The Merrimack River: its source and its tributaries. Embracing a history of manufactures, and of the towns along its course; their geography, topography, and products, with a description of the magnificent natural scenery about its upper waters./ By J. W. Meader.

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THE MERl1?IMA.CK BI RI;
con(itio l of their adroit and implacable foes annoyed them exceed ilgly. a1(l caused themui to become vigilant, active, and always on
the alest. and was the cause, even more than their numbers or
courage. of constantly frustrating the exterminating designs in dulre(l in by the savages.
ET., dthe tribes proved ats numerous, determined, and well pre pared as rwas feared, the p)rogress of the colonIies, not only in New
Ilampsliire but Massaclhusetts likewise, must have been greatly
impede(l. if not altogether stopped. A. it was, they would often
swoop (lownii upon the scattered settlements as swift, sudden, and
unexpected as the hawk, and if they often i met his fate they still
matnag,e(i to inflict material injury upoln the victims. While this
state of things existed, men were cut down in the forest, and in the
clearing. Everywhere they went armed, often throwing out pickets
to protect theme while at work. Families awoke at dead of night to
hear the fearful war-whoop, to see their homes enveloped in flames,
and the dleadly tomahawk and the dreaded scalping-knife gleam in
the light of the burning dwelling. Without succor, and with no
hope of escape, to be resigned and to die was all that was left for
them, unless it was desirable to have a little barbarous diversion in
the shape of torture. In the event of torture being determined
upon, savag,e iingenuity was taxed( to devise or invent a refinement
of cruelty which would afl'ord fi'ightful and ferocious amusement.
Midnight massacre, and the little less preferable captivity, were
*the ghosts of every household; and the man who had a famnily to
protect aitld provide for, coul(l relax from li.s duties only to turn his
mind nipoii the terrible fate wvhicli possibly, nay, probably, awaited
himself i and his. But this state of things was not to last forever.
It was only a question of time. The indomitable white man was
not to be exterminated by a race so untutored, nor his spirit sub dlued., nor his enterprise long checked, nor his prospects for a glo rious career bli(ghted. Not he. Facing a severe climate, fierce
wild beasts, an unsubdued wilderness, and ferocious and implacable
human foes, he went steadily forward. Slow at first, to be sure, but
still he went on, until, by his irresistible energy, he penetrated far ther and farther into the depths of the unexplored wilds, driving his
enemy before him, until at length his foot was so firmly planted
that his desperate and terrible foe, giving up the contest in dismay
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