60 VALLEY OF THE AROOSTOOK. 



the interior of Maine, and empties itself into tlie right 

 side of the St John. This is an important river, as, in 

 seasons of high water, it admits of about 400 miles of 

 inland and lake navigation, ( Gesner^) and passes through 

 a rich valley, forming one of the best farming regions of 

 the State of Maine. The valley of the Aroostook was 

 one of the most valuable portions of the disputed terri- 

 tory, and one which both New Brunswick and Maine 

 desired to possess. At present, this valley forms a rich 

 and almost untouched lumber country, from which large 

 quantities of timber are floated down to the St John on 

 the waters of its river. By treaty, the free navigation of 

 the St John is secured to the produce of the Aroostook. 

 We stopped for the night at an inn at the mouth of this 

 river, which, in the height of the lumbering season, is 

 alive with swarms of lumberers, whose hobnailed shoes 

 had everywhere indented the wooden floors of the rooms 

 and passages. A few scattering men were already on 

 their way up to the woods. 



Sunday^ l^th August. — The English traveller, who 

 starts on a North American tour, must shake off some 

 of his home habits and notions. Potatoes to breakfast, 

 which he will see everywhere — without which, I believe, 

 in these provinces, a breakfast would be considered in- 

 complete — is not an American custom solely, as I have 

 met them many years ago in the west of Scotland, and, 

 if not of Irish descent, is probably a home provincial 

 custom, extended, by the necessity of circumstances, in 

 the foreign provinces. A common table for all will at 

 first surprise him more. The driver and his passengers, 

 the hired and the hirer, and the humblest wayfarer who 

 may desire to dine when your dinner is ready, sit down 

 together. We had ordered our own meal to-day in our 

 own sitting-room, but we found ourselves, after a time, 

 seated side by side with ill-appointed lumberers, in fustian 

 jackets, without any one, except myself, appearing even 



