[ganong] additions TO MONOGRAPHS 131 



Historic Sites. 



handle, (now in my possession), and the striking- religious medal, now 

 in possession of Rev. Father Doucet of Lamec, described by S. W. 

 Kain in Acadiensis, III, 96. Its surface is mostly wooded, but is 

 bare at the southeast end where are some excavations seemingly 

 old cellars, but largely if not wholly the work of money diggers who 

 have left scarcely any part of the island's surface undisturbed. The 

 relics may possibly be entirely result of Indian occupation (see earlier, 

 Indian Period), but their character seems to show that some European 

 settlement formerly existed there, and I think it altogether probable 

 that it was the site of the wintering establishment of La Ralde in 

 1626-27. Thus Biggar, in his " Early Trading Companies of New 

 France, " page 128, in speaking of La Ralde's operations at Miscou 

 says; — "Several men were left for the winter at Miscou to barter 

 some goods which he had not been able to exchange during the sum- 

 mer. Although attacked by the scurvy, these managed to survive 

 and doubtless presented La Ralde with a good supply of furs on his 

 return in the spring of 1627. " Again (page 139) speaking of the des- 

 truction of the Ashing huts and other buildings by Kirke in 1628, 

 Biggar cites a MS. in the Bibliothèque nationale to the effect that 

 one of these buildings constructed by La Ralde was " un bâtiment 

 contenant plusieurs demeures de planches doubles, dehors et dedans, 

 fortifié de palissades tout autour. " We have no direct evidence 

 whatever as to the site of this winter settlement, but considering that 

 the only other early known sites about Miscou Harbour are otherwise 

 amply accounted for (viz., the Mission of St. Charles and the fortified 

 habitation of Denys, considered below), and remembering the par- 

 tiality of the early French for forming their winter-settlements upon 

 islands (witness that on St. Croix Island and Emenenic on the St. 

 John) as places more readily defensible, and perhaps also as more 

 compact and home-like than the boundless wilderness of the main- 

 land, it seems at least probable that La Ralde's winter settlement 

 was on this island. 



296B. Mission of St. Charles de iVliscou. My account of this site in the His- 

 toric Sites was given before I had visited this region, and it is erro- 

 neous. As a result of two recent visits, however, I have obtained 

 very satisfactory data upon the subject. I found that near the south- 

 ern extremity of the island, at the entrance to Miscou Harbour, (Map 

 No. 31) there is locally known the site of a considerable early French 

 settlement with an early reputed church site, and an old French 

 burial ground. The various features of importance are shown upon 

 the accompanying map (Map No. 31). The general situation is a very 

 fine and advantageous one, close beside the principal settlement of 

 Miscou Island. The ground here is elevated and commands a fine 

 view not only of the Harbour but out over Bay Chaleur as well, at 

 the same time making a church here very conspicuous from a great 

 distance. It is close beside the anchorage for fishing vessels which 

 run into the harbour and take shelter behind the long sandy point 

 extending into the harbour, while a cove inside the point, with its 

 fine gravelly beach, forms an ideal landing-place at or near high 



