12 DUTCH AND ENGLISH ON THE HUDSON

find the northwest passage to Cathay which had
been the object of his expedition; but he had
explored one of the world's noblest rivers from
its mouth to the head of its navigable waters.

It is a matter of regret to all students that so
little is known of this great adventurer. Sober
history tells us that no authentic portrait of him is
extant; but I like to figure him to myself as drawn
by that mythical chronicler, Diedrich Knicker-
bocker, who was always ready to help out fact
with fiction and both with humor. He pictures
Henry Hudson as "a short, brawny old gentleman
with a double chin, a mastiff mouth and a broad
copper nose which was supposed in those days
to have acquired its fiery hue from the constant
neighborhood of his tobacco pipe. He wore a true
Andrea Ferrara, tucked in a leathern belt, and a
commodore's cocked hat on one side of his head.
He was remarkable for always jerking up his
breeches when he gave his orders and his voice
sounded not unlike the brattling of a tin trumpet,
owing to the number of hard northwesters which
he had swallowed in the course of his sea-faring."

This account accords with our idea of this
doughty navigator far better than the popular
picture of the forlorn white-bearded old gentleman