[ganoxg] 



HISTORIC SITES IN NEW BRUNSWICK 



243 



Meductic Poilage. This started at Mediictic Flat and went through the 

 Gully a short distance below Meductic Fort and Village, and ran to near 

 Benton in a course not very different from the present highway, generally 

 somewhat north of it. An old plan of it is given herewith (Map No. 2, 

 also No. 5). This Portage is also mentioned by John Gyles in his nar- 

 rative of 1689. 



Above Benton the river is very easily navigable, consisting of deadwaters 

 separated by short rapids or falls to the First Lake. Thence the portage, about 

 three miles long, runs somewhat to the south of and not far from the course 

 of the present highway across to North Lake. Its direction is well shown on 

 the accompanying map (Map No. 3, also No. 5). It is of this portage that 



Map No. 3. The Eel River-Chiputneticook Portage, 

 From a plan of 1835 ; x f . 



Gesner said the solid granite rocks were hollowed by the wear of ages of 

 moccasined feet, a statement I doubt (see earlier, page 236). North Lake 

 empties by a thoroughfare into Grand Lake, whence starts the portage to the 

 Penobscot, later to be described (see below 3 A). In passing from Grand 

 to Chepneck lake a portage is necessary to avoid the falls, and this runs from 

 Mud Lake, below Forest City, across the neck (map No. 5). It is mentioned 

 by Allan. The St. Croix is rather difficult of navigation to the bay ; it is much 

 broken by falls and rapids interspersed between considerable deadwaters- 

 From the Scoodic Lakes there is a portage to the Mac bias (see below) and 

 another to the Penobscot (3 B). 



In the route down the St. Croix to Cobscook Bay there was a portage to 

 INIeddybemps Lake, and thence the route lay down the Denys River. This 

 .portage is clearly shown on a plan drawn by Francis Joseph, an Indian, 

 and now in possession of the Maine Historical Society, a copy of which is 

 given herewith (Map No. 4). The portage probably started from the stream 

 Wapsednegan (so given in Colby's Atlas of Washington Co., Maine). The 

 Indian map shows also a portage to Round Lake, whence a stream leads to 

 the present Pennamaquam, on which is now the town of Pembroke. It 



