206 RIVER LIFE. 



. Therefore, in order to obtain some tribute (for it is, indeed, a 

 trait quite prominent in the character of John Bull to expect and 

 demand tribute), a duty was levied upon all timber running down 

 the St. John's, whether from the crown lands or the territory 

 ceded to Maine. And the crown, in order to satisfy its loyal 

 subjects for this new requisition, made a corresponding discount 

 on the stumpage charged those hauling timber from the crown 

 lands, while the Yankees were left without indemnification. 



But Brother Jonathan was not to be outgeneraled by this man- 

 euver, but characteristically " guessed''' out a way of escape ; and 

 not only thwarted the cunning of his crafty neighbor in this mat- 

 ter, but actually laid his dominions under tribute, nolens vole)is, 

 by diverting a portion of the waters of St. John's River, bringing 

 it into the channel of the Penobscot, where it probably runs " duty 

 free." 'V\Tiile, therefore, the Yankees thus resisted the attempt- 

 ed encroachment, we doubt not but they secretly render a " trib- 

 ute" of thanks for the provocation. 



The Penobscot is not so likely to be aflected by destructive 

 freshets as are most large rivers ; for instance, the Kennebeek, 

 whose accumulating waters rush through its deeply-cut channel 

 with tremendous power, carrying all before it ; and for this rea- 

 son the former runs through immeiase tracts of low intervale lands, 

 which, in time of abundant rains, act as vast reservoirs, receiv- 

 ing and scattering the surplus water over thousands of acres. 

 Nothmg is likely to produce disastrous freshets, except such as 

 arise from unusual causes ; and as such a combination is not like- 

 ly to occur once in a century, an event of this nature is not often 

 expected nor dreaded. 



The Penobscot has two principal and many minor branches ; 

 among the latter, mention may be made of " Matawamkeag,'^ 



of the treaty, which the governments, respectively, of Maine or of New 

 Brunswick may make respecting the navigation of the said river, where both 

 banks thereof shall belong to the same party. 



