The Diary of David Ross - Excerpts - to the east and west most distant from town cattle starving to death - cutting birch tops and boiling them for cattle. April 17 - People still crossing ice at Ferry. June 19 - Sailed steamboat for Pictou . June 20 - In Pictou all the day - in church there this evening. June 21 - Started for Truro at 10 AM on stage waggon carrying 6 besides driver, 8 luggage. When within 4 miles of Truro broke down - ran on foot to Truro. Pretty place - five fields - rapid in flux of tide from Bay Fundy - mounted mail waggon travelling all night. Arrived at Dartmouth 7:06 AM. June 22 - Crossed to Halifax . Pretty appearance of the town from Dartmouth side - ships of war at anchor and under way. Lodged at Mrs. McDonald 's or Street - got dressed and devoted this day to see Lions - strong place - beautiful view from the Hill extending down the harbor, the Island and out to sea. Fine fish market - salmon to every meal. Potatoes. Oats 2/ - fencing ground - 3 Regiments lying there. The wharfs - ordinance Naval and Military Stores. June 23 - Did business at N A Bank - payed all debts. June 24 - Catholic Chapel - procession of Irish Temperance - Masonic procession to lay foundation store of......... June 25 - Strolling about buying sugar. In theatre, Miss Davenport - poor affair. June 26 - Started in mail waggon at 3 PM on return. Took tea at Grand , 18 mi. from Halifax . Ruins of canal along lakes - near resemblance to highland locks. [The Micmac had to canoe from Northumberland to Halifax hence Canals to lessen portages]. June 27 - Arrived at Truro 62 miles from Halifax at 6 AM. Breakfasted. Arrived Pictou 40 mi. from Truro 4 PM. Lodged Royal Oak . June 28 - Sailed steamboat Geo'town. Arrived there afternoon. June 29 - Visited McDonald's tenants - slept at Killies. June 30 - Came down Montague River in canoe to Geo'town. Lodged Haddlies. July 1 - Came up to Ch'town in mail waggon. July 2 - In town all day arranging business. Came home. July 3 - In town today again - McDonald's business. July 6 - Building stable. September 23 - Squaring logs and pieces for finishing stable. November 18 - weed and banking house. Working completing stable. 1342 January 15 - Scott's son died this day. January 18 - Attended funeral. April 29 - 700 passengers from Belfast arrived yesterday. June 12 - To hauling up house logs from River. June 20 - Hauling down old barn. June 28 - The Fair in town. November 2 - Attended Gibson's funeral. November 3 - The most tremendous storm from N. have barrack all over - blew down fences and G-d knows what. November 5 - Sister in town for nails for building. The storm unroofed many houses & barns throughout the Island and covered the coasts around with wreck of ships - carried away many stacks of Marsh hay and did otherwise uncalculable damage. It was accompanied with the highest tide during the night ever heard of. Then 24° in house. Snow 3 or 4 feet deep, roads banked and not a soul stirring out. -142-