Pk ER AC EB

THE names of Prince Edward Island have been as varied as its fortunes. The Indians according to their mood called it Abegwet—resting on the wave, or Minegoo—the Island. To the French it was Isle Saint Jean; and this name was retained in the Eng- lish form of St. John’s Island until 1798 when, owing to the frequent miscarriage of mail, it was changed to Prince Edward Island, in honor of the Duke of Kent. In 1780 at the instigation of Governor Patter- son, an Irishman, it narrowly missed being called New Ireland; but the Home Government disallowed the act of the local legislature and suggested New Guernsey or New Anglesea. Fortunately neither of these suggestions was adopted. In journalism the island is frequently called ‘The Garden of the Gulf,” and after a recent general election it was facetiously referred to as “Little Quebec”; but it will probably continue to make its contribution to history as Prince Edward Island. For this reason I speak of the French Régime in Prince Edward Island while in the text I use the name of the contemporary docu- ments—Isle Saint Jean.

My interest inthe history of this island is of early date. I was born within two miles of an old French settlement at La Traverse, now Cape Traverse; within five miles of a settlement at Riviére des Blonds, now Tryon, where the remains of an old French burying ground may still be seen as well as