CANTO FIRST.

From fancy conjured many a shade,
That levity and slander made.           Page 10.

Oh! slander—foul mishapen whelp of fame,
—————————Acadia’s shame;
Through ev’ry bye-way yelps thy busy tongue,
At ev’ry door its rankling froth is flung.
Unchanging and unceasing is thy rage,
Tears cannot quench, nor blood its flame assuage;
More deathly than the Simoom’s fiery breath,
Thy vapory foam fills every breeze with death.
Poisoning the noble passions of the soul,
And all the floods of feeling as they roll.
    *          *          *          *          *          *    
Oh! are ye men to whom is freely given
The spirit of adoption by high Heaven,
Who thus can act the assassins of the soul,
And stab the spirit which ye can’t control.
Can woman, she the gentle and the fair,
Our hope, our solace, joy in our despair,
And from the tongue whence love and music flow,
Spit poison and augment the lists of woe.
                                                                     ALVAR. [Page 114]

Here, as the two old vampire wretches,
The life-stream swallowed like horse leaches,
Whose quenchless thirst is never o’er,
Tug till they burst and gasp for more,
Insatiates still.

    There is a striking coincidence between these lines and the following of Alvar’s—but this tale was written about eighteen months before the Satirical Sketch, No. 7, appeared in the Novascotian, and I am satisfied that he never saw my manuscript.
                When once he tastes his wretched victim’s blood,
                Leechlike he sticks, and laps the sanguine flood.

The captives in the prison yard
No longer in their pastimes shared.     Page 37.

    The spot designated Creighton Creek, directly opposite Halifax on the eastern side of Chebucto Bay, was formerly occupied as a Depot for prisoners of war—it is at present the property of John Allen, Esq.

Hence moral ill and moral good,
Have by some standard measure stood.   Page 43.

    A young gentleman of classical attainments, for whom I entertain a considerable degree of partiality, in perusing this passage, denied the existence of a moral evil, I asserted that it does exist, and promised to prove it from good authority. The following quotation from Dwight’s Theology, appears to me quite sufficient.
    “The difficulties attending the existence of moral evil, are, I readily confess, very great, and they easily become very distressing, whatever scheme of thought we may adopt concerning this subject, that is, if we pursue it to any extent. But, I apprehend, the chief of those difficulties which necessarily attend us, will be found in the fact that moral evil does exist.”                                                         SER. XXXII.
    “The truth is, the subject of moral evil is too extensive and too mysterious to be comprehended by our understanding. Some things the Scriptures teach [Page 115] us concerning it, and those are usually furnished with important evidence from facts. Many other things pertaining to this subject lie wholly beyond our reach.”—ibid.

The prophets vision more sublime,
Looks to an everlasting home.     Page 51

    Will the reader be kind enough to peruse with attention, the 21st Chapter of the Revelation of St. John.

His country seat (I mind it still)
Was up the Basin, near Sackville.     Page 55.

    Haliburton, the Historian of Nova Scotia, had an old French map in his possession, that exhibits a dwelling place of considerable magnitude upon Goat Island, in the Annapolis River, bearing the title of Biencourtville, from which authority I have presumed to substitute Biencourt Isle for the less poetical one of Goat Island.

Whilst savage whoop and fiendlike yell,
Are echoed from the proud Moschelle.     Page 58.

    The Moschelle hill rises on the east side of the Annapolis river, and looks “proudly” over not only Goat Island, but an extensive Landscape of the most pleasing scenery, perhaps in Nova Scotia.

    The Meux are two delightful eminences that command an imposing effect on entering Annapolis from the east. [Page 116]

The village of Rosette, &c.     Page 59.

Fort Maria, &c.     Page 59.

    The French appellation of the Annapolis fortress.

Nor make these movements known, until
They posted picquets on Round Hill.     Page 60.

    Round-hill is situated about a mile from Rosette, farther up the River, and from its peculiar position must have been an excellent military post during the conflicting claims of the French and English to ‘Acadia.’

But ere their farthest faintest tramp,
Had ceased beyond the Banlieue swamp.     Page 61

    The Banlieue, according to Haliburton, included the lands and inhabitants within a gun shot or three miles of a fortification.—See Haliburton’s History vol. I. page 90.

My home his wigwam.     Page 63

    This lake is situated in Queen’s County, being on the Indian route from Liverpool to Annapolis, and is, according to Haliburton, the largest in the Province.

And I was quiet till the veil
Of twilight mantled Malaquille.     Page 68. [Page 117]

    The Historian of Nova Scotia informs me, that there was formerly an extensive Indian village on the banks of Lake Rosignol, the name of which is now unknown, and being at full liberty, I have endeavoured to rescue it from oblivion, under the designated name of Marlaquille.

And mutter’d o’er the fatal scene,
That in the Bloody Creek had been.     Page 68.         

    Haliburton’s account of this affair is as follows:—“Captain Pigeon, an officer of the Regulars, was sent up the River with a strong detachment, to reduce them (the Acadians) to subjection, and procure timber for the repair of the Fort. While in the performance of this duty, they were surprised by a great body of Indians, who killed the Fort Major, the Engineer, and all the boat’s crew, and took between 30 and 40 prisoners.*—Hist. Nova Scotia, vol.I, p. 91.
______
*The scene of this disaster is situated about 12 miles above the Fort, on the road to Halifax, and is still called the Bloody Creek.

And there his paascowee is still
The manitou of Marlaquille.     Page 69.

    They place great confidence in their Manitous, or household gods, which they always convey with them, and being persuaded that they take upon them the office of centinels, they sleep very securely under their protection.—Carver’s Travels, page 309

Yet I abode in Marlaquille,
Among the Wuspem tribe, until
The village chiefs in counsel met,
To smoke the pipe with pale Rosette.     Page 71.

    Although Haliburton says, that the Micmacs are only a tribe, from an authority historically correct, yet I think it much better to consider them a nation, to correspond with certain poetical purpose, and this is quite reasonable, from their isolated situation. Accordingly, I divide them into three tribes—first, the Wuspem, or tribe of the Lake, to be located in the neighborhood of Rosignol and the western quarter of the province—second, the Waghon, or tribe of the Long-Knives, to inhabit the regions of the Shubenacadie, and the middle division—and third, the Monguash tribe, to occupy Canseau, and the eastward. Carver says:—Every separate body of Indians is divided into bands or tribes, which band forms a little community with the nation to which it belongs. As the nation has some particular symbol by which it is distinguished from others, so each tribe has a badge from which it is denominated, as that of the Eagle, the Panther, the Tiger, the Buffalo, &c.—Carver’s Travels, page 255-6.  [Page 118]
    Also, Charlevoix says—Many nations have each three families, or principal tribes, as ancient in all probablility as their origin. They are nevertheless derived from the same stock, and there is one who is looked upon as the first who has a sort of a pre-eminence over the two others, who style those of this tribe brothers; whereas, between themselves, they style each other cousins. These tribes are mixed without being confounded, each has its distinct chief in every village, and in the affairs which concern the whole nation, these chiefs assemble to deliberate thereon, each tribe bears the name of some animal, and the whole nation has also one whose name they take, and whose figure is their mark, or as one may say their coat of arms.—Charlevoix Travels, page 180.

From Creighton Hall the guests are gone,
The prison creek is left with none.     Page 100.

    In the course of the succeeding year (1750) they (the Indians) surprised the little town of Dartmouth, on the other side of Halifax bay, where they killed and scalped a great number of people, and carried off some others.—General Description of Nova Scotia, page 63.
    Since this note was written, I have received the following from a literary friend, which I feel great pleasure in having it in my power to subjoin:
    “On the spreading bay of Chebucto, scarce a ripple disturbed the placid waters, which seemed to reveal in this tranquil sylvan scene, for which they had deserted the swelling Ocean’s mighty currents. Yet they seemed in gratitude to kiss the forest which skirted and covered the shores to the very brink, as the gentle tide flowed and receded alternately in measured movements, and upon the pebbly beach, it sounded in the ear of the wandering Micmac, like the soft sighing of his loved, his own huntress. The summer sun had just set, leaving that peculiar mellow colour in the western horizon that our climate boasted—mingled with this were the thousand richer tints that belong to the season, when the exhalations from the warm earth thicken the medium, and refract the last rays of day.
    “The early settlers of Halifax had at this time made themselves comparatively comfortable. A season or two had passed over, and they had begun to be reconciled to the wild nature in the midst of which their rising town was placed. They had learned to venture in small parties with the gun or the [Page 119] line—and the levy contributions on the winged and finny races. Fortified by slight entrenchments and palisades, and blockhouses, and encouraged by the presence of a regular military force, they had ventured to form another and smaller settlement on the east side of their harbor, where many were beginning to build for themselves, and clear spots of grounds, while a blockhouse and small corps of soldiers protected them.
    “It was a lovely afternoon, and some of the townspeople had been over to the new village to while away their leisure—but had returned before sunset. Peace and tranquility reigned—no apprehension existed. The weary veteran sat smoking his pipe on a bench, discoursing with his comrades of the field of Blenheim, the gallant Duke of Marlborough, the siege of Edinburgh Castle, or the sanguinary plains of Cullonden. The merchant was putting back into his store the goods he had exhibited during the day—the laborers were returning to their little cots, from their daily task, and the evening drum and sundown gun proclaimed that a long and delightful day had closed.
    “A sound of woe came across the smooth haven, on which the stars first visible were already faintly reflected. It was the scream of some wretched parent, perchance, in terror for the life of their little ones—for the wild and appalling war-whoop of the Redmen soon re-echoing over the tide, proclaimed that destruction was at work in the little village of Dartmouth. The savages crept on them stealthily, and surprised them scattered and unarmed.
    “The soldiers in the little blockhouse of Dartmouth, were unable, from want of numbers we may suppose, to face them. The ground, too, was decidedly unfavourable to the warriors of Europe. The tree, the thick bush, are the Redman’s entrenchments—to the European they are an impediment and embarrassment of no ordinary description.
    “A few daring and active persons from Halifax got across in the first boats they could seize, in time to prevent the massacre of the settlement from being total. At their first attack, the Indian force began to give ground, and after a short combat retreated into the impenetrable and impervious glooms of the primeval forest, aided by the cover of night.
    “The next day the remains of the slain were brought across the harbor—and the settlement was then almost entirely abandoned for a long period, until the tomahawk had been buried by the white headed chiefs of the Redmen, and had rusted in its peaceful cemetery.”

And doubling round the Devil’s isle,
A ship veers to the cast defile.     Page 106.

    In 1723, there was a very general war commenced by all the tribes in this [Page 120] quarter—the Richibuctos—the Micmacs, and Penobscots. In the latter part of July, they surprised Canso, and other harbors near to it, and took 16 or 17 sail of fishing vessels, all belonging to Massachussets; Governor Phillips happened to be in Canso, and caused two sloops to be manned, partly with volunteer sailors from merchant vessels, which were loading with fish, and sent them under the command of John Elliot, of Boston, and John Robinson, of Cape Ann, in quest of the enemy. Elliot as he was ranging the coast, espied seven vessels in a harbour called Winnessang, and concealed all his men except four or five, until he came near to one of the vessels which had about 40 Indians on board, who were in expectation of another prize falling into their hands. As soon as he was within hearing they hoisted their pendants and called out “strike, English dogs, and come on board, for ye are all prisoners;” Elliot answered that he would make all the haste he could; finding he made no attempt to escape they began to fear they had caught a Tartar, and cut their cables with intent to run on shore, but he was too quick for them, and immediately boarded them; for about half an hour they made a brave resistance, but at length some of them jumping into the hold, Elliot threw his hand grenadoes after them, which made such havock that all which remained alive took to the water, where they were a fair mark for the English shot. From this or a like action, probably took rise a common expression among English soldiers and sometimes English hunters, who when they had killed an Indian, made their boast of having killed a black duck—five only reached the shore.
    Elliot received three bad wounds, and several of the men were wounded, and one killed—seven vessels with seven hundred quintals of fish, and fifteen of the captives were recovered from the enemy—they had sent many of the prisoners away, and nine they had killed in cold blood; the Nova Scotia Indians had the character of being more savage and cruel than the other nations.
    Robinson retook two vessels and killed several of the enemy; five other vessels the Indians had carried so far up the Bay, above the harbour of Malagash, that they were out of his reach, and he had not men sufficient to land, the enemy being very numerous.
    The loss of so many men enraged them, and they had determined to revenge themselves upon the poor fishermen, about twenty of whom yet remained prisoners at Malagash (Luneburg) harbour, and they were all destined to be sacrificed to the manes of the slain Indians, the powwowing and other ceremonies were performed, when Captain Blin in a sloop appeared off the harbour, and made the signal or sent in a token which had been agreed upon between him and the Indians, when he was their prisoner, should be his protection. Three of the Indians went on board his vessel, and agreed for the ransom both [Page 121] of vessels and captives which were delivered to him, and the ransom paid.—General description of Nova Scotia, Page 46-7.

And Cusawoe from these could tell
What olive branches image well.     Page 106.

    Carver, in the history of his travels, says that ‘the pipe of peace is of the same nature as the flag of truce among the Europeans, and is treated with the greatest respect and veneration, even by the most barbarous nations. I never heard of an instance where the bearers of this sacred badge of friendship were ever treated disrespectfully, or its rights violated. The Indians believe that the Great Spirit never suffers an infraction of this kind to go unpunished.
    ‘The pipe of peace, which is termed by the French the Calumet, for what reason I could never learn, is about four feet long, the bow of it is made of red marble, and the stem of it of a light wood, curiously painted with hieroglyphicks in various colours, and adorned with the feathers of the most beautiful birds.
    ‘Every nation has a different method of decorating these pipes, and they can tell at first sight to what band it belongs. It is used as an introduction to all treaties, and great ceremony attends the use of it on other occasions.
    ‘If no obstructions arise to put a stop to the treaty, the painted hatchet is buried in the ground as a memorial that all animosity between the contending nations has ceased, and a peace taken place. Among the ruder bands, such as have no communication with the Europeans, a war club painted red, is buried instead of the hatchet.
    ‘A belt of wampum is also given on the occasion, which serves as a ratification of the peace. These belts are made of shells found on the coast of Virginia, which are sawed out into beads of an oblong form about a quarter of an inch long, and round like other beads, being strung on leather strings, and several of them sewed neatly together with fine sinewy thread. They then compose what is termed a belt of Wampum.
    ‘The shells are generally of two colors, some white, and others violet, but the latter are more highly esteemed than they former. They are held in as much estimation by the Indians as gold, silver, or precious stones by the Europeans.’—pages 359-62. [Page 122]