90 CAVE EXAMINATIOy IN HANTS CO., N. S. — PREST. 



that could furnish spots diy enough for habitation are the 

 branch jDassages to the northwest and southwest. The extremely 

 thin deposit on these ledges may perhaps yield human relics. 

 The original entrance, now buried beneath from 20 to 30 feet of 

 debris, would j)robably yield something of interest, though the 

 cost of removal would be great. 



FrencJimans Cave. — This cave is situated f mile northeast 

 from the village of St. Croix, Hants County, in tlie rough 

 gypsum land to the east of the river.* This tract of land is full 

 of sink-holes, some of which are now being formed to the 

 detriment of the farms. One man spent much time trying to 

 fill a newly formed hole with stones, but gave up the attempt 

 after much labor. In the neighborhood of the cave it is hard to 

 find a path among the numerous sink-holes, evidence of course 

 of caves beneath. In one of these sink-holes is the entrance 

 to the Frenchman's Cave, where it is claimed that the Acadian 

 French hid their wives and children and buried their treasure 

 in the days of Evangeline. Many other tales are connected 

 with it, some based on fact but grossly exaggerated, some 

 uncanny with superstition, and others simply ridiculous. 



After travelling through a tract of very rough land, my guide 

 led me do^vn one of the numerous sink-holes, where at a depth 

 of 35 feet we found the entrance to the cave. This was about 

 20 feet wide and 7 or 8 feet high and ran in a westerly direc- 

 tion. Its easterly extension was blocked by the fall of rock 

 when the roof gave way. A large number of sink-holes farther 

 east indicated its course. A small stream ran through the cave, 

 which in rainy weather became a torrent, preventing entrance. 

 I followed the cave about 150 feet, where it became only 2 feet 

 high, becoming still less farther on. The bottom was small 

 pebbles and mud. I was told afterward that one could pene- 

 trate several hundred feet to some larger rooms by crawling 

 through on his stomach in dry weather. 



* This cave is situated on the north bank of Wier Brook, a branch of the St. Croix 

 River. 



