In front flows the Hudson like a broad silvery mirror ; while opposite, tower in majesty the basaltic rocks of the Palisades. <= Northward, the view is terminated by the highlands of Tappaan and

a Vander Donck's N. N., N. Y. Hist. Soc. p. Ser. i. 143.

b The Horse Chesnut is extensively used in Europe for avenues. At Ghent, one borders the Bruges canal of a mile and a half in length.

c The Indian name for the palisades is supposed to have been that of the present town of Wehawken.. the term a\vk,to indicate a structure of rocks resembling trees. Schoolcraft.

462 HISTORY OF THE

the distant hills of Westchester, which bound the eastern shore of the Tappaan Zee. The pron:iinent cliff at the south-west corner of Rockland Co., presents a noble object viewed from this spot. It boldly projects at the entrance of the Zee, and in a bright summer's day may be seen casting its shade upon the waters. a- A very deep interest attaches itself to this spot, when we recollect, that on the afternoon of the 13th Sep., 1609, Hendrick Hudson "takino- advantage of a light wind and flood tide, anchored the " Halve Maen"'' near where the village pier projects into the Hudson. The old Dutch Patroon of this town, Adriaen van der Donck, in his N. Nelh. Vertoo^h, (a rare old book printed just 41 years after the discovery of Hudson) tells us what our native tribes thought when they for the first time saw this wondrous vessel." '