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.

THE MERRLMAzCK RIVE1RS;
delight, he inquired of them concerning the lay of the land, the
direction of the coast, and other matters; in reply, they sketched a
rude diagram or chart of the coast, which' proved to be extremely
a c c u r a t e. In the chart which they traced, they informed him
t h e r e was a large bay to the westward, into which flowed a great and
beautiful river. The next day De Champlain weighed anchor and
sailed, determined to make the land he had seen far to the southw a rd, and which is now known as Cape Ann; proceeding, he disc o v e red Plum Island and the mouth of a magnificent river. This
he called IRiviere du Guast, which in my judgment rises in the direction of the Iriquois - a nation which is at open war with the
mountaineers who are upon the great River St. Lawrene." De
Champlain, it appears, based his opinion concerning the course of the
river on what he was able to see of it, and his conjecture was
erroneous, as, instead of its course being westward, it is northward.
Thus was De Champlain the discoverer of the Merrimack River, although its existence was previously known, even under its present
name, by the coast Indians and Europeans far to the eastward.
Some accounts declare that De Champlain landed at the place of the
interview with the natives, which was undoubtedly what is now known
as Rye ~each. If this was the case, he was unquestionably the
first European who ever set foot on the soil of New IHampshire; but
the fact may be considered as still in doubt whether or not he
actually landed.
It will be seen that the fame of this river had extended hundreds
of leagues, and its distinguishing characteristics were chronicled by
the aborigines in the name they gave it.
"This river was called Merrimack by the northern Indians.
Merrimack means, doubtless, a place of strong current, from Merroh
(strong) and awke (a place), the "M" being thrown in for the sake
of sound. But by the Maassaclhusvtts Indians this river was called
Meniomack, from mena (an island) and awke (a place), mreaning the
island place, from the number of beautiful islands in this river."*
The Indians, it is said, in communications, messages, and conversation among themselves, used many descriptive expressions when
speaking of the Merrimack River, such as "the bright, rapid
water," " the beautiful river with the pebbly bottom," "the water
* Potter.~~~~~~~
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