the Raritans and

the

Hackinsacks.

Governor's

island was called by the Indians, Pagganck ; Bedloe's island, Minnisais ; Ellis' island, Kiosbk; and Blackwell's island, Minna-

" at the " the island island," or kanock, the latter signifying ct The word is a compound of Menahan, an island, home." and uck, locality." (O' Callaghan).

On

the point of land now occupied by Fort Schuyler is lo cated a tradition which Judge Benson relates in his Memoirs

of New York.

ping stones,

Directly opposite the fort are the famous step consisting of a number of rocks which project

On a map descriptive of the battle

near

Lake George,

Stones

is

in

also applied

1755,

Stepping

the

palisades

to

on

the Hudson.

iv,

259.

Documentary

History,

APPENDIX. in a line from

the Long Island shore, and show their bare tops

at low water.

" An Indian

origin," says Benson, for this name, and a tradition vouched as authority."

" is asserted It is said,

that at a certain time the evil spirit set up a claim against the to but they being as his domain Indians, ; Connecticut, peculiar

of course, to try to hold it. The surface of Connecticut and reverse Island then the were Long in possession, determined,

of what they are now. The latter was covered with rocks ; Connecticut was free from them. The Indians first tried to with his majesty ; offering to retire from the land, provided they were permitted to girdle the trees and remove their No answer was made to the proposition, and property. negotiate