to the ship again in crowds, in the afternoon, bringing various presents for Hudson.  Their visit which was one of unusual ceremony is thus described in the Journal: 

“’So at three of the clock in the afternoon, they came aboard and brought tobacco and more beads, and gave them to our master, and made an oration and showed him all the country round about.  Then they sent one of their company on land, who presently returned; and brought a great platter full of venison, dressed by themselves, and they caused him to eat with them.  Then they made him reverence and departed, all save the old man that lay aboard.’”

It was now manifest that no northwest passage to the Indies could be found in this direction, and it was not deemed expedient to attempt to ascend the river any farther in the ship.  The mate, however was sent with a boat’s crew, to explore the river some distance higher up.  It is supposed that the boat ascended several miles above the present site of the city of Albany, Hudson probably going a little beyond where the town of Waterford now is.  Upon the return of the boat, the mate having reported that it was useless to attempt any farther ascent of the river with the ship, Sir Henry commenced his return.

Carefully descending the winding channel of the stream, he was so unfortunate as to run the ship on a mud bank, in the middle of the river nearly opposite the present city of Hudson.  Without much difficulty the vessel was again floated, having received no injury.  But contrary winds detained him upon the spot two days.  In the meantime several boat parties visited the banks on both sides of the stream.  They were also visited by many of the natives who were unremitting in their kindness.

A fair wind soon springing up they ran down the river eighteen miles, passing quite a large Indian village where Catskill now stands, and cast anchor in deep water, near Red Hook.  Baffled by opposing winds and calms, they slowly worked their way down the stream, the next two days, to near the present point of Castleton.  Here a venerable old man, the chief of a small tribe, or rather patriarchal family of forty men and seventeen women, came on board in his birch canoe.  He gave Sir Henry a very cordial invitation to visit his little settlement of wigwams, picturesquely nestled upon the banks of the river.  Distance lends enchantment to the view.  The little hamlet in a sheltered cove where fertile meadows were spread out, was surrounded by fields waving with the harvest.  From the deck of the ship the scene presented was one of peace, prosperity and happiness.  The smoke ascended gracefully from the wigwam fires, children were sporting upon the beach, and birch canoes, almost as light as bubbles, were being rapidly paddled over the glassy waves.

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