A.ccount of an Excursion to Mount Katahdin. 21 



bearing of the edges of the lamlnge 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,vve 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 left 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 Epilohium 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 in 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 

 LincoJn, and then proceeded on the military road leading by Mata- 



