228 



INDIANS. 



excellent quality is made, for the table and 

 culinary purposes ; and if the water were ana- 

 lyzed, it would no doubt be found to possess 

 some valuable medicinal qualities. This vale 

 holds out every encouragement to increased 

 industry and improvement, as it possesses many 

 advantages in point of situation and fertility of 

 soil, and has the great road of communication 

 passing through it to the adjoining province 

 of Nova Scotia. 



The Indians formerly resorted to it, in con- 

 siderable numbers, it was their rendezvous in 

 starting or returning from the chace ; but since 

 the woods have been driven of animals, and 

 the soil occupied or taken up by the settlers, 

 they are seldom now seen on the track, in their 

 wandering state of existence. 



In the hope of benefiting and improving 

 their condition, an establishment was formed 

 in the valley, by the New England Company, 

 soon after the first settlement of the province, 

 called, c The Academy for instructing and civ- 

 ilizing the Indians.' It was liberally placed, 

 by the incorporated Society in London, under 

 the management and direction of a board of 

 commissioners, that consisted of the leading 

 authorities of the province. Little or no ad- 

 vantage, however, accrued to the Indians from 



