232 SAT OF CHALEUR. 



hated with an unreasoning hatred any man who spoke the 

 French tongue. Some of these fugitives went to New 

 England, some to Cape Breton and Prince Edward Island, 

 and but 1300 of the number returned to Acadia at the con- 

 clusion of the war. During the period of their wanderings, 

 like the Israelites under Moses, they camped in the wilder- 

 ness. The sites of these camping grounds are still plainly 

 to be seen throughout the province of New Brunswick, 

 and can readily be distinguished from the camping places 

 of the aborigines by circular pits lined with stone, which 

 are supposed to have- been the cellars under their wigwams. 

 In 1760 an effort was made by the French to retake 

 Quebec, and a fleet destined to assist in that enterprise 

 made its way into the St. Lawrence. To avoid a collision 

 with the British fleet, it took refuge in the Bay of Chaleur 

 a doubly disastrous move, which involved not only its 

 destruction, but also that of Petitte Eochelle, which, hid 

 away up the Kestigouche, might otherwise have escaped ; 

 for Captain Byron, with five English frigates from Louis- 

 burg, followed close on the heels of the French, who took 

 shelter under the batteries at Petitte Rochelle, and after 

 a severe engagement captured or sunk the whole of the 

 enemy's fleet, consisting of four frigates, two or three pri- 

 vateers, and twenty-two store-ships. The village, containing 

 about 200 houses, was burnt, and the wretched Acadians 

 were again homeless. The site of Petitte Rochelle is nearly 

 obliterated by the spruce trees, the weeds of this country ; 

 a few cellars and stone chimneys alone remain. Cannon, 

 muskets, shot, and shell, have been dug up in some quan- 

 tities, and are kept as trophies by the neighbouring settlers. 

 Not long ago two bottles of French brandy were found by 



