120 



the near-precipice above, dwelt members of a tribe of Indians 

 who were inhabiting the upper end of Manhattan Island when 

 the white men arrived in the early 1600's. These were the 

 "Rechgawawanc, probably 'Rechgawac's people' [Rechgawac 

 being the sachem] but they were part of the Weckquaesgeek, 

 a larger chieftaincy which had its headquarters at Dobbs 

 Ferry. "^ That these Indians lived here is attested by the 

 finding of their rude implements buried in layers of ashes on the 

 floors of the caves, and by the ancient shell heaps, the remains 

 of which may still be seen near the path leading down into the 

 valley and elsewhere in this neighborhood. "Here, in the soli- 

 tude of wild nature, it will take but little effort of the imagina- 

 tion to bring before the mind the scene, when the bustling 

 horde of Reckgawawanc swarmed about the rocks, through 

 the woods, and along the banks of the creek — the men bearing 

 from their log canoes baskets filled with oysters, the squaws 

 mending grass nets and hempen fishing lines, or filling the cook- 

 ing-pots with red-hot stones from the wood fires, the smoke of 

 which blackened and the heat of which split the sides of the 

 rocks beneath which they were kindled; the girls carrying 

 water in gourds from the gushing spring; the boys playing games 

 with bones or stones or practicing their future prowess with bow 

 and arrow; while the papooses with baby stolidity were perched 

 near the crackling fires, sucking a bone of the latest toothsome 

 addition to the larder, be it deer, dog, or bear. 



Or amid the wintry snows, when the fires were kindled in- 

 side the rock-shelters, and within the bark huts erected on the 

 shell-covered knolls, one can readily picture the same occupants 

 wrapped in furry bear, downy beaver, or silky deer skins, 

 huddled around the crackling logs, pounding corn, boiling 

 "sapsis," scraping hides, splitting pebbles and flints, and 

 longing for the return of spring."^ 



The "gushing spring," which they must have cherished, has 

 been cleared out and preserved in a most fitting and artistic 

 manner by the Dyckman Institute, and will be found near the 

 shore of the creek and by the side of the little building which 

 forms the Indian Museum of the Institute. 



3 Bolton, R. p., 1. c. p. 3. 

 ^ Bolton, 1. c. p. 14. 



