The settlement and cultivated land of Jonas Bronck seems to have been made in that part of the Ranachqua tract directly opposite Harlem, west of the marshes and bogs along Mill brook, as is indicated in the crude map accompanying the Patent of 1676. The extent of the territory known as Ranachqua was not clearly defined, but it ran at least as far east as the Sackwrahung district or Bungay creek, beyond which stream the West Farms purchase
INDIAN NOTES
THE BRONX
was made in 1663 from natives who were partly of Siwanoy and partly of Reckgawawanc affiliation.
These physical conditions all seem to indicate that it was necessary for any connecting trails in the west part of the Bronx to extend from the lower Westchester path at some point or points in its course across the eastern part of the present borough. But the existence of such trails is not recorded in maps or deeds, and we can look for indications of probable routes only in the old-time Colonial roadways which took the same general direction.
Thus the old High Bridge road which was in existence long prior to its receiving that name, was an ancient track used prior to the Revolution. It branched from the Kingsbridge road, the line of the Lower path, at or near the old Dutch Reformed church at Fordham, and followed approximately the course of Aqueduct avenue along the range of hills, as far as Washington Bridge, thence via Boscobel avenue to East 169th street. A branch may have forked off along our present Jerome avenue leading