The Portland daily press., 1863-07-04
COMMUNICATIONS.

II. PAssAMAQUoDDY.

To the Editor Of the Press;
NV last concluded as we were approaching
Lubec and Eastport. The former is one OF
the cities set upon hill. The white spire OF
the church can be seen for miles in every
direction whether you look from the land, or
from the sea, towards it. The town of Lubec
is quiet little place, with wharves which
seem as if they had long waited for the com
ing OF rich merchantmen, which never came,
and so, desparing of extensive commerce, had
gone into the herring fishery. Boxes filled and
untitled, smoke-houscs crowded and others
empty, are all the features which attract the
attention Of one sailing by.
Lubec sits at the very gate of the sea, and
having passed it, we are in Passamaquoddy
bay. 1t is very amusing to hear the pseudo
philologist,s of New England and New Bruins
wick give the Interpretation of such Indian
names as Passamaquoddy. One in spectaces.
gazing benignanty and wisely upon his audi
ence, informs us that their word is made up
of two Indian nouns meaning "whirl of water"
Another dissents from this aud gives US, as the
result of his extended researches, the opinion
that it simply signifies "high banks aud still
sea-" And yet, If the truth be told, they are
equally wise and equally correct. The Indians
themselves, aSI have often had occasion to
discover, know as little about their names OF
rivers and lakes, as the members of our Gram
mar Schools. There is only one man In Maine
who fully understands the significance of the
ancient appelations OF our lakes and rivers
Rev. Eugene Vetromilye of Biddeford. This
earnest student, learned Jesuit, has made
himself master ofthe principal dialects used by
our NewEngand Indians, and has investigated
with great care, the derivation Of their proper
names. His authority in such matters is wor-
thy of the highest consideration.
Eastport is on an island. No one can say
that it lacks enterprise, it only lacks business.
The country Immediately around the city, and
to the north and northwest, is by no means a
populous or wealthy district. For this reason
the limits TO its tradeare constructed and i'm
pede the growth OF the city ITSELF 1t is tradition
current on the ST. Johns boat, that when
Portland steamer arrives at Eastport, every
man, woman and child comes down to the
wharf. This statement am not prepared to
deny. The harbor is much more like the
broad current of rapid riveg than like a bay,
but it must be remembered that we are
now within the influence of the "Bay of Fun
dy tides The great height TO which the tides
In the bay ofFundy and in Passamaquoddy and
the sudden fall in a few hours, cause the water
to rush in and out with extreme rapidty
breaking up'eyery now and then into whirl-
pools. 1t will hardly be credited. but 1t is a
fact, that the Eastport sailors can tell their
whereabouts in the Bay, by the rush OF water
peculiar TO certain parts of the harbor. have
known this to be done in fog which was so
thick that boat would hardly go through it!
Around the steamer are many little fishing
smacks which are taking advantage of the
tide and are quietly putting out to sea. Among
the other vessels which are now in the harbor,
there are two or three birch canoes sailing
across to Campo Bello, the beautiful island
opposite. This long and low island is one of
the loveliest features in the landscape, and
contributes not a little to make the view from
Eastp0rt as fine as any on the coast. But
there are other islands there is the strange
Grand Manan and the Wolves, and some with
names easy to be forgotten but with beauty
long to be remembered.
The little steamer which screamed as she
approached ours at the wharf, has subsided in
TO silence and is patiently taking her share of
the burden which the New England has
brought from the West. This is the "Queen."
Obviously we are near enough to III. B. MS
domnions to render this little concession to
English pride desirable; but-in all honesty
1T is poor compliment to the Queen herself
l don't believe, 10 the first place, tnat Victoria
is half as fussy as her namesake, and then
again, know she pays more attention to her
toilet than this Queen Notwithstanding this
one is in the water all the time. But the bell
is janglng, and the shri whistle which sounds
Ike the desparing wall of lost baggage, warns
us to walk the plank. Well, after you get on
board the Queen she is really nice, old-fash-
ioned little affair. Her captain is fine old
sailor, with odd, dry, salt manners, and good
heart In short, he is obliging and urbane,
tau you ask too many foolish questions, or
tread on his toes. l ask no better proof Of
the good-heartedness of such captain than
the story OF one shipwreek through he has
passed and by his own exertions saved others
than himself. / would like nothing better
thah 10 give you the items of interest in re-
gard 10 the shores which he communicated to
m ha k,ls Al.
all at once.
We are putting aud rattling over to St. An
drews. This town has acquired an ephemera
celebrity from two facts, namely. the Loss of
their Garrison and the Canada Railway Last
year the st. Andrews citizens didn't sleep we'll
at night on account of the Trent affair and
impending border warfare. SO they must
have garrison. and the authorities at St.
John being petitioned with due form and full
colonial circumlocution, sent the citizens a
number OF the Queens artillerists and couple
Oh brass pieces to make show with. Re
ceived with due honors by the now happy and
projected ST. Andrewstes, they pitched their
camp, or went into barracks, and that night
the citizens slept sound sleep. The protect
ors, VINO We're a little dissatisfied with shill-
ing Gay ana the piping time of peace, sailed
listed for the war! This is the only good re-.
suit we have ever derived from the Reciproci-
ty treaty.
This town is theterminus of the 81. Andrews
and Canada railroad, and this serves lilo ono
end OF a telegraph wire, TO galvaniye the town
into little display of activity. The hustle
which is excited by the arrival of the Queen or
the coming of the cars, is followed by immedi.
ate and awful depression. The wharves mich,
as well be built on the old a-beaches of Yer.
mont as by the water-side of St. Andrews, fo,
all the business that ever creeps there in !
year. wicked men have some good traits
dull men have few good qualities, and SO d,