Previous to the erection of the Croton dam, the shad fish annually ascended the river to Katonah or Wittlockville, a distance of nearly thirty miles from the Hudson ; trout are taken here in great abundance. The several tributaries of the Kitchawan or Croton in this town supply a great abundance of mill seats. There is also a small 'stream that runs north from the ullage of Bedford to Long Island Sound (to which we have already alluded) called Myanos River. The mills are numerous and more than equal to the wants of the inhabitants. The general surface of Bedford is elevated, though broken by small hills, and valleys, has very little of waste ground. The arable, pasture, and meadow lands, are in very just proportion for a good farming country, and the whole is well watered by springs, brooks, and rivulets, the latter of a good size for mills ; the summits of the hills afford many extensive and interesting prospects, but the hills are stony and hard to till, though they yield good crops of grain, grass, and all the common fruits."

In the vicinity of Bedford sulphuret of iron, and the oxide of iron occur in beds of sand, also quartz, and slate are found in numerous localities.

a Religious Sue. Lib. 8. 69.

THE TOWN

or

OORTLANDT,

This town formerly belonged to the great manor of Cortlandt, which also comprehended the present townships of North Salem, Somers, Yorktown and a large portion of Lewisboro'. The name itself is derived from the the ancient family of the Van Cortlandts', the mesne Lords, and first grantees from the Indians. Under the Mohegans or "enchanted wolf tribe," Cortlandt-town appears to have been divided between the two chiefs of Sachus and Ketchawany -- the former of whom exercised jurisdiction over the lands of Weshqua, Canopus, Wenneebus, Appamaghpogh and Meahagh, a territory extending from the south side of Verplanck's Point to St.