The daily gazette., 1874-08-25
In Speaking Of the Discovery
Nnd Exploration of the HMd-
son, the 1NthOr says:

IUD6ON EXPLORES THE GREAT RIVER ON
SEPTEMBER 3.
The next thirty days were given to an
exploration Of the Bay Of New York, its
surrounding shores, and q beautiful sail
up the great river, which has ever after
been called by his name. bringing the
Halt Moon to anchor on the Jersey shore,
the natives came in from the surround
ing country, gayly dressed in the furs
and feathers of the forest. Launching
their light canoes they quickly clustered
around the ship with u warm welcome,
and eager proposals for traffic. Hudson
describes their habits and customs. They
seemed to DO happy community, living
upon maize and beans, and carrying with
them their red copper pipes, with earth
en- bowls, and the over present elastic
bows and sharp stone-pointed arrows
They furnished tho Half-Moon with Il
plentiful supply Of good oysters, maize,
and beans.
1t was the loveliest autumn weather,
and Hudson was entranced with the see
merry around him. The lofty Palisades
were clothed with "goodly oaks," grand
er than any he had over seen; and the
Island OF Manhattan, sheltered by q
mighty forest, stretched down the cast
ern side OF the river. Away behind him
rose the green hills Of Staten Island and
the towering heights of Naversink from
the north rolled down the glorious river,
which at first he believed could only be
an arm OF the sea. But loosing the HalJ-
Moon to delicious southern breeze, he
passed up the stream; and when he found
how great discovery he had made, as he
lay off Yonkers, he wrote that st was us
fair n land % can be trodlen by the foot
Cof man.. And so he iloated on leisurely
till fresh breeze swept him by West
Point into the broader reaches beyond.
In the afternoon OF the 18th he came
in view OF the magnificent range of the
Catskills, and as the sun was setting he
hind them, he dropped anchor off the
bold bluff on tho east of the river, where
beautiful city called by his name was
soon afterwards founded. The next day,
at the invitation of an aged chief of the
tribe OF River Indians, he went on shore
to receive their hospitalities. Here he
found himself surrounded by every sign
OF peace and comfort. The chief showed
him to large circular building made of
oak bark, with n high archcd roof, which
was filed with beans and maize, and
stacked around stood last years harvest,
enough to load three ships. A feast was
prepared, and mats We're laid for the
guests. The young men had early gone
to the woods with their bows and arrows
and soon returned with u quantity Of
pigeons. These were cooked, and succo-
tash OF corn and beans were served in
red wooden bowls. But Hudson would
not prolong his visit, and as he was start
ing for his ship the Indians, ono and all,
snapped their arrows in pieces, and cast
them into the fire, in token of friendship.
Traditions Of that visit were long pre-
served by the little River Tribe, and the
stories are still told to the children of
the neighborhood. The navigator had
found q balmier climate than England,
or, above all, Holland, ever knew. No
river in Europe could match, in the mag
nificenco Of its flood and forest scenery,
the lordly stream he had discovered. The
soil was miracle of fertility; the woods
were haunted with game, and the con-
tented and friendly inhabitants had ad-
ded to all these attractions the charms of
the most abundant hospitality. ''Of all
the lands," said Hudson, "on which |
have ever set my feet, this is the best
for tillage."
lie describes the month he passed in
the North River as one of constant de-
light and strange surprises. And well he
may, for as the shores of the Hudson
must then have appeared, still clothed
with the unmarried beauty of naturc,--
water, mountain and sky, all bathcd in
the gorgeous atmosphere of the Indian
summer, 1T must have made u spectacle
of which even those of us who dwell here
to-day can form no just conception ex-
cept by the witchery of fancy. but these
halcyon days could not last forever; the
HdJ Moon had made profitable traffic,
and she was ready for sea.
From Parts One and Tpo of "Om First
Hundred Years; the Life Of the Republic Of
,rards Lester. Published IN t,celpc Monthly
Parts, to be completed july, 1875. United
States Publishing Company, Ne,p Yort.