186 RIVER LIFE. 



CHAPTER IV. 



Penobscot River — Its various Names — Character of the Country through 

 which it flows — Its Length — The vast Extent of Territory which it drains 

 — Its Multitude of Lakes. — Mount Ktaadn. — Indian Legend. — Elevation 

 of the Mountain. — Overwhelming Prospect. — A Sabbath in the Wilder- 

 ness. — Moose in the Lake. — An uncomfortable Night. — Dr. Jackson's Nar- 

 rative. — New Lumber Resources. — The interesting Origin of this new Re- 

 source. — John Bull outwitted. — Freshets on the Penobscot. — Freshet of 

 1846, cause of it. — Sudden Rise of Water. — Bangor submerged. — Bowl- 

 ders of Ice. — Destruction of Property. — Narrow Escape of Ferry-boat. — 

 Peril of Boys. — Editorial Observations. — Lumber Statistics. — Where the 

 Lumber finds a Market. — Speculations on future Prospects of Lumbering 

 Interests. — Anticipations of the Future. — Bangor. 



Passing westward in a direct line about twenty miles, we 

 come to the noble and interesting Penobscot. Although Penob- 

 scot is now the name of the entire river, it was originally the 

 name of only a section of the main channel, from the head of 

 tide-water to a short distance above Oldtown. Penobscot is the 

 Indian name, and signifies stony or rocky river, as it certainly is 

 within the above limits, being nothing less than a continuous 

 fall before the dams were built. 



From the head of tide- water, at the city of Bangor, to the 

 mouth of the river, a distance of about thirty miles, it was known 

 to the Indians by the name of Baam-tu-guai-took, which means 

 broad river, sheet of water, or, more literally, all waters united. 

 Another section of the river is called Gim-sit-i-cook, signifying 

 smooth or dead water. 



Unlike the Kennebeck, and similar to the St. Croix, the Pe- 

 nobscot flows chiefly through a wilderness country. The time 

 is yet distant when its banks shall exhibit the same advances in 



