MR CORMACK’s 15er DITION. 261

in those days, offered a reward for the persons or heads of certain of the Red Indians. Some-aof the Micmacs were tempted by the reward, and took off the heads of two of them. Before the heads were delivered to obtain the reward, they were by accident discovered concealed in the canoe which was to convey them, and recognised by some of the Red Indians as those of their friends. The Red Indians gave no intimation of the discovery to the perpetra- tors of the unprovoked outrage, but consulted among themselves, and determined on having revenge. They invited the Micmacs to a feast, and arranged their guests in such order, that every Boeothic had a Mic- mac by his side; at a preconcerted signal, every Boeothic slew his guest. They then retired quickly from those parts bordering on the Micmac country. IVar of course ensued. Fire-arms were little known to the Indians at this time, but they soon came into more general use among such tribes as continued to hold intercourse with Europeans. This circumstance gave the Micmacs an undisputed ascendency over the Boeothics, who were forced to betake themselves to the recesses of the interior, and other parts of the island, alarmed, as well they might be, at every report of the firelock.

“ Since that day, European weapons have been directed from every quarter (and in later times, too often) at the open breasts and unstrung bows of the unoffending Boeothics. Sometimes these unsullied people of the chase have been destroyed wantonly, because they have been thought more. fleet and more