On the third day a strong breeze sprang up from the southeast.  All sail was set upon the Half Moon.  It was a bright and beautiful autumnal day.  Through enchanting scenery the little vessel ploughed the waves of the unknown river, till, having accomplished forty miles, just at sunset they dropped their anchor in the still waters which are surrounded by the grand and gloomy cliffs of the Highlands.

The next morning, the river and its shores, were enveloped in a dense fog, so that one could see but a few yards before him.  Taking advantage of this, the Indian captives, whom Sir Henry Hudson had so treacherously ensnared, leaped out of one of the port-holes, and swam ashore.  As soon as they reached the land, they raised loud shouts of hatred and defiance.

The sun soon dispelled the fog, and the voyage was continued, and by night the Half Moon reached a point supposed to be near the present site of Catskill Landing.  The natives were numerous, and very friendly.  They came freely on board, apparently unsuspicious of danger.  It was noticeable that there were many very aged men among them.  The river seemed full of fishes, and with their hooks they took large numbers.  The next day the Indians came on board in crowds, bringing pumpkins and tobacco.  The vessel’s boats were sent on shore to procure fresh water.

Early the ensuing morning, they pushed up the river five miles, to a point probably near the present city of Hudson.

Sir Henry Hudson does not appear to advantage in the account transmitted to us of this exploration.  Mr. Sparks, in his American Biography, gives the following extraordinary account of one of his procedures.

“It is evident that great distrust was entertained by Hudson and his men towards the natives.  He now determined to ascertain, by intoxicating some of the chiefs, and thus throwing them off their guard, whether they were plotting any treachery.  He accordingly invited several of them into the cabin, and gave them plenty of brandy to drink.  One of these men had his wife with him, who, the Journal informs us, ’sate so modestly as any of our countrywomen would do in a strange place.’  But the men had less delicacy and were soon quite merry with the brandy.

“One of them, who had been on board from the first arrival of the ship, was completely intoxicated, and fell sound asleep, to the great astonishment of his companions, who probably feared that he had been poisoned; for they all took to their canoes and made for the shore, leaving their unlucky comrade on board.  Their anxiety for his welfare soon induced them to return; and they brought a quantity of beads, which they gave him, perhaps to enable him to purchase his freedom from the spell which had been laid upon him.

“The poor savage slept quietly all night, and when his friends came to visit him the next morning they found him quite well.  This restored their confidence, so that they came