Indian Paths in the Great Metropolis
Here it turned sharply to the east, descending to the head ■of the marsh which it traversed toward the river. The selected point of crossing was that now occupied by a bridge, where a tongue of high land on the northwest side almost touched an extension of dry meadow-land on the southeast, between which narrow space the stream finds its way. At no other place in the vicinity could so easy and desirable a crossing be made.
Following a similar method, the great paths converging, on Manhattan— the North or Hudson River path, the Shore path from the east, and the Westchester path — were directed to and united at the only available access to Manhattan island, the important Wading place at Kingsbridge. These main arteries of traffic then combined in a single trail down the island, uniting at McGown's pass with the branch path extending from Harlem.