VII

and Acadia. The Micmacs themselves were in no position to preserve the books placed in their hands, and there were those over them who certainly did not encourage them to do so. It must ever seem a matter of regret that Dr. Rand met such hindrances in his noble undertaking, for he was compelled to leave his Dictionary and Grammar unfinished at his death, and he had no successor in that enterprise.

He who has now been entrusted with the task of giving Rand’s Dictionary to the world, has been from boyhood a grateful admirer of that worthy man, though it was never his privilege to see or hear the hoary man whom children loved—whose memory has been a bene- diction to them throughout their lives. It may be stated that during student days at Acadia College many manuscripts and fragmentary records of Rand‘s work were read; it was learned that at Dr. Rand’s death Professor E. N. Horsford had purchased for five hundred dollars all the manuscript except the Dictionary, and presented it to the phil- ological department of Wellesley College Library, and a visit was made which led to the conclusion that the fiftieth anniversary of the organizition of the Mission might well be marked by a brief sketch of the noble missionary at his work. Later, while at work upon the bio- graphy (published in 1899,) a visit was made to the Library of Parlia- ment at Ottawa, and the Dictionary manuscript carefully examined by the kind assistance of the Librarian.

It was found in a chaotic condition, written hurriedly, in three alphabets, as the author went about his work :but the alphabets were familiar, as they had been mastered in order to read up in preparation of the biography ; and, when asked if it would be possible to under- take the completion of the Dictionary, the eager youth yielded rather to his enthusiasm than to his judgment, and promised to undertake the task of transcribing and arranging alphabetically for publication. A sum to cover expenses was voted by the Canadian Government, and by an Order in Council the undersigned was appointed to carry on the work, and on the second of August, 1900, the work of transcribing and arranging began.

In Dr. Rand’s personal Diary, kindly loaned by his daughter Hattie, many valuable notes were found relating to the language; and