^28 LIFE OF AUDUBON. 



from bur replenished stores. A few rare birds were procured 

 here, and the rest of the road being level and firm, we trotted 

 on at a good pace for several hours, the Penobscot keeping 

 company with us. Now we came to a deep creek, of which the 

 bridge was undergoing repairs, and the people saw our vehicle 

 approach with much surprise. They, however, assisted us with 

 pleasure, by placing a few logs across, along which our horses, 

 one after the other, were carefully led, and the cart afterwards 

 carried. These good fellows were so averse to our recompensing 

 them for their labour that, after some altercation, we were 

 obliged absolutely to force what we deemed a suitable reward 

 upon them. Next day we continued our journey along the 

 Penobscot, the country changing its aspect at every mile ; and 

 when we first descried Old Town, that village of saw-mills 

 looked like an island covered with manufactories. The people 

 here are noted for their industry and perseverance, and any 

 one possessing a mill, and attending to his saws and the float- 

 ing of the timber into his dams, is sure to obtain a competency 

 in a few years. 



" Speculations in land covered with pine, lying to the north of 

 this place, are carried on to a great extent, and to discover a 

 good tract of such ground many a miller of Old Town under- 

 takes long journeys. Header, with your leave, I will here 

 introduce one of them. 



" Good luck brought us into acquaintance with Mr. Gillies, 

 whom we happened to meet in the course of our travels, as he 

 was returning from an exploring tour. About the first of 

 August he formed a party of sixteen persons, each carrying 

 a knapsack and an axe. Their provisons consisted of two 

 hundred and fifty pounds of pilot bread, one hundred and fifty 

 pounds of salted pork, four pounds of tea, two large loaves of sugar, 

 and some salt. They embarked in light canoes, twelve miles 

 north of Bangor, and followed the Penobscot as far as Wassata- 

 quoik Eiver, a branch leading to the north-west, until they 

 reached the Seboois* Lakes, the principal of which lie in a 

 line, with short portages between them. Still proceeding 

 north-west, they navigated these lakes, and then turning west, 

 carried their canoes to the great lake ' Baamchenunsgamook ;' 

 thence north to ' Wallaghasquegantook ' Lake ; then along 



