Spreading on the delightful banks of the Hudson it rises gradually to a height of one hundred and eighty feet above tide water overlooking the magnificent scenery of the Tappan Bay, near its confluence with the Croton. A beautiful ravine intersects the village, running nearly east and west, through which flows a pretty stream called the Sin Sinck run, or Kill brook. These waters rise among the hills east of the village, and after giving animation to numerous picturesque scenes, empty into the Hudson, near the vicinity of the upper dock. The course of this brook a mile above the village, is marked by some singular phenomena. Among these are the Devil's stairs, formed in the face of a perpendicular rock 60 feet high, consisting of 16 steps. This extraordinary freak of nature is best seen from the south west bank of the ravine. Directly beneath the stairs in the rocky bed of the river, are some rude marks closely

492 HISTORY OF THE

resembling the prints of horses shoes. These however, are only visible at low water. Immediately to the south, and almost close to the water's edge is situated the Indian cave. The whole of the above, are on the property of Mr. Stephen Todd. The rocks of the same region abound in copper ores, such as copper pyrites, black sulphuret of copper and green carbonate of copper, likewise iron pyrites, but they are not found in such abundance as to warrant any extensive operations.

The site of the present village of Sing Sing, is supposed to occupy partly the ground on which stood the ancient Indian settlement of Sing Sing, nearly 200 years since. The existence of Indian habitations upon this particular spot, is amply proved by the vast number of shell beds, arrow heads and stone axes, still found in the neighborhood.