with a boat's crew, to explore the river some distance higher up. It
is supposed that the boat ascended several miles above the present
site of the city of Albany, Hudson probably going a little beyond
where the town of Waterford now is. Upon the return of the boat, the
mate having reported that it was useless to attempt any farther ascent
of the river with the ship, Sir Henry commenced his return.

Carefully descending the winding channel of the stream, he was so
unfortunate as to run the ship on a mud bank, in the middle of the
river nearly opposite the present city of Hudson. Without much
difficulty the vessel was again floated, having received no injury.
But contrary winds detained him upon the spot two days. In the
meantime several boat parties visited the banks on both sides of the
stream. They were also visited by many of the natives who were
unremitting in their kindness.

A fair wind soon springing up they ran down the river eighteen miles,
passing quite a large Indian village where Catskill now stands, and
cast anchor in deep water, near Red Hook. Baffled by opposing winds
and calms, they slowly worked their way down the stream, the next two
days, to near the present point of Castleton. Here a venerable old
man, the chief of a small tribe, or rather patriarchal family of forty
men and seventeen women, came on board in his birch canoe. He gave Sir
Henry a very cordial invitation to visit his little settlement of
wigwams, picturesquely nestled upon the banks of the river. Distance
lends enchantment to the view. The little hamlet in a sheltered cove
where fertile meadows were spread out, was surrounded by fields waving
with the harvest. From the deck of the ship the scene presented was
one of peace, prosperity and happiness. The smoke ascended gracefully
from the wigwam fires, children were sporting upon the beach, and