400 SETTLERS FROM ARRAN. 



their families, which are usually large, in comfort and 

 plenty. The progress of settlement in this promising 

 district may be judged of from the fact that, six years 

 ago, the front Concession or row of farms was scarcely 

 occupied, whereas now there are settlers as far back as 

 the third Concession. And yet there has been no rush of 

 emigration to this point, the arrivals of new settlers 

 being small and gradual, and rather of a drojy^nng 

 character. The back-settlers are chiefly Irish. Those 

 of this nation who do come here appear generally to 

 thrive, as there is not a single pauper in the whole large 

 county of Restigouche, with the exception of a straggling 

 French Canadian now and then, from the opposite 

 Gaspe country, on the Bay de Chaleur, or an unsteady 

 and idle Irish immigrant. 



I went into several of the houses, generally of small 

 pretensions, of the settlers on the banks of the Resti- 

 gouche at this upper part. They were Scotch, English, 

 and Irish. All expressed themselves as being happy 

 and contented, and their children looked healthy. Very 

 old people abounded, which also spoke for the health of 

 the climate ; and it was said to be rare for children to 

 to die young. 



Few things are more interesting In a strange and 

 distant land — carrying you sooner into the hearts of the 

 people, and giving you with them the position and 

 familiarity of an old friend — than to be able to talk to 

 them about their old haunts at home. In one cottage 

 the mistress was now a widow : she was from Devon- 

 shire, and had been many years before a servant of the 

 incumbent of Linton. I spoke to her of Bideford and the 

 Valley of Rocks, and Ilfracombe. It was holding up to 

 her a picture of old and happy days. "Oh sir!" she 

 said, as I left her, " I do so like to hear about Ilfracombe 

 and Combe Martin, and all them places." 



But a broad Lowland Scotch tongue, and a knowledge 



