56 J.UA'AVr.l.V MCShl'M CJIDK LP:AFLP:TS 



Mi>. Mai\ A. Holion Post, in \vritin<i- to the editor of "Tlie Eyoning 

 Post," June liltli of the year of the ojx'nin^ of the Harlem Shij) (anal 

 (1895), speaks of some Indians who were allowed to eamp on the south 

 sideof Spuyten ])u\ vil ( 'icck on tlic Bolton j)ropertyin 1817. Ruttenber 

 says that the I{eckj!;awanc had their principal village at Vonkers, but 

 that on I^eirian's Neck (Si)uyten Duyvil Hill) was situated their castle 

 or fort called Nij)inichsen. This foit was protected b}' a strong stockade 

 and conunanded the romantic scenery of the Papirinimen, or Spuyten 

 Duyvil Creek, and the Mahicanituk (Hudson River), the junction of 

 which was called the Shorackappock. It was from this castle that the 

 Indians came who attacked Hudson on his retinn down the river.^ 

 Some small shell (lei)()sits occur on Sjiuyten Du\'vil Hill, but as 3'et this 

 ''castile" has not been definitely located. The village site at Yonkers, 

 according to Mr. James, is now covered bj' buildings; but several relics 

 found near the site years ago are now in the Manor Hall at that place 

 (1904). 



Judging from these references, we might conclude that the territory 

 occu])ied by the tribe commonly known as Manhattan included Man- 

 hattan Island and that part of the mainland which is west of the Bronx 

 River south of Yonkers, and that th(\<e Indians were a su])-tril)e of the 

 AVappinger division of the Mahikan. 



Notable Types of Remains. 



Dog Burials. The first dog ])iuials were found by Mr. C'alver in 

 1895. The first burial was unearthed at the sunnnit of a lidge of soft 

 earth at 209th Street, near the Harlem River. The ridge, which was 

 about twelve feet high, had been partly cut away for the grading of 

 Ninth Avenue. It was at the highest part of the hillock that a pocket 

 of oyster and clam shells was noticed, from which a few fragments of 

 Indian pottery which lay on the face of the bank had evidently fallen. 

 The shells, upon inspection, were found to have sensed as a covering for 

 the skeleton of a dog or wolf. Another burial was found on May 18th 

 within fifty yards of the first l)urial. It had been covered with shells 

 just as the first one, but had l^een disturbed by workmen. Mr. Calver 

 says: ''The two canine burials were situated at a point just without the 

 ])orders of the Harlem River shell-heap and were distinct from it. The 

 .shells weie found to be matched, hence it was concluded that they were 

 thrown in unopcMied or eaten on the spot. As the skeletons were intact 



iHuttciihcr, pp. 77 78. 



