The path probably ran along the easterly side of the avenue, on

INDIAN NOTES

UPPER MANHATTAN

the line of the old Harlem lane, which was the successor of the Indian thoroughfare. The course headed directly across the level meadowlands now covered by modern Harlem, toward the foot of Washington Heights. Along its route at or near 115th street, at Seventh avenue, the pioneer white settler fixed the location of his clearing, Vredendal, or "Quiet Vale," the home of the Montagne family. This site may have been selected on account of its proximity to the path, and reasonably convenient access to a supply of water, the nearest brook being about five hundred feet to the south, and the upper branch of Harlem creek extending on the east about an equal distance from the house-site. Riker12 says:

"Harlem Lane, as we have reason to believe, was at first an Indian trail. Such forest paths, conveniently marked out by savage instinct, were often adopted by the white settlers as the best routes for highways.

"In traveling from New Amsterdam to Spuyten Duyvil, at McGown's pass was the natural descent to the plain, the path striking its northern end, where it would as naturally fork to the left and right, for the equal convenience of the pedestrian passing through the

AND MONOGRAPHS

INDIAN PATHS

' Clove of the Kill ' to the North River, or along the base of the height to and up Breakneck Hill."

Here these early settlers went about their daily labor of converting the virgin land into a productive farm, while the dusky savage, "whose trail lay near them, leading from the forests of Wickquaskeek to New Amsterdam, passed to and fro on his trading errands and eyed with ill-dis-. guised suspicion this inroad upon his ancient hunting grounds."