the hermitess, is taken from a newspaper printed in Poughkeepsie in 1804 :

" As you pass the southern and elevated ridge of the mountain, and begin to descend the southern steep, you meet with a perpendicular descent of a rock, in the front of which is this cave. At the foot of the rock is a gentle descent of rich and fertile ground, extending about ten rods, when it instantly forms a frightful precipice, descending half a mile to the pond called Long Pond. In the front of the rock on the north, where the cave is, and level with the ground, there appears a large frustum of the rock, of a double fathom in size, thrown out by some unknown convulsion of nature, and lying in front of the cavity from which it was rent, partly enclosing the mouth and forming a cover. The rock is left entire above, and forms the roof of the humble mansion. This cavity is the habitation of the hermitess, in which she has passed the best of her years, excluded from all society. She keeps no domestic animal, not even fowl, cat, or dog. Her little plantation, consisting of half an acre, is cleared of its wood and reduced to grass, where she has raised a few peach trees, and yearly plants a few hills of beans, cucumbers, and potatoes. The whole is surrounded by a luxuriant grape vine, which overspreads the surrounding wood, and is very productive. On the opposite side of this little tenement, is a fine fountain of excellent water. At this fountain we found the wonderful woman, whose appearance it is a little difficult to describe. Indeed, like nature in its first state, she was without form ; her dress appeared little else than one confused anil shapeless mass of rags patched together without any order, which obscured all human shape, excepting her head which was clothed with a luxuriance of lank grey hair, depending on every side as time had formed it, without any covering or ornament.