292 
THE MAINE WOODS. 
lie, “that the three Frenchmen who have'made that 
voyage, affirm that there was no other means of defend¬ 
ing one’s self but to run always without stopping, and it 
was even necessary for two of them to be employed in 
driving off these creatures while the third wanted to 
drink, otherwise he could not have done it.” I have no 
doubt that this was said in good faith. 
August 1. 
I caught two or three large red chivin (Leuciscus pul- 
chellus) early this morning, within twenty feet of the 
camp, which, added to the moose-tongue, that had been 
left in the kettle boiling over night, and to our other 
stores, made a sumptuous breakfast. The Indian made 
us some hemlock tea instead of coffee, and we were not 
obliged to go as far as China for it; indeed, not quite so 
far as for the fish. This was tolerable, though he said 
it was no*t strong enough. It was interesting to see so 
simple a dish as a kettle of water with a handful of green 
hemlock sprigs in it, boiling over the huge fire in the 
open air, the leaves fast losing their lively green color, 
and know that it was for our breakfast. 
We were glad to embark once more, and leave some 
of the mosquitoes behind. We had passed the Wassata - 
quoik without perceiving it. This, according to the 
Indian, is the name of the main East Branch itself, and 
not properly applied to this small tributary alone, as on 
the maps. 
We found that we had camped about a mile above 
Hunt’s, which is on the east bank, and is the last house 
for those who ascend Ktaadn on this side. 
We also had expected to ascend it from this point, but 
omitted it on account of the chafed feet of one of my 
companions. The Indian, however, suggested that per- 
