The Portland daily press., 1885-06-06

large one and must at some time have con-
sisted OF more than one hundred lodges. The
writer has found relics at distance of two
miles along the shore, and stone fire places
occur at convenient distances the whole way.
The locality was we'll chosen, the view M
the lake being especially fine. Raymond
Cape however, shuts off portion of the
great basin, but Jordan's Bay, Fry's and In
dian Islands are plainly visible, as 10 always
a portion of the Images, which the guide
book of the celebrated Sebago Lake route
says were named from fancied resemblance
to something or other. i don't know what.
The facts are these. During the French and
Indian wars, from 1875 to 174S, the early set
tiers extending from the Saco river to ancient
Falmouth, and inland to New Gloucester,
were at constant warfare with the the savag-
es, men went armed to their fields or shut
themselves up in the block houses, fearing
that every dark nook and recess in the forest
might contain an ambush. 1t was during
these times, that party of whites had start
ed up the lake TO rescue if possible, captive
whom the Indians had taken the night before
from the settlement at Windham, aud were
carrying to Canada, the remainder of the
family having been murdered. The rescue
party consisted of some eight or ten men
who were in two boats, and well they knew
the route of the Indians would be up the
lake, on through Songo river, Brandy and
Long ponds, at the head OF which began the
Pigwakett trail leading to Fryeburg, and so
on to Canada.
Now it has always been supposed that a
part of the Iu dams were there in the caves
of the Images with their captives and that
the remainder were still behind their pursu-
ers, having doubtless been raiding the settle
ments in some other locality, for when the
Iuyht foa had 4ho In a
gone, but on the upper side wall of the wa
ter cave, las it is called, being unable to en-
ter 1t without boat) they found painted two
boats containing white men facing up the
lake, the number of men corresponding with
their own party. These Images as they were
called could be seen when near the cave
without entering, and it was supposed by
the whites that they intended to give
warning to their friends behind, indicating
to them the number of boats, the number Of
men in each boat, and the direction they
were following.
Time has long since obliterated all traces
OF the boats and their occupants aud moth
ing now remains in the cavern TO indicate
the presence Of the Indians. However, the
figures remained long time and there is yet
living in Raymond one who has sat upon
his fathers knees aud heard him say that
while quite small boy the two images could
be quite plainly seen. AS we walk along we
cannot help noticing the flint chips that
strew the beach. They are produced from
the manufacture of arrows, spears, ETC.
Mixed with them are fragments of pottery
broken implements, and perfect ones are by
no means uncommon A practiced eye is
necessary, however, to detect them. A por-
tlon OF the site has Ions been used as pic
mic ground by neighborDg villages, and
many relics of the red men have been found,
from rough flint scraper TO a highly oEna-
mented pipe bowl, and polished knife and
tomahawk.
Sebago Lake has many camping grounds
around its borders, all beautifully chosen as
regards natural scenery and the locality was
a faVorite resort for the red men. History
makes no mention OF any tribe inhabiting
this particular region. Sokokis lived in the
valley of the Saco, the Anasagunticocks in
the valley of the Androscoggln, the Pigwak-
ettS at Fryeburg, and it is barely possible
that this might have been neutral ground,
but Ghe old camping ground at Whites
Bridge would certainly indicate that at some
time a large tribe must have lived shere.
George Cleeves, the first settler of Portland,
Maine, who landed near Clay Cove in 1888
may have been the first white man to visit
this lake. History says he made pilgrimage
inland to Great Lake shortly after his land
ing. He left nothing, however, concerning
what he saw. But The flint chips and other
refuse are silent witnesses that at some
time Sebago Lake was the home of large,
and no doubt powerful tribe. A short dis
lance north of this encampment on a large
sand beach very many war arrows have been
found indicating an Indian battle ground.