178 ‘The French in Prince Edward Island

Halifax; and in addition fortune was kind, bringing a bountiful crop.”

In spite of the sad condition of many of the refu- gees who, according to de Bonnaventure and Prevost, showed signs of avarice and chicanery and a fond- ness for wrangling with one another, the year 1753 was one of hope. The crops gave splendid promise until late in August when they were attacked by rust; but, as it was, the grain yielded seven to one. On the other hand the gardens were very fruitful and this did much to offset the moderate returns from wheat. One sole habitan carried 5000 cabbages and 100 hogsheads of turnips to Louisburg; and, though his case was exceptional, it was a great encourage- ment to others. The Governor of Ile Royale gave flour in exchange for wheat and imported New Eng- land wheat for seeding in the following spring.

In his observations on farming in the island, Pre- vost throws an interesting sidelight on the extent to which paternalism was carried at this date. Some of the Acadians wished to raise horses but he discour- aged the industry on the grounds that they would require more food than oxen, that as they gave quicker returns and needed less training oxen would be neglected, and that as they would find an easy sale in the West Indies, that would lead to commerce with the enemy. Hence the habitans must be prohibited from having more than one horse per family.’

Further the island could now felicitate itself on the

1(C11 IV, Vol. 82, p. 242. 2C11 IV, Vol. 33, pp. 100, 319.