The original name of the island whereon the squadron
of Communipaw was thus propitiously thrown is a matter
of some dispute, and has already undergone considerable
vitiation—a melancholy proof of the instability
of all sublunary things, and the vanity of all our
hopes of lasting fame; for who can expect his name
will live to posterity, when even the names of mighty
islands are thus soon lost in contradiction and uncertainty!
The name most current at the present day, and which
is likewise countenanced by the great historian Vander
Donck, is Manhattan, which is said to have originated
in a custom among the squaws, in the early settlement,
of wearing men’s hats, as is still done among
many tribes. “Hence,” as we are told
by an old governor, who was somewhat of a wag, and
flourished almost a century since, and had paid a visit
to the wits of Philadelphia, “hence arose the
appellation of man-hat-on, first given to the Indians,
and afterwards to the island”—a stupid
joke!—but well enough for a governor.
Among the more venerable sources of information on
this subject is that valuable history of the American
possessions, written by Master Richard Blome, in 1687,
wherein it is called the Manhadaes and Manahanent;
nor must I forget the excellent little book, full
of precious matter, of that authentic historian, John
Josselyn, gent., who expressly calls it Manadaes.
Another etymology still more ancient, and sanctioned
by the countenance of our ever to be lamented Dutch
ancestors, is that found in certain letters, still
extant,[31] which passed between the early governors
and their neighboring powers, wherein it is called
indifferently Monhattoes, Munhatos, and Manhattoes,
which are evidently unimportant variations of the
same name; for our wise forefathers set little store
by those niceties, either in orthography or orthoepy,
which form the sole study and ambition of many learned
men and women of this hypercritical age. This
last name is said to be derived from the great Indian
spirit Manetho, who was supposed to make this island
his favorite abode, on account of its uncommon delights.
For the Indian traditions affirm that the bay was once
a translucid lake, filled with silver and golden fish,
in the midst of which lay this beautiful island, covered
with every variety of fruits and flowers, but that
the sudden irruption of the Hudson laid waste these
blissful scenes, and Manetho took his flight beyond
the great waters of Ontario.
These, however, are very fabulous legends, to which
very cautious credence must be given; and though I
am willing to admit the last quoted orthography of
the name as very fit for prose, yet is there another
which I peculiarly delight in, as at once poetical,
melodious, and significant—and which we
have on the authority of Master Juet, who, in his
account of the voyage of the great Hudson, calls this
Manna-hata—that is to say, the island of
manna—or, in other words, a land flowing
with milk and honey.
