Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XIII.djvu/282

 272 PENOBSCOT PENSACOLA this country, which is not a mint, but belongs to a different genus, hedeoma, which differs from mentha in the shape of the flower, num- ber of stamens, and other minute characters. American pennyroy- al (H. pulegioides) is found over a large portion of the coun- try, preferring arid situations ; it is a much - branching, hairy annual, less than a foot high, with oblong - ovate, petioled leaves, and small bluish flowers, few in a cluster. Its aroma closely resem- bles that of the Eu- ropean pennyroyal, and it is used for similar purposes ; its use is mainly con- fined to domestic practice, in the form ^, , T of a warm infusion American Pennyroyal (Hede- oma pulegioides). or tea, being regard- ed as useful in sup- pressed menstruation. The volatile oil is offi- cinal; it has a reputation for repelling mos- quitoes, black flies, and other insects annoying to the hunter or explorer in wooded regions, which experience does not confirm. PENOBSCOT, the principal river of Maine, formed by the junction near the centre of the state, in the E. part of Penobscot co., of two chief branches. The western and larger rises near the Canada border, flows N. E. to Ches- uncook lake, from the S. end of which it issues, and after a S. E. course of about 20 m. enters a group of ponds or lakes, including Pem- adumcook, Millinoket, and Twin lakes. The eastern branch, also called Seboois river, pro- ceeds from several small lakes in the N. part of Penobscot co., and has a nearly S. direc- tion. The main stream pursues a course a lit- tle W. of S., receiving among its most impor- tant affluents the Piscataquis on the west, and the Mattawamkeag and Passadumkeag on the east, and falls into Penobscot bay. Its total length, from the source of the W. branch, is about 275 m., and from the junction about 135 m. The principal towns on its banks are Castine, Bucksport, and Orrington on the east, and Belfast, Prospect, Frankfort, Hampden, Bangor, and Oldtown on the west. To Ban- gor, 55 m. from its mouth, it is navigable for large vessels. Along its course it has numer- ous falls, affording valuable water power. At' Bangor there is a tide of about 17 ft. result- ing from the peculiar wedge-like shape of the lower part of the river. PENOBSCOT, a central county of Maine, inter- sected by the Penobscot river ; area, 2,760 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 75,150. It has a diversified surface and a generally fertile soil. Formerly it comprised a very large territory, which has been gradually cut up to form other counties, and its outlines are very eccentric, it being composed of three parallelograms irregularly disposed. The county is intersected by the Maine Central railroad and the Dexter branch, the European and North American, and the Bangor and Piscataquis. The chief produc- tions in 1870 were 39,475 bushels of wheat, 73,944 of Indian corn, 361,355 of oats, 90,765 of barley, 31,348 of buckwheat, 1,201,558 of potatoes, 1,363,921 Ibs. of butter, 92,581 of cheese, 188,273 of wool, and 116,343 tons of hay. There were 9,263 horses, 14,815 milch cows, 4,378 working oxen, 15,482 other cattle, 46,429 sheep, and 5,050 swine. The number of manufacturing establishments in 1870 was 850, employing a capital of $4,658,390, and producing goods to the value of $10,556,944. The most important were 14 tanneries, 5 pla- ning mills, 122 saw mills, 4 machine shops, 2 paper mills, 23 ship yards, 3 woollen mills, 7 iron founderies, 8 flour mills, 41 cooper shops, 10 manufactories of boots and shoes, 22 of brick, and 38 of clothing. Capital, Bangor. PENOBSCOTS AND PASSA3IAQUODDIES, small tribes of Indians in Maine, representing the tribe originally known to the French as Male- cites and Etechemins, belonging to the Abena- qui group of Algonquins. (See ABENAQUIS.) They aided the colonists during the revolution, and received from Massachusetts a large reserve on both sides of the Penobscot river, part of which they afterward sold. The Penobscots number about 500, have a fund of $53,000 in the hands of the state, and reside chiefly on Indian island, opposite Oldtown, where they have a church, town hall, and schools. They are directed by a governor, lieutenant gover- nor, two captains, and four councillors. The Passamaquoddies, also about 500 in number, reside at Denis island and Pleasant point, on the W. shore of Passamaquoddy bay, and on the Schoodic lakes. Both tribes are Roman Catholics, and several books have recently been printed for their use, in the Abenaqui dialect, by the Rev. E. Vetromile. PENSACOLA, a city, port of entry, and the capital of Escambia co., Florida, situated on the N. W. side of the bay of the same name, about 10 m. from the gulf of Mexico, 180 m. W. of Tallahassee, and 53 m. E. S. E. of Mo- bile, Alabama; lat. 30 24' K, Ion. 87 20' W.; pop. in 1850, 2,164; in 1860, 2,877; in 1870, 3,347, of whom 1,264 were colored. It is connected with the Mobile and Montgomery railroad by the Pensacola and Louisville line, 44 m. long. The country immediately around Pensacola is sandy, little cultivated, and cov- ered with pines. The town itself, although a place of considerable political and commercial importance during the Spanish and English oc- cupation, had until a year or two prior to the civil war presented a decayed appearance. At that time a large accession both to its trade and population took place, in consequence of