ob Elkins was placed in command. Now that the majestic
Hudson is whitened with the sails of every variety of vessels and
barges, while steamers go rushing by, swarming with multitudes, which
can scarcely be counted, of the seekers of wealth or pleasures, and
railroad trains sweep thundering over the hills and through the
valleys, and the landscape is adorned with populous cities and
beautiful villas, it is difficult to form a conception of the silence
and solitude of those regions but about two hundred and fifty years
ago, when the tread of the moccasoned Indian fell noiseless upon the
leafy trail, and when the birch canoe alone was silently paddled from
cove to cove.

In addition to the fort in the vicinity of Albany, another was erected
at the southern extremity of Manhattan Island at the mouth of the
Hudson. Here the company established its headquarters and immediately
entered into a very honorable and lucrative traffic with the Indians,
for their valuable furs. The leaders of the Company were men of
integrity, and the Indians were all pleased with the traffic, for they
were ever treated with consideration, and received for their furs,
which they easily obtained, articles which were of priceless value to
them.

The vagabond white men, who were lingering about the frontiers of
civilization, inflicting innumerable and nameless outrages upon the
natives, were rigorously excluded from these regions. Thus the
relations existing between the Indians and their European visitors
were friendly in the highest degree. Both parties were alike benefited
by this traffic; the Indian certainly not less than the European, for
he was receiving into his lowly wigwam the products of the highest
civilization.

Indian tribes scattered far and wide through the primitive and
illimitable forest, plied all their energies with new diligence, in
taking game. They climbed the loftiest mountains and penetrated the
most distant streams with their snares. Some came trudging to the
forts on foot, with large packs of peltries upon their backs. Others
came in their birch canoes, loaded to the gunwales, having set their
traps along leagues of the river's coast and of distant streams.

Once a year the ships of the company came laden with the most useful
articles for traffic with the Indians, and, in return, transported
back to Europe the furs which had been collected. Such were the
blessings which peace and friendship conferred upon all. There seeme