(First paragraph by James R. Finch.)

Historical references to the Indians who occupied this territory in the early days are very confusing and contradictory. There seems to be a great deal of trouble in the use of the word Manhattan. Van der Donck in 1633 classified the Indians of this section by language, and said, "Four distinct languages – namely Manhattan, Minqua, Savanos and Wappanoos" – are spoken by Indians. "With the Manhattans we include those who live in the neighboring places along the North River, on Long Island, and at the Neversinks." (Wilson, Memorial History of N. V., Vol. I, p. 34.) It is probable that "it was.... this clas- sification by dialect that led the Dutch to the adoption of the generic title of Manhattans as the name of the people among whom they made settle- ments." (Ibid., p. 49.) De Laet wrote that "on the east side, on the mainland, dwell the Manhattans," and in 1632 Wassenaer adds that they are "a bad race of savages, who have always been unfriendly,to our people" and that "on the west side are the Sanhikans, who are the, deadly enemies of the Manhattans." (Ibid., p. 34.) "When Hudson returned from his trip up the River which now bears his name, he was attacked by Indians in birch or dug-out (?) canoes at the mouth of Spuyten Duyvil Creek. These Indians were a sub-tribe of the Wappingers or Wapanachki called the Reckgawawancs." (Ibid., p. 46.) This name seems to have been given to the Indians who inhabited Manhattan Island, while the term Manhattans as already stated was a classification of dialect only. Ruttenber says that the Reckgawawancs were named after their chief Rechgawac; (Ruttenber, op. cit., p. 78. ) and the name also seems to have been applied to part of the island for Riker says that, –"The Indians still [in 1669] laid claim to portions of the Harlem lands, .... one of the tracts being their old and favorite haunt Rechewanis, or Montague's Point. The chief claimant was Rechewack, the old Sachem and proprietor of Wickquaskeek, who, as far back as 1639, had been a party to the sale of Ranachqua and Kaxkeek." (History of Harlem, p. 287.)

Not much is known of their habits and customs beyond what has been inferred from the relics to be seen in this exhibit, but Mr. Bolton writes:

We are not without detailed description of our primeval predecessors upon the island of Manhattan, for the Hollanders recorded many of their impressions of aboriginal peculiarities. We may assume that they possessed the usual characteristics, the stolid demeanor, the crafty methods, and revengeful nature of the Indian, all of which were exhibited in their dealings with the White intruders. These vocal bands appear to have had, in addition, some particular local habits. They painted their faces with red, blue, and yellow pigments, to such a distortion of their features, that, as one sententious Dominic expressed it, 'They look like the devil himself.' Their dependence on supplies of game and fish caused their removal from one place to another, semi-annually, and we read of their removal to a summer 'hunting-ground' in Westchester, whence the band returned to `Wickers Creek,' for the winter shelter, and to resume their occupation of oystering and fishing in the Harlem and Spuyten Duyvil Creek.

As for dress, `They go,' said Juet, `in deerskins, loose well-dressed, some in mantles of feathers, and some in skins of divers sorts of good furres. They had red copper tobacco pipes, and other things of copper they do weare about their neckes.'

No copper objects have been found in upper Manhattan, probably their metallic stock was bartered away with the early colonists, for in 1625, De Laet described their use of `Stone pipes for smoking tobacco.'

As regards their food, the evident abundance and size of the local oyster shells shows that they possessed in them a ready source of subsistence. As soon as Hudson's ship reached the neighborhood of Greenwich, where the Indian Village Sappokanikan was located, the natives `brought great store of very good oysters aboard, which we bought for trifles.' De Laet (1625) says, `their food is maize, crushed fine and baked in cakes, with fish, birds and wild game.' Van der Donck and others wrote in 1649:

Their fare, or food, is poor and gross, for they drink water, having no other beverage; they eat the flesh of all sorts of game that the country supplies, even badgers, dogs, eagles and similar trash, which Christians in no way regard; these they cook and use uncleansed and undressed.

Moreover, all sorts of fish; likewise, snakes, frogs and such like, which they usually cook with the offals and entrails.

They know also, how to preserve fish and meete for the winter, in order then to cook them with Indian meal.

They make their bread, but of very indifferent quality, of maize, which they also cook whole, or broken in wooden mortars.

The women likewise perform this labor, and make a apa or porridge called by some, Sapsis, by other, Duundare, which is their daily food, they mix this also thoroughly with little beans, of different colors, raised by themselves; this is esteemed by them rather as a dainty than as a daily dish.

Their weapons were, of course, the usual aboriginal bow, arrow, spear, club and tomahawk, though but a few years later, they had acquired from the settlers enough fire-arms to become exceedingly expert in their use. 'Now, those residing near, or trading considerably with the Christians, make use of fire-locks and hatchets, which they obtain in barter. They are excessively fond of guns; spare no expense on them, and are so expert with them, that in this respect they excell many Christians.' Many of their discarded neolithic weapons have been found, and these exhibit a wide variety of material and workmanship, indicating considerable acquisitions from other tribes and localities. Their household utensils included `mats and wooden dishes,' and Juet refers to their `pots of earth to dresse their meats in,' and speaks also of the women bringing `hempe.' The character of the grass mats which the women wove is to be seen in the imprints made with such material upon the outer surface of some of the local pottery. They also made the grass baskets, often referred to in early records, as `napsas.' The pots of earth were the large earthenware vessels made by the Indian women, on the decorations of the rims and upper portions of which these poor creatures expended all their ingenuity and sense of art.

Of these objects, there remain a number of interesting examples discovered in upper -Manhattan, the most complete, and at the same time, most artistic, being the fine Iroquoian vessel discovered by Mr. W. L. Calver, on the south side of 214th Street, about 100 feet cast of 10th Avenue, in the fall of 1906. The large vases found in broken condition in the cave at Cold Spring, are of the cruder and therefore, earlier design of the original Algonkian inhabitants, who at a later period, probably by barter, and perhaps by inter-marriage, acquired or learned the art of Iroquoian design and decoration.

Of the period during Which the race occupied this locality, we can only make conjectures. The extent and character of the shell heaps at Cold Spring and the pits and burials at Seaman Avenue, certainly indicate a settlement of large numbers or of considerable age. The ceremonial pits at 212th Street and certain remains of aboriginal feasting, such as fish bones and oyster shells, appeared to exist at a level below the graves of the slaves of the settlers, buried at that place.

While these conjectures may cam- back the period of occupancy to antiquity, the tools and weapons are all of the modern order, and no objects of true paleolithic character (lave been discovered, so that we have as vet nothing definitely reaching back into the remote ages of the most primitive mankind, although on Hunt's Point in the Bronx, at no great distance away from our island, a very interesting rude ax and a hammer were discovered by Mr. Calver in a gravel-pit, near the old Hunt burying-ground.

The Indians of Manhattan Island and Vicinity

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