Others supposed it to be a great sea monster, and that those in it had more the appearance of devils than human beings, at least a strange report circulated through the country and caused a great consternation among them.'

What must have been the wonder then, of the Nap-pe-ckamak settlement, when they beheld the apparition anchor off the mouth of the Saw mill, especially when we conjure up old Master Hendrick Hudson standing upon the poop of his round built yatch, and Master Robert Juet and brother officers in their tall shovelled brim hats and doublets. This arrival must have created quite a talk among the Mohegan squaws of Nappeckaa Mr. H. Schoolcraft suggests, that the term " Tabanzee," which means in the Algonquin, a short crouching person, may originally have been applied to this noble clifF. Proceed, of N. Y. Hist. Soc, 1844. It is 549 feet above the level of the Hudson.

b Moultou's Hist, of N. Y., p. 238. -[■' >..,.

« Moullon Hist., p. 256.

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 463

mak. In connection with the Palisades and the river, the romantic legend of the " storm ship" must not be forgotten. To the great terror of the early colonists, she would appear gliding by the Palisades bearing her Dutch colors, the evening sun gilding her canvass as she came riding over the billows on her voyage down the river like Moore's spectre ship, bound to " Dead man's isle."

Occasionally the village and landing appear to have been enlivened by the march and embarkation of troops. The following extract occurs in the journal of Lewis Morris, Judge of the Admiralty : June 4th, 1746, returned home, dined at Westchester, when the detachments from Q,ueens county and Westchester marched to Colonel Philipse's, in order to embark for Albany, on board of Captain Conradts Derrike's sloop, who lay there for that purpose.''^ This was on occasion of the war with France, when the Colony of New York was making formidable preparations for the reduction of Canada.