The larger pond overflowed in two directions, east and west, the western outlet passing along the base of Kolch hill to a wide area of marsh-land which extended in a northwesterly direction to Hudson river. On the east side the overflowing water had found an outlet to East river, along the line of the present Roosevelt street, passing through a marshy tract which was later the "vly" or meadow of Wolphert Gerritsen, and even in our modern times is known as "the Swamp."

The waters of East river, as well as the tide of the Hudson, seem to have penetrated to the Kolch ponds, according to the assertions of Anthony Rutgers and others in 1730. These citizens stated that the swamp and pond called the Fresh Water were "so much on a level with Hudson's

INDIAN NOTES

MANHATTAN

River, and the South River [East river]. . . that on the spring or other high tide, when the said rivers overflow they run into and cover the said swamp so as to meet one another." Armbruster considers that in ancient times the watercourses through the swamps may have been sufficient to float canoes between the Hudson and East rivers.

At this favored place, sheltered from the west winds, provided with abundant water and nearby access to the river, the unfailing signs of Indian residence were found in masses of oyster-shells "abundantly strewn over the hill on the western side of the lake."

Modern excavations on the line of Pearl street reached these old shell-beds, indicating the existence of a native station situated about the line of that street, where it passes through the one-time Kolch hill on its way to join Broadway.