From Astor place we now follow the path on its way northward as it was developed into the earliest roadway through the island, the old road which was existing when a cartway was ordered to be opened in 1670 to connect New Amsterdam with the township of New Haerlem. There is no historical record of this old road having been an Indian path, but there can be little doubt that this was the case, as it led to the junction of two known native paths at McGown's pass, and its crooked course was evidently directed by ancient physical conditions.

The middle part of the Island of Manhattan does not seem to have been occupied to any great extent by the natives, a condition which may be explained by the rugged nature of that territory, and by its restricted area, which probably limited the wild animal life within it. But the shores of the island, particularly on the sheltered east side, must have been dotted with fishing camps at certain seasons.

The absence of village life on the west side was doubtless due to its physical characteristics, which lent themselves but poorly to native occupancy.