On the 11th of September Hudson sailed through the Narrows, and after anchoring one day in the New York bay proceeded up the river to the present site of Albany, hoping to find the long-sought passage to the East Indies. Unwilling to believe he had reached the head of navigation, he despatched a party to sound the river higher up. They proceeded eight or nine leagues, and finding but seven feet of water they returned with the unwelcome intelligence. The voyage up the river, though a disappointment, was a pleasant excursion. The rocky Palisades, lofty Highlands, and the majestic curves of the sweeping silver current, appear to have lingered long in the minds of these bold adventurers. The natives gave them a friendly reception, spreading before them the best the country afforded.

The country was indeed rich. Hudson declared that in one Indian village he saw a quantity of corn and beans sufficient to fill three ships, and that the neighboring fields were burdened with luxuriant crops.

Two unfortunate occurrences in this voyage tarnish the character of Hudson and his crew. They communicated to the red man the fatal, intoxicating bowl. Sailors must always have a revel while on shore, and one occurred during their stay at Albany—the first on the banks of that beautiful river. Secondly, he had rudely captured while at Sandy Hook two natives, whom he designed to carry with him to Holland. Both escaped on his passage up the river, or at their drunken carousal, and with manly courage collected their forces to resent this breach of faith on his return. A fleet of well-filled canoes at Spuyten Duyvil attacked and attempted to board the vessel. A musket shot from the ship killed one native and scattered the rest. Opposite Washington Heights the attack was renewed as the vessel floated down