But the topography of the island is so pronounced and varied in character as to lend considerable aid in indicating the probable routes of the necessary paths by which these natives communicated with one another, and, as is found to have been the case elsewhere, these are frequently those natural lines of grade and avoidance INDIAN PATHS of bogs and waterways which the old roads of the successors of the primeval proprietors are found to follow.

Thus the mountainous range from St George to Richmond, and the extensive marshes of the Fresh kills extending therefrom to the Arthur kill, divide the island longitudinally and reduce the opportunity for convenient access from west to east to one or two passes which afforded reasonable grades, such as the Clove road. A trail over that pass would have connected the north and northwestern sections, occupied by the Hackensack, with the easterly and southern parts of the island, the latter being conveniently reached by a line of trail approximating the Richmond road and Amboy road, which traverse the base of the hills and avoid the marshes and waterways between Arrochar and Tottenville.