The various families returned to their permanent villages along the river in the spring and summer. After the cramped quarters of the winter camps, the larger village lodges and wigwams seemed roomy and comfortable. The villages were surrounded by upright log walls, or palisades, as protection from raiding enemies, such as the MOHAWK to the west.
In early spring, the Penobscot harvested the sap from the maple trees and boiled it to make maple syrup. Then, when the ground thawed and early morning freezes stopped, they cultivated the rocky northern soil to plant their gardens. Corn was the staple crop. The first harvest came as early as July. But even during the mild months, when plant foods were available, the Penobscot men left the village to hunt. And they fished the river, using harpoons and nets. In the difficult Penobscot existence, there was never too much food. Any excess could be preserved by various means—drying in the sun, or smoking, to help endure the long winter months. Now that the weather was milder, children had more time to play games and make toys. Quite often their games, such as throwing a spear at a hoop, served to develop later survival skills.
One of the favorite times of year was the summer trip down the Penobscot River to the Atlantic Ocean. Here, the Penobscot had a change of diet—clams, lobsters, crabs, and possibly even seals. And the children rode the surf as children today do on summer trips to the beach. There was time for socializing and for rituals—song and dance and communication with the spirits of nature that the Penobscot believed provided their food.
World History
