At the period of the Dutch discovery, it was styled by the aborigines Ranachque, or Raraqne, an appellation which doubtless refers to some object peculiar to its geographical locality. The Indians appear to have resided principally on the shores of the East and Haarlem River. Of this, the extensive "shell beds," which are still to be seen, afford conclusive evidence. Within a few years several Indian tumuli have been accidentally opened in the vicinity of Governeur Morris's residence, and found to contain large sized skeletons of the aborio^ines. The first grantee under the sachems of Ranachque was Jonas Bronck, in 1639, i' who subsequently obtained a " grond brief" from the Dutch authorities. In 1639 we find the patroon of Bronclc's land leasing a portion of his territory in the following manner: "Appeared before me, Cornelius van Tienhoven, secretary in New iNetherland, in presence of the undersigned witnesses -- Mr. Jonas Bronck from one side, and Peter Andriessen and Lourent Dayts from the other, wiio agreed together amicably in the following n)anner: said Mr. Bronck shall show to the persons aforesaid a certain lot of land, of which he is proprietor, and which is situated opposite the river and the plain of Manhattan ; in which lot aforesaid they may cultivate tobacco and maize, upon the express condition that they shall clear and cultivate, every two years, a fresh spot for raising their tobacco and maize, and then the spot which they cultivated before shall return again to Mr. Bronck aforesaid, to dispose of according to pleasure ; they shall be further obliged to return the field that they again surrender, that it is in proper order to be ploughed, and sowed with grain : this lot of ground they shall