The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-10-07

i
ant it was. A "birch" is canoe made of
birch bark, just rs weed is a cigar, or as
"suds' are soap-suds. These white birch trees
are as serviceable to the backwoods people as
the cOcOa-nut and the palm are to the Polyne-
slams With few light strips of cedar as a
frame, and a sheet of bark as n covering, the
llghtest and most graceful of boats are made.
A single paddle propels them, and they skim
over the calm water or broken waves so swiftly
and silently that you cannot even catch the
Light drip of the suspended oar.
A 4" birch" reminds us, in one respect, of a
knowing horse. 1t will bear its master, or any
other expert safely enough but let an inexpe-
rienced person try it, and he would be safer on
the tight-rope. In most cases he would tumble
overheard after the lost centre of gravity.
In one of these brches, then, we sailed down
the west branch of the Penobscot rivera deep
and placid stream broken here and there by
rapids The lofty trees crowded down 10 either
bank, and beheld each its "visage in the
watery glass" Occasionally a moOse-path
streaked the thickets where these animals
came down to drink, and We passed ono or two
carcases which hunters had stripped and aban-
doned to decay. The stiffness was oppressive,
and interrupted only by the shrek of the
eagles, a few of whom we scared from their
watchtowers, where they viewed the motions of
the lazy fish below. In this quiet was time
given to look from the handiwork unto the
Grand Architect; and in this silent aisle of the
forest temple my heart repeated the words OF
the patriarch of Uz. " Lo, these are but parts
of his ways, but how little portion is heard of
them; but the thunder of his power who can
understand"
Night surprised us on the voyage, and we
made our camp among the trees on the margin
of the stream. The supper of dried moose
meat, with tea of mountain ash, was grateful,
and the warm blanket was as inviting rs any
more luxurious bed But who could sleep amid
the glories Of such u night-a night such as
never yet tempted the gay strollers upon artl-
fetal promenades. How lovely was the COM
bination perfected from the simple light and
air, and water, and the gloomy shade of the
forest looming tall and dark through all the
splendor! We descended TO the stream, and
stood musng while thought went backward
and forward in the path of the centuries, and
we read as though burning hand had wrote
upon the sky
"And God made two great lights: the greater
light to rule the day, and the lesser light to
rule the night: He made the stars also"
"The sun shall be turned into darkness and
the moon into blood before that great and ter
ribe day of the Lord shall come"
Then we lay down and slept in the beams of
that moon which we shall one day see quenched
in tho blackness of utter night. But the seer
of the Apocalypse has prophecied of certain
place
"And the city had no need of the sun, neither
of the moon to shine in it for the glory of God
did tighten it, and the Lamb is the light
thereof"
The next morning we were gliding over the
calm waters of Lake CheluncoOk toward the
comfortable dwelling of pioneer in this region
of some four years standing A hospitable and
generous man is Mr.. Smith, with Il proper
modcum Of courtesy, and smart infusion OF
the go-ahead and has guests, whether penni-
less or opulent, are most accomplishing set.
CHAPTER VIII
" Our fathers called them savage" = CAaS. Sprogae.
We had frequent occasion for guides. An
unacquainted person had better not venture
into these woods alone unless he would make
the desert his dwelling-place. We chose guides
from the Indians, Of whom remnant still ex-
lists in Maine With them we went a-m0os-
ing" and, though we did not prove ourselves
mighty hunters, were so entertained by their
discourse, that our disappointment was small.
On one occasion an old man of the St Francis
tribe conducted us whose "eye was not dim,
nor his natural force abatea, y and whose locks
had not been blanched by the SHOWS of three
score winters. In his youth, he said he had
received instruction at Dartmouth College, ac-
cording 10 the provisions of a requests made
| say what the exact nature of this legacy
| by one More, for the education of q limited
number of the Indians. Since then, he had
followed hunters life. But it seemed to us
that, in language and manners, old Louis was
far more polished than any Of the whites about
him. He possessed, also, forcible intellect,
and was one with whom you could converse
| upon a certain equality. The other Indians,
! however, live with their squaws and "picanin.
Mes" in a style that entities them to the dis
| tinotion Of barbarians. Yet, for whatever is
| uncouth and servile in their customs, we should
make much allowance. Their inbred DISPOSE
! ton renders them as ayerse to settled and
industrious life as King Philip would have been
| to that of a sea captain. By reason of this Pc
culiar character, they cannot procure around
our settlements a subsistence much better than
the crumbs that fall from the table of tho civ
ilzed man. A "pent.up Utica there con-
tracts their peculiar powers; but, let them
range like the congenal untamcd denizens of
ent as their fathers.
This utter wreck Of an ancient and brave
people affords melancholy subject of rcAec.
ton. As comprehensive epitaph, we say that
q superior race has swept them and their works
away by force of science, more potent than the
magic Of the Powahs, and art more subtle than
savage strategy. Poetry has decorated the
aboriginal life with graceful fiction, and his
tory has recorded upon bloody pages the
atrocity Of its final epoch
But the poor savage leaves behind no trace,
To save his own or serve another race"
The picturesque names which the red men
gave TO mountain, and lake. and stream re-
main but these, and the relics which the
plough has torn from ancient burial places, are
their sole memorials.
To adopt the exquisite fancy Of one Of our
own bards, the fittest emblems for their es-
cutcheon would be broken bow and poiDtless
arrows, and underneath would write
"For suacrance Is the badge Of oil our tribe"
The eyes Of tho old man Louis flashed while
We repeated passages Of that exquisite ode
wherein Sprague commentaries the patriotism
of the Indians and lamonts the oblivion which
covers their graves.
CHAPTER TX,
"0id shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old
garments apon them. josh. tx, g.
Who likes that word good-bwy But we
were obliged TO use IT, after two very pleasant
weeks In prolonging our stay, the means OF
life had mperccptibly diminished, till, on strict
account, the remaining "wherewithal" was
barely sufficient TO sustain the vital spark until
We could obtain fresh subsidies. Accordingly,
we pamoxd as quickly Ms possible
The lake steamer had come 10 an inglorious
end--of one voyage at least--upon rock, and
accordingly We made the passage OF forty
miles in an old ark which contained an engine, |