The objective of the lower Westchester path, the course of which through Fordham to Bronx Park has been described, was, as previously mentioned ] the Siwanoy settlements in the southeastern part of the Borough of the Bronx. This was the district which later became the township of Westchester, the refuge of those fleeing from religious persecution in New England. The native stations occupied several advantageous positions within Westchester township, and one of them, which was situated on the old Bear Swamp road (13),

INDIAN NOTES

THE BRONX

was maintained by the dwindling native population as late as 1782.

On crossing Bronx river at Acqueegenom in Bronx Park, near Pelham parkway, the path headed directly for that settlement, following the line of the Bear Swamp road, which has been maintained to our times. The irregular course of this old roadway can still be traced as it proceeds from the White Plains road in a southeasterly direction. The native village (13) was situated on a sheltered slope of land on the east side of Downings brook, a small tributary of Bronx river, which has its source in the Bear swamp. Continuing on toward the village of Westchester, the trail crossed Seabrey creek, a little brook emptying into Hutchinson river, where the New Haven branch railroad now runs over it, and a short distance beyond entered the line of the West Farms road and extended into Westchester, where it divided into two trails, one running north at Silver street, and another extending eastward.