Hendrick Aupaumut, the Historian of the Stockbridge-Mahicans, wrote: "Ukhkokpeck; it signifies snake-water, or water where snakes are abundant." On a map of the boundary line between Mas'sachusetts and New York an Indian village is located at the outlet of the lake, presumably that known as Scompamuck. Kaphack, on Westenhook River, a place described as " Beginning at an Indian burying-place hard by Kaphack," probaibly means "A separate place" -- "land not occupied." The tract began at "an Indian burying-place," and presumably took its name therefrom. Chepeck, "The dead ;" Chepeack, "Place of the dead." (See Shapequa.) Valatie, the name of a village in Columbia County, is Dutch. It means "Vale, valley, dale, dell," and not "Little Falls," as rendered in French's Gazetteer. Waterval is Dutch for " Waterfall." Vallate, Low Latin for "valley," is the derivative of Valatie, as now written. Schodac, now covered by the village of Castleton (Schotax, 1677; Schotack, 1768), was the place of residence of Aepjin, sachem, or "peace chief," of the Mahicans.^ It has been translated 'Aepjin's name appears of record first in 1645 as the representative of the Westchester County clans in negotiating a treaty of peace with the Dutch. In the same capacity he was at Esopus in 1660. He could hardly have been the "old man" whom Hudson met in 1609. In one entry his name is written "Eskuvius, alias Aepjin (Little Ape)," and in another "Called by the

6o INDIAN GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES.

from Skootay, Old Algonquian (Squta, Williams), "fire," and -ack, "place," literally, "Fire Place," or place of council. It was extended to Smack's Island, opposite Albany, whioh was known to the early Dutch as "Schotack, or Aepjen's Island." It is probable, however, that the correct derivative is to be found in Esquatak, or Eskwatak, the record name of the ridge of land east of Castleton, near which the Mahican fort or palisaded village was located, from which Castleton takes its name.