Account of an Excursion to Mount Katahdin. 33 
jecting above water, appeared like globular masses of some light 
substance afloat, and it was almost impossible to distinguish the di- 
viding line between an object and its image. 
A solemn stillness reigned upon these lakes, broken only by the 
sound of our paddles, the wild laugh of a loon, or cry of a white ea- 
gle which we occasionally startled from his perch on some lofty pine. 
Near Hoyt’s stream, however, we heard one “ sound familiar to 
our ear;”’ it was the tinkling of cow bells, which we found were 
fastened to some fine oxen grazing on the islands in the stream. 
They belonged to Mr. Gibson, who has a camp farm at Sowada- 
hunk, six miles above our landing place. We met him in his boat 
as we were descending the river; he was carrying up some men to 
cut the wild meadow hay, which is in great demand in this region 
during winter, when the woods are filled with “loggers” and their 
cattle. 
Nothing worth recording occurred during the remainder of our 
journey to Grand Fails, where we arrived before sunset. The next 
morning, Monday, we engaged our faithful guides to transport us in 
their boat to Matawamkeag Point, where we arrived about three 
o’clock, P. M. with our relish for the comforts of civilization much 
heightened by our excursion. We returned, via Bangor, &c., to 
Waterville, and on calculating our expenses, found them to have 
been but twenty five dollars each, including the hire of the horse 
and wagon. 
Before closing this article, I wish briefly to mention the places at 
which I have ad an opportunity of observing the Argillite so often 
alluded to in the above article. During this journey it was the only 
rock seen in situ, from Waterville, east to Bangor, and thence north 
and north westerly to a point between Grand Falls and Quakish 
Lake. I observed it on an excursion made on foot to Mount Abra- 
ham in 1832, at the following places: from Waterville all the way 
to Norridgewock, where it forms the falls; and in Starks, Industry, 
Freeman, Kingsfield, and Anson. The only other rock observed, 
was a small hill of granite between Starks and Industry, and the 
granite forming the summit of Mount Abraham. 
I have merely stated above the places where I have myself had 
an opportunity of examining the Argillite formation. It doubtless ex- 
tends far beyond the limits of my observations, and as it is said to 
oceur at Holton, it is not improbable that it traverses the whole state 
in a north easterly direction, and enters into New Brunswick. This 
5 
Vou. XXXIJ.—No. 1. 
