a place called Basha's land, which

see.

[FN-2] _Kamik,_ Del., _Komuk,_ Mass., in varying orthographies, means

"Place" in the sense of a limited enclosed, or occupied space;

"Generally," wrote Dr. Trumbull, "An enclosure, natural or artificial,

such as a house or other building, a village, or planted field, a thicket

or place surrounded by trees"; briefly, a place having definite

boundaries. _Maghkaghk_ is an intense expression of quality--perfection.

Nepeneck, a boundmark so called in the Swartwout-Coddebeck Patent of

1697--Napenock, Napenack, Napenough, later forms--given as the name of

the western or southwestern bound of the Maghaghkamick tract, is

described: "Beginning at the western bounds of the lands called Nepeneck."

The place is presumed to have been at or near Carpenter's Point, on the

Delaware, which at times is overflowed by water. It disappears here after

1697, but reappears in a similar situation some twenty miles north at the

junction of the Sandberg and Rondout kills. It is probably a generic as

in _Nepeak,_ L. I., meaning, "Water land," or land overflowed by water.

"_Nepenit_ 'In a place of water.'" (Trumbull.) Carpenter's Point or

ancient Nepeneck, is the site of the famous Tri-States Rock, the boundmark

of three states.

[Illustration: On The Delaware, Tri-States Rock Port Jervis, N.Y.]

Assawaghkemek, the name entered as that of the northeast boundmark of

the Swartwout-Coddebeck Patent, and described therein, "To a small run of

water called Assawaghkemek . . . and so along the same and the lands of

Mansjoor, the Indian," is known by settlement, to have been _at_ and

_below_ the junction of Basha's Kill and the Neversink, from which the

inference seems to be well sustained that "the lands of Mansjoor, the

Indian" were the lands or valley of Basha's Kill, which the name describes

as an enclosed or occupied place "beyond," or "on the other side" of the

small run of water. The prefix _Assaw,_ otherwise written _Accaw, Agaw,_

etc., means "Beyond," "On the other side." The termination _agh,_ or

_aug,_ indicates that the name is formed as a verb. _Kemek_ (Kamik) means

an enclosed, or occupied place, as already stated. The translation in

"History of Orange County," from _Waseleu,_ "Light, bright, foaming," is

erroneous, as is also the application of the name to Fall Brook, near the

modern village of Huguenot. In no case was the name that of a stream,

except by extension to it.

Peenpack, (Paan, Paen, Pien, Penn) is given, _traditionally,_ as the name

of a "Small knoll or rise of ground, some fifty or sixty rods long, ten

wide, and about twenty feet high above the level of" Neversink River,

"on and around which the settlers of the Maghaghkamik Patent first

located their cabins." It has been preserved for many generations as the

name of what is known as the Peen-pach Valley, the long narrow flats on

the Neversink. Apparently it is corrupt Dutch from _Paan-pacht,_ "Low,

soft land," or leased land. The same name is met in _Paan-paach,_ Troy,

N. Y., and in _Penpack,_ Somerset County, N. J. The places bearing it

were primary Dutch settlements on low lands. (See Paanpaach.) Doubtfully

a substitution for Algonquian from a root meaning, "To fall from a height"

(Abn., _Paⁿna;_ Len. _Pange_), as in Abn. _Panaⁿk'i,_ "Fall of land,"

the downward slope of a mountain, suggested by the slope of the Shawongunk

Mountain range, which here runs southwest to northeast and falls off on

the west until it meets the narrow flats spoken of. The same feature is

met at Troy.

Tehannek, traditionally the name of a small stream on the east side of

the Peenpack Knoll, probably means "Cold stream," from _Ta_ or _Te,_

"cold," and _-hannek,_ "stream." It is a mountain brook.

Sokapach, traditionally the name of a spring in Deerpark, means, "A

spring." It is an equivalent of _Sókapeék,_ "A spring or pool."

Neversink, the name quoted as that of the stream flowing to the Delaware

at Carpenter's Point, is not a river name. It is a corruption of Lenape

_Newás,_ "A promontory," and _-ink,_ locative, meaning "At the

promontory." The particular promontory referred to seems to have been

what is now known as Neversink Point, in Sullivan County, which rises

3,300 feet. The name is generic and is met in several places, notably in

Neversink, N. J. (See Maghaghkameck.)

Seneyaughquan, given as the name of an Indian bridge which crossed the

Neversink, may have its equivalent in "_Tayachquano,_ bridge--a dry

passage over a stream." (Heckewelder.) The bridge was a log and the

location said to have been above the junction of the stream with the

Mamacottin.

Saukhekemeck, otherwise _Maghawam,_ so entered in the Schuyler Patent,

1697, apparently refer to one and the same place. The locative has not

been ascertained. The patent covered lands now in New Jersey. The tract

is described in the patent: "Situated upon a river called Mennissincks,

before a certain island called Menagnock, which is adjacent to or near a

tract of land called by the natives Maghaghkamek." (See Menagnock.)

Warensagskemeck, a tract also conveyed to Arent Schuyler in 1697,

described as "A parcel of meadow or vly, adjacent to or near a tract

called Maghaghkamek," is probably, by exchange of _r_ and _l_ and

transpositions, _Walenaskameck; Walen,_ "hollowing, concave"; _Walak,_

hole; _Waleck,_ a hollow or excavation; _-ask,_ "Grass"; _-kameck,_ an

enclosed or limited field; substantially, "a meadow or vly," [FN] as

described in the deed.

* * * * *

[FN] _Vly_ is a Dutch contraction of _Vallei,_ with the accepted

signification, "A swamp or morass; a depression with water in it in

rainy seasons, but dry at other times." A low meadow. _Walini,_

(Eastern), hollowing, concave site.

Schakaeckemick, given as the name of a parcel of land on the Delaware

described as "lying in an elbow," seems to be an equivalent of

_Schaghach,_ meaning "Straight." level, flat, and _-kamick,_ a limited

field. The tract was given to one William Tietsort, a blacksmith, who had

escaped from the massacre at Schenectady (Feb. 1689-90), and was induced

by the gift to settle among the Minisinks to repair their fire-arms. He

was the first European settler on the Delaware within the limits of the

old county of Orange. He sold the land to one John Decker, and removed

to Duchess County. No abstract of title from Decker has been made, and

probably cannot be. Decker's name, however, appears in records as one of

the first settlers, in company with William Cole and Solomon Davis, in

what was long known as "The Lower Neighborhood"; in New Jersey annals,

"Cole's Fort." The precise location is uncertain. In History of Orange

Co. (Ed. 1881, p. 701), it is said: "It is believed that further

investigation will show that Tietsort's land was the later Benj. van

Vleet place, near Port Jervis." In Eager's "History of Orange County"

(p. 396), Stephen St. John is given as the later owner of the original

farm of John Decker. Decker's house was certainly in the "Lower

Neighborhood." It was palisaded and called a fort.

Wihlahoosa, given, locally, as the name of a cavern in the rocks on the

side of the mountain, about three miles from Port Jervis, on the east

side of Neversink River, is probably from _Wihl_ (Zeisb.), "Head," and

_-hōōs,_ "Pot or kettle." The reference may have been to its shape, or

its position. In the vicinity of the cavern was an Indian burial ground

covering six acres. Skeletons have been unearthed there and found

invariably in a sitting posture. In one grave was found a sheet-iron

tobacco-box containing a handkerchief covered with hieroglyphics probably

reciting the owner's achievements. Tomahawks, arrow-heads and other

implements have also been found in graves. The place was long known as

"Penhausen's Land," from one of the grantors of the deed. The cavern may

have had some connection with the burial ground.

Walpack, N. J., is probably a corruption of _Walpeék,_ from _Walak_

(_Woalac,_ Zeisb.), "A hollow or excavation," and _-peék,_ "Lake," or

body of still water. The idea expressed is probably "Deep water." It was

the name of a lake.

Mamakating, now so written and preserved in the name of a town in Sullivan

County, is written on Sauthier's map _Mamecatink_ as the name of a

settlement and _Mamacotton_ as the name of a stream. Other forms are

_Mamacoting_ and _Mamacocking._ The stream bearing the name is now called

Basha's Kill, the waters of which find their way to the Delaware, and

Mamakating is assigned to a hollow. The settlement was primarily a trading

post which gathered in the neighborhood of the Groot Yaugh Huys (Dutch,

"Great Hunting House"), a large cabin constructed by the Indians for their

accommodation when on hunting expeditions, [FN-1] and subsequently

maintained by Europeans for the accommodation of hunters and travelers

passing over what was known as the "Mamacottin path," a trunk line road

connecting the Hudson and Delaware rivers, more modernly known as the

"Old Mine Road," which was opened as a highway in 1756. The Hunting House

is located on Sauthier's map immediately south of the Sandberg, in the

town of Mamakating, and more recently, by local authority, at or near

what is known as the "Manarse Smith Spring," otherwise as the "Great

Yaugh Huys Fontaine," or Great Hunting House Spring. [FN-2] The meaning

of the name is largely involved in the orthography of the suffix. If the

word was _-oten_ it would refer to the trading post or town, as in

"_Otenink,_ in the town" (Heckewelder), and, with the prefix _Mamak_

(_Mamach,_ German notation), root _Mach,_ "evil, bad, naughty" (_Mamak,_

iterative), would describe something that was very bad in the town; but,

if the word was _-atin,_ "Hill or mountain," the name would refer to a

place that was at or on a very bad hill. Presumably the hill was the

objective feature, the settlement being at or near the Sandberg. There

is nothing in the name meaning plain or valley, nor anything "wonderful"

about it. Among other features on the ancient path was the wigwam of

_Tautapau,_ "a medicine man," so entered in a patent to Jacob Rutzen in

1713. _Tautapau_ (Taupowaw, Powaw), "A priest or medicine man," literally,

"A wise speaker."

* * * * *

[FN-1] Indian Hunting-houses were met in all parts of the country. They

were generally temporary huts, but in some cases became permanent. (See

Cochecton.)

[FN-2] _Fontaine_ is French--"A spring of water issuing from the earth."

The stream flowing from the spring is met in local history as Fantine

Kill.

Kau-na-ong-ga, "Two wings," is said to have been the name of White Lake,

Sullivan County, the form of the lake being that of a pair of wings

expanded, according to the late Alfred B. Street, the poet-historian,

who embalmed the lake in verse years before it became noted as a

fashionable resort. (See Kong-hong-amok.)

"Where the twin branches of the Delaware

Glide into one, and in their language call'd

_Chihocken,_ or 'the meeting of the floods';" [FN-1]

The "Willemoc," [FN-2] and "The Falls of the Mongaup," are also among

Street's poetical productions.

* * * * *

[FN-1] "Formerly Shohakin or Chehocton." (French's Gaz.) In N. Y. Land

Papers, Schohakana is the orthography. Street's translation is a poetical

fancy. The name probably refers to a place at the mouth of the northwest

or Mohawk Branch of the Delaware, and the northeast or Paghkataghan

Branch, at Hancock, Del. Co.

[FN-2] _Willemoc_ probably stands for _Wilamauk,_ "Good fishing-place."

There were two streams in the town, one known as the Beaver Kill and the

other as the _Williwemack._ In Cal. N. Y. Land Papers, 699, occurs the

entry: "The Beaver Kill or Whitenaughwemack." The date is 1785. The

orthography bears evidence of many years' corruption. It may have been

shortened to Willewemock and Willemoc, and stand for _Wilamochk,_ "Good,

rich, beaver." It was, presumably, a superior resort for beavers.

Shawanoesberg was conferred on a hill in the present town of Mamakating,

commemorative of a village of the Shawanoes who settled here in 1694 on

invitation of the Minisinks. (Council Minutes, Sept. 14, 1692.) Their

council-house is said to have been on the summit of the hill.

Basha's Land and Basha's Kill, familiar local terms in Sullivan County,

are claimed to have been so called from a squaw-sachem known as Elizabeth

who lived near Westbrookville. "Basha's Land" was one of the boundmarks

of the Minisink Patent and Basha's Kill the northeast bound of the

Maghaghkemik Patent. Derivation of the name from Elizabeth is not

well-sustained. [FN-1] The original was probably an equivalent of

_Bashaba,_ an Eastern-Algonquian term for "Sagamore of Sagamores," or

ruling sachem or king of a nation. It is met of record Bashaba, Betsebe,

Bessabe, Bashebe, etc. Hubbard wrote: "They called the chief rulers,

who commanded the rest, Bashabeas. Bashaba is a title." "Chiefs bearing

this title, and exercising the prerogatives of their rank, are frequently

spoken of by the early voyagers." [FN-2] (Hist. Mag., Second Series, 3,

49.) The lands spoken of were the recognized territorial possession of

the chief ruler of the nation or tribe. The "squaw-sachem" [FN-3] may

have held the title by succession or as the wife of the Bashaba.

* * * * *

[FN-1] Basha's Kill was applied to Mamcotten Kill north of the village

of Wurtsboro, south of which it retained the name of Mamacotten, as

written on Sauthier's map. Quinlan, in his "History of Sullivan County,"

wrote: "The head-waters of Mamakating River subsequently became known

as Elizabeth's Kill, in compliment to Elizabeth Gonsaulus. We could

imagine that she was the original Basha, Betje, or Betsey, who owned the

land south of the Yaugh House Spring, and gave to the Mamakating stream

its present name; but unfortunately she was not born soon enough.

Twenty-five years before her family came to Mamakating, 'Basha's land'

was mentioned in official documents." It appears in the Minisink Patent

in 1704.

[FN-2] A. S. Gatschet, of the Bureau of Ethnology, wrote me: "The Bashas,

Bashebas and Betsebas of old explorers of the coast of Maine, I explain

by _pe'sks,_ 'one,' and _a'pi,_ 'man,' or person--'First man in the

land.'"

[FN-3] _Squaw,_ "Woman," means, literally, "Female animal." _Saunk-squa_

stands for "Sochem's squaw." "The squa-sachem, for so they call the

Sachem's wife." (Winslow.)

Mongaup, given as the name of a stream which constitutes in part the

western boundary of Orange County, is entered on Sauthier's map,

"Mangawping or Mangaup." Quinlan (Hist. Sullivan County) claimed for it

also Mingapochka and Mingwing, indicating that the stream carried the

names of two distinct places. _Mongaup_ is a compression of Dutch

_Mondgauwpink,_ meaning, substantially, "At the mouth of a small, rapid

river," for which a local writer has substituted "Dancing feather," which

is not in the composition in any language. _Mingapochka_ (Alg.), appears

to be from _Mih'n_ (_Mih'nall_ plural; Zeisb.), "Huckleberry," and

_-pohoka,_ "Cleft, clove or valley"--literally, "Huckleberry Valley."

Street, writing half a century ago, described the northern approach of

the stream as a valley wreathed (poetically) in whortle berries--

"In large tempting clusters of light misty blue."

The stream rises in the center of Sullivan County and flows to the

Delaware. The falls are said to be from sixty to eighty feet in four

cascades. (Hist. Sul. Co.) Another writer says: "Three miles above

Forestburgh village, the stream falls into a chasm seventy feet deep,

and the banks above the falls are over one hundred feet high."

Meenahga, a modern place-name, is a somewhat remarkable orthography of

_Mih'n-acki_ (aghki), "Huckleberry land" or place.

Callicoon, the name of a town in Sullivan County, and of a stream, is

an Anglicism of _Kalkan_ (Dutch), "Turkey"--_Wilde Kalkan,_ "Wild

turkey"--in application, "Place of turkeys." The district bearing the

name is locally described as extending from Callicoon Creek to the mouth

of Ten Mile River, on the Delaware. Wild turkeys were abundant in the

vicinage of the stream no doubt, from which perhaps the name, but as

there is record evidence that a clan of the Turkey tribe of Delawares

located in the vicinity, it is quite probable that the name is from them.

The stream is a dashing mountain brook, embalmed poetically by the pen

of Street. (See Cochecton.)

Keshethton, written by Colonel Hathorn in 1779, as the name of an Indian

path, is no doubt an orthography of Casheghton. In early years a

trunk-line path ran up the Delaware to Cochecton Falls, where, with other

paths, it connected with the main path leading to Wyoming Valley, [FN]

the importance of the latter path suggesting, in 1756, the erection of

a fort and the establishment of a base of supplies at Cochecton from

which to attack the Indians under Tedyuscung and Shingask in what was

then known as "The Great Swamp," from which those noted warriors and

their followers made their forays. (Doc. Hist. N. Y., ii. 715; Ib. Map,

i, 586.) Colonel Hathorn passed over part of this path in 1779, in pursuit

of Brant, and was disastrously defeated in what is called "The Battle of

Minnisink."

* * * * *

[FN] "The first well-beaten path that connected the Delaware and

Susquehanna Rivers, and subsequently the first rude wagon road leading

from Cochecton through Little Meadows, in Salem township, and across

Moosic Mountains." (Hist. Penn.) It was with a view to connect the

commerce from this section with the Hudson that the Newburgh and

Cochecton Turnpike was constructed in the early years of 1800.

Cochecton, the name of a town and of a village in Sullivan County,

extended on early maps to an island, to a range of hills, and to a fall

or rift in the Delaware River, is written Cashieghtunk and in other forms

on Sauthier's map of 1774; Cushieton on a map of 1768; _Keshecton,_ Col.

Cortlandt, 1778; _Cashecton,_ N. Y. Land Papers, 699; Cushietunk in the

proceedings of the Treaty of Easton, 1758, and in other New Jersey

records: Cashighton in 1744; Kishigton in N. Y. records in 1737, and

Cashiektunk by Cadwallader Colden in 1737, as the name of a place near

the boundmark claimed by the Province of New Jersey, latitude 41 degrees

40 minutes. "On the most northerly branch of Delaware River, which point

falls near Cashiektunk, an Indian village, on a branch of that river

called the Fish Kill." (Doc. Hist. N. Y., iv, 177.) In the Treaty of

Easton, 1758, the Indian title to land conveyed to New Jersey is

described: "Beginning at the Station Point between the Province of New

Jersey and New York, at the most northerly end of an Indian settlement

on the Delaware, known by the name of Casheitong." Station Point, called

also Station Rock, is about three miles southeast of the present village

of Cochecton, on a flat at a bend in the river, by old survey twenty-two

miles in a straight line from the mouth of Maghaghkamik Creek, now

Carpenter's Point, in the town of Deerpark, Orange County. Cochecton

Falls, so called, are a rocky rapid in a narrow gorge covering a fall

of two or three hundred feet, the obstruction throwing the water and the

deposits brought down back upon the low lands. The Callicoon flows to the

Delaware a few miles northeast of the falls. Between the latter and the

mouth of the Callicoon lies the Cochecton Flats or valley. The precise

location of "Station Point or Rock," described as "At the most northerly

end" of the Indian village, has not been ascertained, but can be readily

found. The late Hon. John C. Curtis, of Cochecton, wrote: "Our beautiful

valley, from Cochecton Falls to the mouth of the Callicoon, was called,

by the Indians, _Cushetunk,_ or low lands," the locative of the name

having been handed down from generation to generation, and an

interpretation of the name which is inferentially correct. There is no

such word as _Cash_ or _Cush_ in the Delaware dialect, however; it stands

here obviously as a form of _K'sch,_ intensive _K'schiecton_ (Len. Eng.

Dic.); _Geschiechton,_ Zeisberger, verbal noun, "To wash," "The act of

washing," as by the "overflow of the water of a sea or river. . . . The

river washed a valley in the plain"; with suffix _-unk_

(_K'schiechton-unk_--compressed to _Cushetunk_), denoting a place where

the action of the verb was performed, _i. e._ a place where at times the

land is washed or overflowed by water, from which the traditionary

interpretation, "Low land." [FN-1]

The Indian town spoken of was established in 1744, although its site was

previously occupied by Indian hunting houses or huts for residences while

on hunting expeditions. In Col. Mss. v. 75, p. 10, is preserved a paper

in which it is stated that the Indians residing at Goshen, Orange County,

having "Removed to their hunting houses at Cashigton," were there

visited, in December, 1744, by a delegation of residents of Goshen,

consisting of Col. Thomas DeKay, William Coleman, Benj. Thompson, Major

Swartwout, Adam Wisner, interpreter, and two Indians as pilots, for the

purpose of ascertaining the cause of the removal; that the delegation

found the residents composed of two totemic families, Wolves and Turkeys;

that, having lost their sachem, they were debating "Out of which tribe

a successor should be chosen"; that they had removed from Goshen through

fear of the hostile intention on the part of the settlers there, who

"Were always carrying guns." Later, a delegation from the Indian town

visited Goshen, and was there "Linked together" with Colonel De Kay, as

the representative of the Governor of the province, in their peculiar

form of locking arms, for three hours, as a test of enduring friendship.

[FN-2] It was the only treaty with the Indians in Orange County of which

there is record.

Aside from its Indian occupants the town is historic as the point forming

the old northwest boundmark of New Jersey (Lat. 41 degrees 40 minutes),

as recognized in the Treaty of Easton. (See Pompton.) From its association

with the history of three provinces, the story of the town is of more

than local interest. The lands were ultimately included in the Hardenberg

Patent, and most of the Indian descendants of its founders of 1744

followed the lead of Brant in the Revolution. They probably deserved a

better fate than that which came to them. They are gone. The long night

with its starless robe has enveloped them in its folds--the ceaseless

wash of the waters of the Delaware upon the beautiful valley of Cochecton,

hymns their requiem.

* * * * *

[FN-1] Probably the same name is met in _Sheshecua-ung,_ the broad flats

opposite and above the old Indian meadows, Wyoming Valley, where the

topography is substantially the same.

[FN-2] A belt was presented by the Indians to Col. De Kay, but what

became of it neither the records or tradition relates.

* * * * *

Here we close our survey of the only monuments which remain of races

which for ages hunted the deer, chanted songs of love, and raised fierce

war cries--the names which they gave and which remain of record of the

hills and valleys, the lakes and waterfalls, amid which they had their

abiding places. Wonderfully suggestive and full of inferential deductions

are those monuments; volumes of history and romance are linked with them;

the most controlling influences in making our nation what it is is graven

in their crude orthographies. Their further reclamation and restoration

to the geographical locations to which they belonged is a duty devolving

on coming generations.

* * * * *

THE DUTCH RACKS OF 1625-6.

[_From De Laet's "New World," Leyden Edition._]

"Within the first reach, where the land is low, there dwells a nation of

savages named Tappaans. . . . The second reach extends upward to a

narrow pass named by our people Haverstroo; then comes Seyl-maker's

(Zeil-maker's, sail-maker's) reach, as they call it; and next, a crooked

reach, in the form of a crescent, called Koch's reach (Cook's reach).

Next is Hooge-rack (High reach); and then follows Vossen reach (Foxes

reach), which extends to Klinckersberg (Stone mountain). This is

succeeded by Fisher's (Vischer's) reach, where, on the east bank of the

river, dwells a nation of savages called Pachamy. This reach extends to

another narrow pass, where, on the west side of the river, there is a

point of land that juts out covered with sand, opposite a bend in the

river, on which another nation of savages, called the Waoranecks, have

their abode, at a place called Esopus. A little beyond, on the west

side, where there is a creek, and the river becomes more shallow, the

Waronawankongs reside; _here are several small islands._ Next comes

another reach called Klaver-rack, where the water is deeper on the west

side, while the eastern side is sandy. Then follow Backer-rack, John

Playser's rack and Vaster rack as far as Hinnenhock. Finally, the

Herten-rack (Deer-rack) succeeds as far as Kinderhoek. Beyond Kinderhoek

there are several small islands, one of which is called Beeren Island

(Bear's Island). After this we come to a sheltered retreat named Onwee

Ree (_Onwereen,_ to thunder, _Ree,_ quick, sudden thunder storms), and

farther on are Sturgeon's Hoek, over against which, on the east side of

the river, dwell the Mohicans."

TO THE READER.

* * * * *

A work of the character of that which is herewith presented to you would

be eminently remarkable if it was found to be entirely free from

typographical and clerical errors. No apology is made for such as you

may find, the rule being regarded as a good one that the discoverer of

an error is competent to make the necessary correction. Whatever you may

find that is erroneous, especially in the topographical features of

places, please have the kindness to forward to the compiler and enable

him to correct.

Respectfully,

E. M. RUTTENBER,

Newburgh, N. Y.

INDEX.

{Transcriber's note: The page numbers indicated below refer to pages in

the separate article, "Footprints of the Redmen," and are not in sequence

with the complete published volume of proceedings. The HTML and e-book

versions of the article have hyperlinks to the names indexed.}

{Transcriber's Note: Some of the original index entries are incorrect.

The corrected page numbers are shown in braces {p.} Alphabetical placement

errors are left as in the original.}

Achquetuck 177

Achsinink 148

Ackinckes-hacky 104

Adirondacks 187

Aepjin (Sachem) 59

Agwam (Agawam) 83

Ahashewaghick 51

Ahasimus 106

Aioskawasting 146 {145}

Alaskayering 148

Albany 178

Alipkonck 26

Amagansett 83

Amangag-arickan 168

Anaquassacook 69

Anthony's Nose 31, 217

Apanammis 33

Appamaghpogh 30

Aquackan-onck 104

Aquassing 46

Aquebogue 98

Aquehung 32

Arackook 139

Arisheck 106

Armonck 33

Assawagh-kemek 224

Assawanama 98

Assiskowackok 173

Assinapink 126

Assup (Accup) 77

Aschalege 216

Aspetong 32

Astenrogan 217

Athens 174

Atkarkarton 158

Aupaumut, Hendrick 11

Aupauquack 98

Aurie's Creek 210

Basha's Land 229

Bergen 106

Callicoon 230

Canagere 214

Canajohare 214

Canarsie 88

Caneray (Carenay) 191

Caniade-rioit 70

Caniade-riguarunte 72

Canniengas 189

Canopus 36

Casperses Creek 44

Cataconoche 80

Catskill 170

Caughnawaga 213

Caumset 96

Cawaoge 215

Cayudutta 214

Cheesek-ook 117

Chihocken 229

Chouckhass 133

Ciskhekainck 56

Claverack 55

Cobel's Kill 216

Cochecton 231

Comae 92

Commoenapa 105

Connecticut 80

Copake 59

Cronomer's Hill 130

Cumsequ-ogue 81

Cussqunsuck 94

Cutchogue 84

Dans Kamer 183 {138}

DeKay, Colonel Thomas 232

Delaware River 219

Delawares, or Lenni-Lenape 219

Di-ononda-howe 70

Dutch Racks (Rechts) 234

Eaquoris-ink 45

Eauketaupucason 34

Esopus 155

Espating 111

Essawatene 121

Etagragon 217

Fall-kill 44

Fish-kill 37

Fort Albany 178

Fort Frederick 178

Fort Orange 178

Frudyach-kamik 162

Ganasnix 173

Gentge-kamike 183 {138}

German Flats 217

Gesmesseecks 61

Glens Falls 136 {186}

Gowanus 90

Greenwich Village 17

Hackingsack 104

Hahnakrois 177

Hashamomuck 99

Hashdisch 140

Haverstraw 124

Hoboken 107

Hog's Island 96

Hohokus 115

Honk Falls 166

Hoosick River 67

Hopcogues 85

Horikans 71

Hudson's River 12

Jamaica 88

Jogee Hill 134

Jogues (Father) 12, 185, 193

Kackkawanick 54

Kadarode 209

Kahoes (Kahoos) 200

Kakeout 32

Kakiate 116

Kanendenra 217

Kaniskek 174

Kapsee (Kapsick) 17

Katawamoke 97

Katonah (Sachem) 35

Kaphack 59

Kaunaumeek 58

Kau-na-ong-ga 228

Kay-au-do-ros-sa 187

Keessienwey's Hoeck 175

Keht-hanne 218

Kenagtiquak 58

Kerhonkson 162

Keschsechquereren 90

Keshethton 231

Kesieway's Kill 57

Keskeskick 22

Keskistk-onck 30

Kestateuw 88

Ketchepunak 85

Kewighec-ack 29

Kinderhook 54 {55}

Kingston 155

Kiosh 15

Kiskatom 174

Kitchaminch-oke 82

Kitchiwan 27

Kit Davit's Kil (Rondout) 161

Kittatinny 31

Koghkehaeje (Coxackie) 176

Koghsaraga 188

Koxing Kil 168

Lackawack 167

Lake Champlain 72

Lake George 71

Lake Tear-of-the-clouds 185

Little Falls 217

Longhouse Creek 137

Machackoesk 58

Machawameck 175

Magaat-Ramis 152

Magatsoot 222

Magdalen Island 46

Maggeanapogh 151

Maghagh-kamieck 223

Magopson 33

Magow-asingh-inck 164

Maharness 35

Mahask-ak-ook 52

Mahequa 122

Mahopack 36

Mahway 112

Mainaitanung 113

Mamakating 227

Mamaroneck 34

Manah-ackaquasu-wanock 101

Manahan 127

Manahawaghin 106 {126}

Manhaset 95

Manhattan 13

Mananosick 49

Manette 91

Manises 101

Mannhon-ake 100

Mannepies 23

Manowtassquott 99

Manuketesuck 35

Manussing 34

Marechkawick 91

Maretange Pond 145

Marsep-inck 93

Maschabeneer 144

Maskahn-ong 87

Maskutch-oung 84 {86}

Massaback 85 {84}

Massape-age 85

Masseks (Maskeks) 144

Mas-seps 86

Masspootapaug 99

Mastic 79

Mathahenaak 180

Matinnec-ock 95

Matouwackey (L. I.) 73

Mattachonts 168

Mattapan 44

Matteawan 37

Mattituck 84

Mawe-nawas-igh 38

Mawichnauk 53

Mawighanuck 58

Mawignack 171

Mattasink 120

Meenahga 230

Meghkak-assin 24

Menagnock 222

Menagh 29

Menisak-congue 122

Memanusack 94

Memorasink 143

Merick 87

Mespaechtes 94

Metambeson 46

Minasser-oke 81

Mingapochka 230

Minnahan-ock 17

Minnepaug 99

Minnischtan-ock 54

Minnissingh 45

Minnisais 15

Minisink 220

Mistucky 133

Mochgonneck-onck 78

Mochquams 33

Mogongh-kamigh 58

Moggonck (Maggonck) 148

Moharsic 35

Mohawk River 189

Mohawk Castles 191, 211

Mombackus 169

Mombasha 116

Monachnong 16

Monatun 16

Monemius Island 180

Mongaup 230

Monhagen 137

Monowautuck 80

Monsey 112

Montauk 75

Mopochock 169 {167}

Moriches 81

Muchito 96

Muhheakun'nuk 11

Murderer's Creek 130

Muscota 19

Much-Hattoes 129

Nachaquatuck 97

Nachawakkano 53

Nachtenack 180

Nahtonk (Recktauck) 18

Namaus 81

Namenock 222

Namke 85

Nanichiestawack 35

Nannakans 28

Nanapenahaken 49

Nanoseck 161

Napanoch 167

Napeak 76

Narranshaw 116

Narratschoan Errata

Narrioch 90

Navers-ing 165

Navish 28

Nawas-ink 124

Nepeneck 224

Nepah-komuk 23

Neperah (Nipproha) 23

Nepestek-oak 177

Nescotack 143

Neversink 102, 226

Neweskake 178

Newburgh 128

New Fort 142

Niamug (Niamuck) 82

Nickankook 49

Niskayune 201

Nissequague 93

Norman's Kill 179

Norumbega 179

Nowadaga 215

Nyack 92, 120

Ochabacowesuck 100

Ochmoach-ing 165

Oghrackee 210

Oi-o-gue 12, 189

Old Fort 164

Onekee-dsi-enos 206

Onekagoncka 191

Oneyagine 217

Oniskethau 177

Onuntadass 207

Orange 103

Oscawanna 26

Osquage (Ohquage) 215

Ossangwack 155

Osserrion 191

Osseruenon 191

Pachonahellick 178

Pachquyak 173

Pagganck 15

Pahhaoke 67

Palmagat 148

Pamerpock 115

Panhoosick 67

Paanpaach (Troy) 63

Papinemen 19

Paquapick 111

Pasgatikook 172

Paskaecq 173

Passaic 111

Passapenoc 61

Patchogue 81

Pattkoke 55

Peakadasank 146

Peconic 83

Peekskill 30

Peenpack 225

Peningo 33

Peppineghek 29

Pequaock (Oyster Bay) 98

Pequannock 111

Peram-sepus 112

Perth Amboy 102

Petuckqua-paug 35

Petuckqua-paen 62

Pietawickqu-assick 41

Pishgachtigok 42

Piskawn 63

Pitkiskaker 145

Pocanteco 25

Pochuck 133

Pockotessewacke 34

Podunk 69

Poesten Kill 62

Pollepel Eiland 127

Pompoenick 58

Pompton 113

Ponkhockie 157

Poosepatuck 79

Poplopen's Creek 125

Poquatuck 79

Potic 173

Potunk (L. I.) 100

Poughkeepsie 43

Poughquag 41

Preumaker's Land 161

Primary Explanations 3

Prince's Falls 126

Quachanock 172

Quahemiscos 180

Quantuck 87

Quaquarion 205

Quarepogat 42

Quarepos 33

Quaspeck 121

Quassaick 128

Quatackqua-ohe 69

Quatawichnack 171

Quauntowunk 78

Quequick 65 {66}

Quinnehung 31

Quissichkook 54

Quogue 87

Ramapo 114

Rapahamuck 94

Rappoos 153

Raritangs 102

Reckgawank 124

Rechqua-akie 87

Rennaquak-onck 92

Rockaway 87

Roelof Jansen's Kill 47

Ronkonkoma 100

Runboldt's Run 133

Sachus (Sachoes) 30

Sacondaga 184

Sacrahung 31

Sacut 88

Sagabon-ock 85

Sag-Harbor 85

Saghtekoos 83

Sahkaqua 54

Sam's Point 146

Sanckhaick 65

Sankagag 177

Sankapogh 125

Saponickan 17

Saratoga 180

Saaskahampka 49

Saugerties 162

Saukhenak 47

Schaghticoke 65

Schakaec-kemick 226

Scharon (Schroon) 184

Schenectady 202

Schodac 59

Schoharie 207

Schunnemunk 131

Scompamuck 59

Senasqua 29

Senatsycrossy 212

Seneyaughquan 226

Shannondhoi 204

Shandaken 169

Shappequa 32

Shaupook 53

Shawanoesberg 229

Shawangunk 140

She'kom'eko 42

Shenandoah 43

Sheepshack 63

Shildrake 27

Shinnec'ock 77

Shokan 165

Shorakkapoch 21

Sickajoock 61

Sickenekas 61

Sicktew-hacky 82

Siesk-assin 176

Sing-Sing 27

Siskakes 111

Sint-Sink 95

Skoonnenoghky 123

Sleepy Hollow 26

Sohanidisse 215

Sokapach 225

So'was'set 99

Speonk 79

Spuyten Duyvil 21

Stighcook 176

Stissing 43

Stoney Point 123

Succabonk 36

Succasunna 104

Sugar-Loaf 132

Suggamuck 94

Sunquams 84

Taghkanick 52

Tammoesis 29

Tauquashqueick 46

Tappans 117

Tawalsentha 13, 179

Tawarataque 154

Tehannek 225

Tenotoge (Tenotehage) 215

Tenkenas 15

Tete-achkie 172

Ticonderoga 71

Ti-oneenda-howe 69

Tionondar-aga 208

Titicus 28

Tomhenack 65

Torne 117

Tri-States Rock 224

Tuckahoe 27, 84

Tuxedo 116

Twastawekah 54

Twischsawkin 140

Tyoshoke 65

Unsheamuck 94

Valatie 59

Van Curler's Journal 193, 194

Vastrix Island 48

Verkerde Kill 147

Wachanekassick 47

Waichachkeekok 172

Wading River 98

Wahamanesing 39

Wallabout Bay 91

Wallam 41

Wallumsch-ack 64

Walpack 228 {227}

Wanaksink 144

Wapemwatsjo 58

Wappingers' Creek 39

Waragh-kameck 46

Waranawonkongs 155

Waranecks 38

Waronawanka 155

Warpoes 19

Wassahawassing 167

Wassaic 41

Watchunk 104

Wathoiack 201

Waumaniuck 34

Wawanaquasik 50

Wawarasinke 166

Wawayanda 134

Waweiantepakook 173

Wawyacbtanock 45

Wechquadnach 42

Wehawken 109

Wehtak 42

Weputing 42

Weque-hackhe 36

Wesegrorap 116

Whalefish Island 63

Wiocopee 36

Wickaposset 99

Wichquapakat 52 {53}

Wichquaskeck 24

Wickqu-atenn-honck 144

Wieskottine 170

Wildmeet 161

Wihlahoosa 227

Wildwijk (Wiltwyck) 160

Winegtekonck 132

Wishauwemis 143

Woerawin 137

Wompenanit 74

Wopowag 99

Wyandanch (Sachem) 79

Wynokie 115

Wynogkee 41

Yaphank 80

Yonkers 23

ERRATA.

Through an oversight in revising manuscript written several years ago,

_Narratschoan_ (page 121) was assigned to the Verdrietig Hoek Mountain.

It should have been assigned to Butter Hill, and _Klinkersberg_ should

have been assigned to the Donderberg. _Klinkers_ is from Dutch _Klinken,_

"To sound, to resound." It describes, with the suffix _-berg,_ a hard

stone mountain or hill that resounds or echoes--Echo Hill. _Narratschoan,_

the name of Butter Hill, is from _Nâï,_ "It is angular, it

corners"--"having corners or angles." (Trumbull.) The letters _-atscho_

stand for _-achtschu,_ Zeisb., _-adchu,_ Natick, "Hill or mountain," and

_-an_ is the formative. The combination may be read, "A hill that forms

an angle or corner." To recover the Indian name of Butter Hill compensates

in some degree for oversight referred to.

Brodhead (Hist. N. Y., i, 757, note), it will be seen by those who will

examine, made the same mistake in locating _Klinkersberg_ that is referred

to above. The "Vischer's Rack" or "Fisherman's Bend" was clearly the bend

around West Point. The Donderberg, or Klinkersberg is the elevation

immediately north of Stony Point.