The Portland daily press., 1862-08-22
COMMUNICATIONS.
Letters from the BackwOOds of Maine.

DEAR PRESS The Hunt farm on the East
Branch, has been SO often described by visitors
that it is work of snpererogation to again
say that 1t is little clearing, with one or two
substantial structures on it. The house itself
is made in two or three parts, each part being
larger than that next TO it on the South, and
this gives 1t the appearance of being gigan-
tic toy ACCORDION, pulled out to its utmost ex-
tent. This house is the last building, with a
woman in it, on the Penobscot river; and since
there are females in the house, we of course
find flowergarden in the front yard 1t seems
strange to thus see roses and honeysuckles In
the midst Of the woods, growing, perhaps, on
ly few rods from the primeval forest; and
Germanastors growing within talking distance
OF their American cousins.
While we were waiting for our guide to Sc
lect such provision as we wanted, we saw a
black animal leisurely cross the lower end of
the lot, near the river. One of Hunts dogs
Immediately gave chase, and, before he could
be called back, had driven the bear, for such it
was, over the field, and into the thick growth
beyond. The dog was heartily scolded, ON his
return, for being SO exceedingly indiscreet as
to frighten game In such a manner as to de-
prive us all of shot at the bear. / said this
happened while we were waiting for our guide
to get ready to start. This will afford as good
an opportunity as desired, to speak, at some
length, of this pioneer guide to the noun
tain.
Mr.. M. r. Keep, home-missionary in town.
ship No. II, now called Ashland has perhaps
visited Katahdin more often than any other
man, and has seen it under more varying cir
cumstances. We had engaged him for a guide
on this occasion.
He is man of great height, and of cores
ponding strength, well fitted to be a pioneer
preacher in any country. Mr.. Keep has visit
ed Mt. Katahdin nearly every summer for
many years, and has made spotted path to
the Slide. His labors in this matter were SO
well appreciated by the Legislature of Maine,
that they have given him half township of
land near the mountain. With his surprising
height, and his free, open countenance, Keep is
man you would ask about if you should see
him in a crowd, he would SO tower above the
other sons of men.
He selects our provision with considerable
care, since it will be unpleasant, beyond meas
ure, for us to starve or even to get out of food,
twenty miles from any dwelling house.
Pork, Hard-bread Tea.
What shall we say of pork? To those of
the city, nothing; because they will not be per-
suaded, till they try this life in the woods, that
norlx is Qva faalatabla N LII
diet. To those in the country there is also no
need to speak of this staff of life, because they
know its value.
Hardbread! Portable flonr, that is all.
Tea! The backwoodsman is as much de-
pendent upon tea as he is upon hardbread.-
In fact, have heard many say that with pota-
toes, pork, and tea, they could subsist for
months. What is the Office Of tea, in the
economy of human life, 1 am unable TO say
But it supplies place in the bill of fare of
woodsmen that nothing else can fill. Let
those who try to explain ita use in sustaining
life be careful, however, in committing them
selves, since it viii be well to be sure that tea
IS tea. have never yet seen any tea in the
woods, beyond what was necessarily used by
the Boston or New York manufacturers in
fiavoring raspberry leavesl
The leaf of the Cameia Thea, or Camellia
Bohea, is a beautiful leaf, with certain marked
peculiarities. Those leaves are never. for ex-
ceptionally) sold to those who desire cheap
tea for use in the woods So then, the ques-
tion is modified, and becomes this: How can
Raspberry leaves contribute to the support of
human life?
With pork, hardbread, and raspberry leaves,
we are ready to start for the mountain, and
4. are to be carried in batteau, or river-driyers
boat, for mile or so, across slogan" The
word Aogan" means the smaller arm of the
river, which extends around an island, and
may be corruption of the Pacific word "La-
goon.
The short journey by water is accomplished,
and the packs are now arranged for a long
tramp on the rivers bank. We pass through
blue.joint grass, which is much higher than
our heads, and which is now damp with the
heavy dew of last night The tall astor, and
the acuminate astor are in full glory, and near
ly hide from view plant almost peculiar to
the North, spurred Gentian, or Halenia. The
wild roses are in their beauty, and we hardly
know winch TO admire most, the sunset petals
of the flowers, or the emerald green of the