PRINCIPAL SETTLEMENTS 305

a large open bay, sixteen miles broad from the west point to Cape Egmont, and about ten deep. Per- ceval, Enmore, and two other small rivers, fall into it; on the borders of which are excellent marshes. There is no harbour Within this bay for large ves- sels; and as the shoals lie a considerable distance off, it is dangerous for strangers to venture in, even with small vessels. The inhabitants are chiefly Acadian French, who live in three small thriving villages, on the east side of the bay. The whole population con- sists only of thirty-nine families:ale

* Coming down the Gulf of St Lawrence, from the Bay de Cha- leur, in 1819, in a large whale boat, we were driven into this bay, but could not approach within a quarter of a mile of the shore, in consequence of its being there lined by a succession of narrow sand bars, with channels about four feet deep between them. An Acadian, nearly one hundred years old, came out to us on horse- back, and carried us, one at a time, behind him on the horse to the shore. We met with great hospitality among the simple Acadians. I stopped in the old patriarch’s house; and the bed in which the priest, who visited the village twice a—year, slept, was allotted to me.

There were none except the venerable Acadian and his wife living in the house. He laboured daily in the fields; and she not only frequently assisted him, but cooked, washed, and made and mended his clothes. He gave me much information about the early condition of the island, as he was born on it, and was present when it surrendered to the English, in 1758. Talking of himself, he said,“ I am the father of every family" (twenty- f-our at that time) “ in the village; f01 there 18 not one of those houses 1n which I have not either a son, daughter, grandson, or grand-daughter married; and I have also several great-grand- -children. Look at my old wife and me,” said he, “ now living alone as we were when fiist mar1ied. We need not w01k, it is tiue, for our childien would willingly provide us plenty, even if we had not money laid by. But we know, that if we did not work, we would soon die. Be-

VOL. I. U