[Webstral]

In The Lobster Coast, I’m reading now about the wars between the First Nations (principally the Wabanaki) and the English settlers of Maine that ran from the time of King Philip’s War in southern New England through the early 1700’s. Woodard does a great job of describing a Maine depopulated, devastated, and devoid of gainful human activity. He brews a very strong draught of Twilight: 2000. He does not forget to mention the fate of the First Nations in all this. He points out that the Wabanaki could not raise crops and wage war at the same time; as a consequence, starvation overtook many. Most of the remainder fled inland or to French territory. Woodard even uses the term “howling wilderness”.

That’s very good input, Brother. I have read much the same. It’s good to have confirmation from someone on the ground and in the know. I have read that some of the best potato country in the nation in is northern Maine (I can’t remember the county). Alas, I foresee this whole area becoming depopulated.

At the risk of constantly referring to my own work, it’s the tendency of the populace to head either to the coast or to fortified cantonments in the interior that leads to the emergence of the hordes. In Howling Wilderness, the hordes emerge because there isn’t enough food to go around. I don’t believe a drought is necessary for this. Once the non-marauding population consolidates into defended cantonments, the marauding portion of the population is going to have to adapt or die. Many will die. Inevitably, though, some of the smaller marauder bands incapable of tackling the remaining defended cantonments will band together to achieve their ends by sheer weight of numbers.

I foresee the population of the interior of Maine migrating to the coast during 1998. This movement largely will be completed during 1999, with the remaining population of the interior being divided between cantonments and brigands. Small farmsteads and other rugged individuals will be wiped out. Some of the small Maine cities located along the major rivers might retain a portion of their population based on a shaky trade network with First District in which ocean fish and manufactured goods (like refurbished small arms, small arms ammunition, etc) are traded for salvaged goods and other food stuffs.