32 Account of an Excursion to Mount Katahdin. 



force making a passage through the bushes, and anon falling pros- 

 trate, as some rotten branch gave way, to which we had trusted for 

 support, we at last reached the " burnt wood," with much less cloth- 

 ing upon us than when we began our journey. None of us, not 

 even our guides, who were experienced woodsmen, were ever on so 

 fatiguing a journey. Had we trusted entirely to our pocket com- 

 pass, we might easily have returned to our boat by the same route 

 by which we left it, but in the endeavor to avoid one swamp we got 

 into a dozen, besides adding several miles to the length of our route. 

 In the burnt wood we advanced with more ease, but before we 

 reached the river we were again obliged to enter a difficult swamp. 

 We finally struck the river a few rods above our boat, and were as 

 much rejoiced to see it as was ever sea-sick traveller by beholding 

 shore. The plants which I had an opportunity of noticing around 

 the base of Katahdin during our hasty return, were the following, 

 viz. Monotropa unifiora ; Pyrola secunda ; Pyrola umhellata ; 

 Daliharda repens ; Cornus Canadensis ; Epilobium spicatum ; 

 Convallaria trifolia ; Gaultheria hispiduJa; G. repens; Strepto- 

 pus roseus ; S. distortus ; Ledum Jatifolium ; KaJmia angustifolia, 

 and Sorbus Americana. This last is sometimes called Round wood, 

 because the stem is so perfect a cylinder. 



On the shores of the Penobscot, near our landing place, I ob- 

 served in the same abundance as at the lakes below, Ranunculus re- 

 pens ; Potentilla fruticosa ; Ca?npa7iula rotundifolia, and Spartina 

 cyno sur aides ; to the latter our boatmen gave the name of "Blue 

 Joints." In the stream were great quantities of Lobelia Dortman- 

 ni; Eriocaulon pellucidum, and Sparganium natans. 



This night we encamped at the head of the Debskoneegan Carry- 

 ing Place, where we found a small camp made of hemlock bark, 

 which required but little adjusting to render it very comfortable. We 

 made a large fire to dry our clothes and blankets, and then lay down 

 for the night. In the morning (Sunday) I found myself suffering 

 from a violent cold in my throat, which however had no serious con- 

 sequences. Making a hasty breakfast, we again set out, eager to 

 reach the Grand Falls before night. Whenever we were in still 

 water we used both paddles and oars, and thus made rapid progress. 

 We were particularly struck, during this day's journey, with the re- 

 markable purity and transparency of the water, as well as the beauty 

 and accuracy of the reflections from its surface. Every leaf and 

 branch of the trees was distinguishable, and the rounded rocks, pro- 



