From Hellgate along the Sound, including the whole eastern side of Westchester County, and Connecticut, as far as Norwalk and its islands, and inland to the valley of the Bronx and the head waters of the Croton, a single and numerous tribe possessed all the land. These were the Sewanoes, or Siwanoys, as de Laet writing in 1624, the earliest and most trustworthy authority on New Netherland history, distinctly states.' They had several towns in this territory, some of which were fortified. One of the latter occupied the beautiful height in the township of Westchester overlooking the Sound, on which still stands the old seat of the Wilkins family, which from it has always borne, and still bears, the name of " Castle Hill." A village, and also a burial-place, existed on Pelham Neck, another on Davenport's

1 De Laet's New World, ch. VIII.

Neck in New Rochelie, still another on Heathcote Hill and Nelson's Hill, at the head of Mamaroneck Harbor. A fifth, and a very large one, was on the attractive banks of Rye Lake in the northern end of the town of Harrison. Besides these there were scattered collections of a few lodges in other places chiefly resorted to in the fishing and hunting seasons. One of these was at Throg's Point, another at the extreme point of Pelham Neck, another on de Laucey's Neck at the narrowest point at the mouth of the Harbour, where a small creek running into the Harbour from the west, and a round field.of upland adjacent to it, are still known as the Indian creek, and the Indian field, and the point itself as Indian Point. A fourth existed on Milton Neck, and a fifth on Manussing Island, both in the town of Rye. This account of the Westchester Indians is based upon a study of de Laet, de Vries, Van der Donck, O'Callaghan, Brodhead, Moulton, Schoolcraft, Ruttenber, and an examination of many Indian deeds, and records of councils.