For many ages Manhattan lay buried in these western solitudes, separated by a wide and stormy ocean from all the bustling activities of the civilized world. During a long period it is now known to have been the favorite resort of the Indians of the Hudson river country who gathered here in vast numbers, built their rustic villages, and spent the summer months in fishing, baking clams, and hunting. Centuries before civilization found its way to these shores, the broad bay now whitened with the sails of a hundred nations was dotted with the canoes of an ingenious race, whose history is now too nearly obliterated. Their lands they owned in common, the only divisions being between the different tribes. Their habitations were constructed of saplings and bark, with no windows, floors, or chimneys. Their villages were located on spots of ground naturally clear of wood, and contained from twenty to several hundred families, which in time of war they surrounded with a fence or stockade. To agriculture they gave no attention, save the planting of Indian corn, beans, peas, and pumpkins. Both sexes were exceedingly fond of display in dress, illustrating the old saying, that "man in robes or in rags is a proud little animal." The Indian women wore long, black hair, plaited and rolled up behind, where it was fastened with a band. Their petticoats were ornamented with exquisite taste and skill, and would bring a fine sum in our day. This garment hung from a belt or waist-girdle made of dressed deerskin, highly ornamented with Indian money called sewant. Pendants hung upon their foreheads, necks, and arms, and handsomely trimmed moccasins adorned their feet.

The men were no less attentive to dress. Upon their shoulders they hung a mantle of deer-skin, with the fur next their bodies, while the outside of the garment displayed a variety of designs in paint. The edges of the mantle were trimmed with swinging points of fine workmanship. Their heads were variously ornamented; some wearing feathers, and others different articles of a showy character. Their necks and arms displayed ornaments of elaborate workmanship. They painted themselves in a variety of colors according to their peculiar tastes, rendering their appearance grotesque and frightful. They were tall and slender, had black or brown eyes, snow-white teeth, a cinnamon complexion, and were fleet and sprightly. They had no care but to provide for present subsistence and secure pleasure. They were very superstitious, believing in dreams, signs, and various omens. They had crude notions of the Great Spirit and the Spirit Land. When one died they placed his body in a grave in a sitting posture, shielding it from contact with the earth by a covering of boughs, and from the wild beasts by a burden of stone and earth. By his side in the grave was also placed his implements of war and pleasure, some money and food to serve him on his journey to the Spirit Land. The science of war was his greatest accomplishment, and to die without any display of weakness or fear, his highest virtue. Oratory was considerably cultivated among them. When first discovered their manners and habits contrasted so strangely with everything in Europe, that they were supposed to possess few, if indeed any, of the affections and higher emotions of humanity, but to be more closely allied to the lower orders of creation. Time has, however, shown their native regard for integrity and honor, and under the appliances of mental and moral culture, the Indian head and heart have proved capable of high attainments.