-89- DAYS OF BISHOP MacBACHERH 1790 - 1856 Oar early history is so closely identified with the labors of Bishop MacBachera that local traditions may interest many; in fact it is on local traditions we have mainly to depend, for, from a regrettable loss of records, much daJa for an extended biography of him is not available. About 1790, there was a movement of many Highland clansmen to America, encouraged by the British Government as part of the project of breaking up the olan system, The MacEacherns, and others including McIntosb.es, MacBarishee, etc., came from tho port of Ardnamurchan, in the Hebrides, to settle at Savage Harbour , in 1790. The Rev. Angus (Aeneas) MacEachern was then finishing his studies for the priesthood at Valladolid, in Spain, and on returning to Scotland, he obtained permission to join his clansmen on the Island of St. John. There was no other clergyman here at the time except an aged chaplain of the MacDonald family, Rev. Augus ¬ tine McDonald, the first iSnglish speaking priest to under¬ take missionary work on the Island of St. John, had died in 1785* A few entries made by him in a book show about a dozen family names divided between Savage Harbour , Five Houses, and Grand Tracadie , At that time a Mr. McRae kept a little store near Stanhope ; prices for farm products t.ere very small, but groceries were high--6 shillings per lb. of tea, 7S.6 D for a loaf of sugar. The new settlers had all the difficulties incident¬ al to pioneering life, but the hardly Islemen were not easily discouraged. The work of settlement received a great im¬ petus when Rev. Mr. MacSachern arrived in 1792. He personal¬ ly directed the settlers' labors in united action - hewing down forest trees to make farm clearances, erecting dwellings and building boat3. Clad in his plaid, he moved among; them , inspiring them with his own boundless energy. Soon a. roomy house, built of the red field stone of the country, was erected for himself at Savage Harbour . It was a veritable Chastel Ruiadh, and it is a matter of regret that it was taken down in I867. Its front looked down the tiny bay to the wooded island ( Canavoy Island ) once the burial place of all the Micmacs, whose banks now reveal many relics such as