Home / Bolton, Reginald Pelham. Indian Paths in the Great Metropolis. Indian Notes and Monographs, Vol. II, No. 7. New York: Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, 1922. / Passage

Indian Paths in the Great Metropolis

Bolton, Reginald Pelham. Indian Paths in the Great Metropolis. Indian Notes and Monographs, Vol. II, No. 7. New York: Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, 1922. 277 words

The native name of this important path was Sachkerah, derived from the Delaware shaiahik, meaning "the shore," and oana, or aney, "a path," or, in other words, it was "the Shore-road." It is quite precisely located in the deed by which the natives confirmed the purchase by Archer from Elias Doughty of the tract of land which was included between the two branches of the path, extending from the point of crossing where they united, as far east as Bronx river. This interesting deed also preserved some local native titles, of which

AND MONOGRAPHS

INDIAN PATHS

mention has already been made of those upon the upper end of Manhattan Island. The south bounds of the tract were defined as extending on a line drawn southeastwardly from the hook Saperewack, or Marble hill, and such a line is found rather closely to follow the native trail that led to the old town of Westchester. This line cuts Bronx river at a place which the deed recorded as being called Acqueegenom (119), evidently the Indian name of the locality where the path thus used as a boundary touched Bronx river, and probably, therefore, the wading place over that stream. As ocque means "at the end of," or "as far as," aney "a path," and om "over," the name may denote "where the path goes over." The boundary ranged thence northward along Bronx river to a place called Cowangongh (120), which was the crossing of the upper or Shore path at Williamsb ridge. This name is derived from cowang, "a boundary," and ongk, "beyond," indicating the point of passing beyond the boundary of the former owners, which was the river.