[GANONG ] DOCHET (ST. CROIX) ISLAND 189 
accept June 26 as the most probable date, with the 27th as a possible 
alternative. 
It will be of interest to inquire what traditions the Indians of 
the region have as to the settlement, for not only will these be of 
some interest in themselves, but, with our full knowledge of the real 
discovery, they will afford a test of the accuracy of Indian tradition. 
I have not made any attempt to obtain traditions which may still 
exist among the Passamaquoddies, (not having thought of it when I 
had the opportunity), but some information on the subject exists. 
Thus, in 1796-1797, the testimony of certain Passamaquoddy Indians 
was taken for the use of the Boundary Commission, later to be ex- 
plained, and this testimony still exists in MSS. among the Commission’s 
records, a set of which I have been privileged, through the generosity 
of their present owner, Rey. Dr. Raymond, of St. John, to use. One 
of the traditions, thus given by Francis Joseph, is as follows: — 
That the French about four hundred years ago came to this part of the 
Country with one vessel. That they first came to Head Harbour and Har- 
bour Le Tang; and from thence went up the River Magaquadavic in a Boat, 
where they saw some Indians—That not liking the Land they came down the 
river, and erected a Cross at its mouth; and then returned to France. That 
the next time the French came here in four Vessels and set down at an Island 
near Devils head, where a Malady assailed them by drinking bad water; of 
which a great number died and the rest returned to France. 
Another Indian, Nicola Awawas, testified :— 
that there was a fort on the great island—that he understood the French 
first landed at—Megagwadavy and that they came to St. Andrew’s Point 
and then they went to Muttanagwamis [Dochet], that the first time the 
French came there were two vessels and one remained here, and when they 
came again they found that all the men who remained had died and the 
vessel which came the second time finding that all the men who had 
remained were dead went away. 
Again, a document, giving a summary of these traditions as 
obtained from several Indians in 1796, is printed by Kilby in his 
“Eastport and Passamaquoddy ” (page 114), from which the following 
sentences are taken: — 
That two or three hundred years ago the French came in three or four 
ships to Passamaquoddy Bay, entered at the L’Etete Passage and erected a 
cross at the entrance of the Magaguadavic River, upon Point Meagique, that 
they soon after removed and erected a cross upon St. Andrews Point, on St. 
Andrews day celebrated Mass there and gave it the name of St. Andrews; 
that at the time the Indians were clothed in skins, which the French pur- 
chased of them, and gave them in return knives, hatchets, and ruffled shirts, 
that the French at their request set blacksmiths to work on board the ships, 
and furnished them with such iron instruments as they described their want 
