10 DUTCH AND ENGLISH ON THE HUDSON
have recorded it; but in addition to his silence
in the matter we must recall the fact that this
love-feast is supposed to have occurred only a few
days after the killing of Colman and the return of
the terror-stricken crew. This makes it seem
extremely improbable that Hudson would have
taken the risk of going ashore among hostile natives
and proffering the hospitalities which had been so
ill requited on his previous landing. Let us there-
fore pass by the Reverend John Heckwelder's
account as "well found, but not well founded,"
and continue to follow the cruise of the Half Moon
up the great river.
The days now were fair and warm, and Hudson,
looking around him when the autumn sun had
swept away the haze from the face of the water,
declared it as fair a land as could be trodden by
the foot of man. He left Manhattan Island be-
hind, passed the site of Yonkers, and was carried
by a southeasterly wind beyond the Highlands
till he reached what is now West Point. In this
region of the Catskills the Dutch found the natives
friendly, and, having apparently recovered from
their first suspicious attitude, the explorers began
to open barter and exchange with such as wished
. to come aboard. On at least one occasion Hudson