THE TOWN OF PELHA.M. 37 



quartz and the bones of a small animal. This practice of burying their 

 favorite utensils and weapons with the deceased, is known to be an 

 ancient Indian custom. By way of accounting for the numerous mounds 

 which occur so close to the waters edge, on the north-east side of the 

 neck, it is said that the small-pox was introduced among the Indians 

 through the medium of blankets, and that when they applied for a remedy 

 they were told to bathe in the salt water which proved almost instant 

 death to hundreds. Near the residence of the late L. R. Marshall, the 

 remains of an Indian were found in a very perfect state of preservation 

 with a gun by his side. On the extreme point of this beautiful neck 

 which commands the magnificent scenery of Hutchinson's Bay, lies 

 another Indian cemetery. The shores of the " Great Bay of the Island 

 of shells" Sewanhacky, shaded with their ancient forests of nut and oak, 

 interspersed with grassy glades must have afforded favorite sites for the 

 Indian villages. Here the Indians would obtain their supplies of fish, 

 which they so much needed, especially in the winter season to eke out 

 the scanty subsistence derived from the chase ; and here, too, they found 

 an abundant supply of their favorite Quckog from which they manu- 

 factured their Seawant or wampum ; well, then, might they call the 

 country " Laaphawachkixg." or the place of stringing beads, bordering 

 on the " Maminketesuck" or "Broad Flowing River." 



On the property of Mr. Elbert Roosevelt, just west of Pelham Prion-, 

 great quantities of Indian arrow heads have been discovered in one 

 particular spot ; leading to the supposition, that an extensive manufactory 

 of that article once existed here. 



Directly in front of the Priory, on the opposite side of the post-road, 

 leading from Pelham through to New Rochelle, is situated a rocky 

 knoll covered with cedars overlooking Shoal harbor, the Sound and 

 neighboring Islands called the " Haunted Cedar Knoll." There was 

 formerly a current belief in the neighborhood, that the forms of many 

 headless Indians, might be seen on moonlight nights, in a circle, per- 

 forming a kind of war dance on its summit, with heads in their hands, 

 and that these apparitions still haunted the cedars and surrounding 

 glens and woods. It is more than probable that a severe and sanguinary 

 battle had taken place here, in early times between the Matinecocks of 

 "Sewanhacky" and the Siwano/s of " Laaphawachking " which re- 

 sulted in the defeat of the latter and their subsequent decapitation. 

 Hence, the headless apparitions of " Cedar Knoll." 



Nearly opposite the Knoll on a point of Hunter's Island is located a 

 mossy rock, or boulder stone, called the ' : Grey Mare." To this piece 

 of rude natural sculpture, the Indians invariably paid just respect, be- 



