Account of an Excursion to Mount Katahdin. 21 
bearing of the edges of the laminz is almost invariably about north- 
east and southwest, subject however in some places to most singular 
contortions, the general direction being still preserved. This argil- 
lite is well exposed in the bed of the Kennebeck at Waterville, and 
at the beautiful falls in West Waterville. This day we saw it in the 
bed of the Sebasticook at Clinton, and observed it often on the road 
to Dixmont, where it rises to a considerable elevation, and forms - 
part of the dividing ridge between the Kennebeck and Penobscot 
valleys. Over the slate is generally spread a deposit of bluish 
gray clay, much used in making bricks, and upon the clay a dilu- 
vial deposit of boulders, principally of granite. We stopped for 
the night at a tavern near Hampden, and the next morning rode 
through Bangor and Stillwater, to Orono or Old Town. In the Pe- 
nobscot at Bangor, and all the way to Old Town, the slate was seen 
preserving all its usual characters. At Orono it forms both banks of 
the Penobscot, and continues eastward, but how far I had no means 
of determining. 
At Old Town, it being Sunday, we remained through the day and 
until noon on Monday, awaiting the arrival of Prof. Barnes, who had 
promised to join us at this place. During our stay we visited the In- 
dian island belonging to the miserable remnant of the Penobscot tribe. 
The greater part of the Indians were absent on a fishing expedition 
to the sea-coast. They have here a neat chapel, and several frame 
houses, besides huts. A Roman Catholic priest resides with them. 
We asked one of the Indians how he liked his priest ; he answered, 
“Oh, middling !’? On Monday at noon, as Mr. Barnes had not ar- 
rived, we went on without him, and proceeded on the Jeft bank of the 
river, by a fine road, to the tavern at Piscataquis, where we found as 
good accommodations as could be desired. We were particularly 
struck during our ride with the great quantity of Eptlobium spica- 
tum, which is generally known in this state by the name of Fire 
weed, from the abundance in which it springs up in fields recently 
burned over. Near Old Town I observed beds of Calla palustris 
in flower. From a short distance above Old Town, we did not ob- 
serve along the road any argillite im situ, although its occasional 
appearance, in loose masses, indicated its close proximity. At the 
Piscataquis Falls, it again appears in situ. 
Tuesday Morning.—We set out early for Matawamkeag Point, 
and proceeded as far as Lincoln on the good state road; breakfasted at 
Lincoln, and then proceeded on the military road leading by Mata- 
