38 OVER ON THE ISLAND

Instead of shoes he wore sandals. History does not state whether he retained this costume for the winter months. If he did . . . br-r-r-r!

On January 24, 1726, Father Kergarion left Fort la Joye and started on the rounds of his parish. The next entry in his record was made eleven days later at St. Peter’s. Such a silence is eloquent witness of the hardships he must have undergone. It must have been a long cold tramp on snowshoes through the woods and along the river. He stayed at St. Peter’s two months—hearing confessions, preaching, baptizing. From this place he went on along the shore to Mal- peque, where a number of Micmacs lived. To enable these people to hold an Easter service the priest had undertaken this long and dangerous tramp. But a stay in their Village was a severe trial for any mis- sionary. Their only shelter was the Wigwam, which was often very dirty, and spruce boughs served as seats by day and beds by night. The fire in the centre sent up a thick smoke around the group huddled there for warmth. Dogs, barking and snarling, roamed about at will or slept where they liked—often on the visitor. The Indians were kind; but what a trial to visit them!

Due to the criticism of Duchambon that Fort la Joye was unproductive from the standpoint of agriculture and fishing and too far removed from St. Peter’s, the principal fishing centre, only temporary structures were erected at the capital. These were ever in a state of dilapidation. The King’s magazine was almost open to the weather. The provisions and powder were constantly in danger of being destroyed.

The English landed here, in 1745, and burned the capital to the ground. The buildings, of course, were