New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-11-17
The BACKNOOpS on WAIVE.

The BALANUUDN uf MAINE.
Under the title OF Ktaadn and the Name
Woods Mr. HESRY D. THoREAr, OF Concord,
Mass has been publishing series Of sketches ia
the LaloH Magazine, which are quite superior 20
any descriptions % wild-woods lite that we have
seen for several years There is all the freshness
and odor Of the pine-.orests about them and the
language flows with as clear and sparkling a
stream rs the mountain rapids down which the
author was whircd in his canoe. The region he
traversed is almost entirely unyisited, except by
trappcrs and iumbermen and bus narrative vii be
new TO many of our readers. We have therefore
made number of extracts characteristic OF the
life, scenery and s9ul Of the wilderness. He com.
meuces as follows
Onthe 3lst Of August 1870, ! left Concord In
Massachusetts, tor Bangor and the backwoois ot
Maine, by way OF the railroad and steamboat. in
tending 90 accompany relative OF mine engaged
In the lumber trade in Bangor, as far a. dam on
the west branch OF the Penobscot, in which proper
Is lie was interested From this place. which is
about one hundred miles by the river above Ban
gor. thirty miles from the Houitou military road.
and five miles beyond the last log hut proposed
20 make excursions 20 Mount ktaadu, the second
highest mountain in New England. about thirty
miles distant, and some oi the lakes Of the Penob-
scot, either alone or with such company as might
pick up there. IL j. unusual o. ind camp far
I'D the woods AZ that season. when numbering Ope-
ratious have ceased. and was glad 20 avail my
self Of the circumstance 81 a gang OF men being
employed there OF that time % repairing the ln'u-
ries caused by the great ireshet In the Spring
The mountain may be approached more easily and
directly on horseback AID on foot from the north
east side, by the Aroostook DAD. and the Wassa-
a /.
of the wilderness none oi the glorious river and
lake scenery. and have no experience OF the bat
teau and the b0atman's life. was fortunate also
10 the season of the year, Tor m the Summer myr
lads of black flies or as the Indians call them,
"no-see ems. make travelling ia the woods a.
most impossible but now their reign was nearly
over.
Leaving Bangor, the author follows the course
Of the Penobscot 70 Lincoln where De hired In
dian guides, lwho, however failed 70 fulfil tbeir
contractl lie gives us here glimpse of the hab.
It's of
IHE fR0NuER SETTLERS
About noon We reached the Mattawaiskcag. fifty
six miles from Bangor by the way We had come,
and nut up at a ircqueuted house stili Onthe Hou.-
ton road where the HOulton stage stops. Here was
a substantial covered bridge over the Mattawam
keag built ] think they said, some seventeen
and even at breakfast, as well rs supper-at the
public houses ou this road, the front rank COM
posed of various kinds Oi sweet cakes, m con-
tinuOus line from end OF the table 20 the other
/ think | may safely say that there " as row OF
ten or dozen plates O this Kind set before Us two
here To account for which they sag. that when
the lumberers come out Of the woods they have a
craving tor cakes aud pies, aud such sweet things,
which there are almost unknown. and TINS u the
supDly 10 satisfy that dcHGHd The supply Is al
WAYS equal 10 the demand aud these hungry men
think a good deal Of getting their money worth
No doubt the balance Of ylctuas IS restored Dy the
time they reach Bangor Mattawamkeag takes OF
the raw edge Well, over this front rank, say,
YOU coming from the sweet cake side with a
cheap phL0sOphic indifference though u may be
have % assault what there IS behind, winch ! do
not by any means mean 20 insinuate IS insufficient
ia quantity quality 10 supply that other demand
of men not from the woods but from the towns, tor
vcnls0n and strong country fare.
! think that there was not more than one house
on the road 10 Molunkus, OF for seven miles. At
that place we got over the fence into new held.
planted with potatoes, where the logs were still
burning between the hills and pulling up the
vines, found good-sized potatoes, nearly npe.
growing like weeds, and turnIps mixed with them.
The mode Of clearing and planting IS. 20 Tell the
trees. and burn once what Will burn. then cut
them up into suitable lengths, roll into heaps and
burn again then, with hoe, plant potatoes
where you can come at the ground between the
stumps and chared logs, for first crop, the ashes
sufrcing for manure and no hoeing being necessa-
~ the first year ia the fall, cut, Ioi. and burn
again. and so Oh. till the land Is cleared and soon
IL Is ready for grain, snd 70 be laid down. Let
those talk OF poverty and hard times who viii, In
the towns and cities cannot the immigrant, who
can pay bis fare % New-York or Boston. pay i've
dollars more 70 get here-l paid three, all told, Tor
my passage from Boston 70 Bangor, $50 miles
and be as rich as be pleases, where land virtually
costs nothing. and houses only the labor Of build
ing and he may begin lie as Adam did II he
Will still remember the distinction OF poor aud
rich let him bespeak him a narrower house forth
with.
After reaching Mattawamkeag Point, be
punges into the wilderness, and We have tie fol-
lowing description OF the primitive hab.tations
A LOGGEGs CAMP
The next house was Fisks ten miles l.om the
Point, al the mouth OF the East Branci, opposite
% the island Nlckatow, or the Forks, tie last Of
the Indian Islands ] am particular o. give he
settlers aud the distances, since every log but In
these woods 8 4 public house. and such lIfOrma-