ABORIGINAL PLACE NAMES OF NEW YORK 55 



Grand Sachem mountain, in the town of Fishkill, retains an 

 Indian title. 



New Hackensack village is in Fishkill. This New Jersey name 

 means loivland. 



K'tah-ka-nah-shaii has been translated hig mountains, and is 

 sometimes applied to those in this country. 



Man-ca-pa-wi-wick was a small stream near Mansakin meadow. 



Man-sa-ken-ning, 1686, is now Jackomyntie's Fly. It seems the 

 same as the next. 



"A fresh meadow called Mansakin " was part of the line of the 

 Eaquaquannessinck tract. 



Mat-a-pan, near Poughkeepsie and on the line of the Veil tract, 

 seems referred to in a purchase of June 15, 1680. These tracts 

 were sold on Mynachkee (?) kill. One included the creek from 

 the river to the second fall, called Matapan, 3 miles from the Hud- 

 son, and Papakaing kill among others. Trumbull said that Mata- 

 pan meant sitting down place, referring to a portage. Such a 

 meaning seems improbable here. 



Mat-te-a-wan mountains, village and creek. Ruttenber thought 

 Moulton wrong in calling the Highlands by this name, and said it 

 was the Indian name for Fishkill creek, usually defined good furs. 

 He preferred little zvater or motion, or else large zvater in the valley, 

 for the 'lower part of the creek. The definitions are far apart. 

 Schoolcraft made the meaning enchanted furs or skins, not merely 

 good furs. Brodhead derived it from metai, magician, and wian, 

 skin; that is, charmed skin or fur. It has been also defined as 

 council of good fire. Spafford said of the Matteawan mountains : 

 '■ These were called Matteawan by the aborigines, the country of 

 good fur, their name also for the creek, that we now call Vis-kill, 

 and Fishkill, a Dutch name old enough to be legitimate, but not half 

 so old or so appropriate for a range of mountains as Matteawan." 



Ma-wen-a-wa-sigh, Great Wappinger's kill. Maevenawasigh is 

 the same. Ruttenber defined this as a large zuaterfall, while others 

 make it large and good stream and cascade. 



Me-tam-be-sem, 1688, is now Sawmill creek. 



A tract called Mi-nis-singh and a waterfall called Pooghkepe- 

 singh, in the Highlands, were a free gift from an Indian, May 5, 



