R., about five miles south of the city of Hudson, was so called from a hill in the interior just north of the line of the town of Livingston, from wh[ch the land slopes west towards the Hudson and south to Roelof Jansen's Kill. jj ' Vastrix is a compression of Dutch f'l'asfe Rak as written on Van der Donck's map of 1656, meaning, "The fast or steady reach or sailing course," which began here. The island is the first island lying north of the mouth of the Katskill. It is now known as Roger's Island.

NAMES ON THE EAST FROM MANHATTAN NORTH. 49

tainly to the bluff as the only permanenit objective on the Hudson. The connection of the "small run of water" with the boundmark should entitle it to more particular description than has been given to it by local writers. Nickankook, Kickua and Weckqashake are given as the names of "three flats" vvhic'h, with "some small flats," were included in the first purchase by Livingston, and described as "Situate on both sides" of the kill called Saukhenak (Roelof Jansen's Kill). The Indian deed also included all land "Extending along the bank of the river northwards from Roelof Jansen's Kill to a small stream opposite Catskill named Wachanekassik." The names of the three flats are variously spelled -- Nickankooke, Nickankook, etc. The first has been translated by Mr. Wm. R. Gerard from Nichdnhkiik, "At the bend in front." Kickua, the second, is untranslatable. Wickquashaka, Wequakake, etc., is the equivalent of Wequaohke, "End land" or place. The kill flows through a valley of broad and fertile flats, but near the Hudson it breaks through the limestone bluff which forms the east line of the Hudson, and its banks are steep and rocky. Saaskahampka, Indian deed ; Suaskahampka patent of 1684 -- the southwest boundmark of the Livingston Patent, is described as "A dry gully at Hudson's River." It is located about opposite Sawyer's Creek, north of the present Saugerties or Esopus Creek.