The Portland daily press., 1862-08-28

plunging over into the basin. And yet this,
the wind, which is playing such mad freaks
above us and around us, is the wind of the
fairest day of summer, and it scarcely ruffles
the surface of the lake at our feet, or causes
the aspens far below to quiver at its gentle ap-
proach.
As we silently grope our way along the
sharp edge of this double precipice, not one
says even word; and we wondered that none
of us felt that terrible impulse which so often
seizes upon one in places similar to this--that
fascination of the instant to throw ourself over
the brink
1t was, indeed, strange that that singular
phenomenon Of the mind did not manifest it.
self in that perilous time and place. And 1
have heard many persons, who have passed
upon the ridge, from the chimney to the mon
ument. say the same thing, in perfect surprise.
The monument" is perhaps a thousand feet
above the chimney" and while it is not the
extreme height of the mountain, is within thir-
ty feet of being so, and appeared really higher
than the true summit. From this point we
obtain that view of the basin which is never
forgotten. Down the steep, dark granite side,
which is furrowed by the spring torrents, and
the freezing of the ice, we can look into
gulf OF broken lodges, and dwarfed trees. The
utter blackness of that terrible depth, close to
the base of the wall, is nearly as appalling in
our memories to-day, as when we gazed breath
lessly into it. Here we can see Katahdin; and
we wonder no longer that the Indians dreaded
to set foot in the sacred home of their divinity,
Pomola. This is the pleasantest day of all
summer, and yet the wind comes bowling up
from all sides. What, then, must Katafdin be
when Pomola is engaged, and he lets loose
from this second cave of Eolus, the unbounded
Winds
Many have called Katahdin "crater"-
This is significant name, although it is not
strictly correct. The mountain, so far from
being an extinct volcano, has scarcely dyke
of Trap upon it, or around it; it is entirely of
granite. But the resemblance to volcano
whose fires have been quenched, is certainly
striking, and suggests its exact form. 1t is
that of a crater, or cup, broken at the north
ern edge.
In the basin, and frnged by the black growth
of the rigid spruce trees, is a lake of snow wa
ter which has no outlet save by evaporation.
1t is five acres in extent, and yet from this
this monument, near which / stand, It seems
as if a lady's hand could hide it. 1t is contin-
ually supplied with water from the mountain
torrents coming from the melting SHOWS.
We find the distance from the monument to
t1,a 10. l.. a
the path is a safe one, although characteristic
of the mountain. And now we stand upon the
pinnacle. This is five thousand three hundred
and forty-two feet above the level of the sea.
Not cloud to be seen, not even a film of mist.
From the dark north to the east, to the west
and to the south, is an unobstructed view.
Before as lies that beautiful Lake of many
islands," Millinoket, with its broken shores and
clusters of emerald islands. The trees on its
northwest shore are not high enough to more
than hide the cliffs. and SO they are like dark
green fringe lining all the shore to the Lake Of
Broken water" Pemadumcook. Between
tween these two lakes is range of mountains
which is so near US as to be plainly blue instead
of hazy, like those in the distance. These are
called E-be-me, or the Cranberry Mountains,
and are pretty near the Katahdn Iron Works
A great many people have enormously sup
posed that these mines were in the immediate
vicinity of the great Katahdin; but, so far as |
am aware, there is scarcely any deposit of iron
ore nearer than the mines on Pleasant river.
Moosehead Lake, from which we started on
our tour, is seen partly hidden by the Spencer
mountains which also conceal Kineo from our
at once recognized to be the Queen Lake of
the East, and though Others may be more
beautiful there is none so grand.
Chesuncook, silver water, is glistening in the
sunlight but is not dazzling like little, round
Roach Pond.
The lakes on the north of the mountains are
as clear as the ice which protects them in the
long winters; and with the clouds above them
and the strong mountains around them, give
us the three elements of perfect landscape
Who can gaze long enough upon such a scene?
Time flies, as we study each point of interest
and we must pass to the table-land below. But
before we step from this height of heights, let
us take one more glimpse Of the beauty and
''reach of sight,
In the southwest we can see chain of
mountains dim in the haze of the great dis
tance. As the day is so clear we can distinct
ly recognize the outline of the White Hills:
and we have no hesitation in pronouncing
them Mount Washington and its fellows ofthe
New Hampshire grant.
Katahdin to the White Hills.
And the gray outlines in the blue northwest,
blending with the sky itself, are those of the
mountains on the shore of the River Amazon
of the North.
Katahdn TO the st. Lawrence
And the pale mountains in the North East
belong to the chain of which Tobique is the
chief
Katahdin to the st. John
And the dim horizon in the South where the
range, in that strange island, Mount Desert
is visible; that is the ocean.
Katahdin to the Sea.
As we descended to the table-land on the
west spur of the mountain, we gazed, again
and again, upon what not even our guide had
seen before. What remained for us to do, but to
look ADORE and, with our hearts full of praise
to the Great Giver of all Beauty, chant, as our