ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW YORK 10 1 



found that stream on the east and the Mohawk on the north con- 

 venient barriers against their foes. Arent Van Corlaer found them 

 thus grouped within a space of about 14 miles when'he visited 

 them in 1634. A careful computation makes each of his miles 

 average about two English miles, and his itinerary, based on this, 

 is interesting. The first day he traveled 16 miles and lodged near 

 Vyoge (Oiogue) a Mohawk word for " at the river,'' mentioning 

 it as a stream which ran past their castles. Next morning they 

 went about two miles and crossed this river, following its course 

 westerly for 20 miles farther. When morning came the river was 

 recrossed and they were soon at Onekagoncka, the first castle of 

 the Mohawks, a mile farther on or about 39 miles from Albany. 

 They then went to Canowarode a mile farther. Senatsycrosy was 

 passed at the end of another mile and another three miles brought 

 them to the second castle Canagere, 44 miles from Albany. Two 

 miles beyond this they forded a deep stream swollen by heavy rains. 

 A mile beyond was the third castle Sohanidisse, 47 miles from 

 Albany. A mile farther was Osguage, and another swollen stream 

 even more dangerous. Cawaoge was at the end of the next mile. 

 Two miles beyond was the fourth castle Tenotoge, about 51 miles 

 from Albany and east of the present Canajoharie. In this space 

 were four castles and four villages. 



That this estimate is approximately correct appears from the 

 farther itinerary where the miles may have been less exact. They 

 left the river, as was customary, and took the direct but more hilly 

 trail to Oneida, then a little east of Munnsville on Oneida creek. 

 The five days' journeys were respectively 14, 15, 15, 16 and 9 

 English miles on this basis, or 69 miles, making a total dis- 

 tance from Albany to Oneida of 120 miles. The N. Y. C. railroad 

 distance to that stream is 122 miles. Others make different esti- 

 mates, but the writer has carefully considered the matter and 

 believes his statement correct. 



The return march is summarized but the party followed the same 

 route, finding the cabin burned where they had hoped to lodge 

 after leaving the lower castle. Four miles by guess, east of that 

 castle, the savages pointed out a high mountain where they had 



