320 



grant ; the largest of them is nearly four 

 miles long, partly cultivated, and very well 

 settled; the church and parsonage-house be- 

 longing to the seigniory stand on this island^ 

 from whence, although not an established ferry, 

 there are always in readiness canoes to convey 

 travellers to William Henry, at the rate of five 

 shillings each person ; a route generally pre- 

 ferred in summer-time to that by the post 

 roads. The other islands are low, some of 

 them affording a little meadow land, but thej 

 are principally covered with wood. On the 

 east side of the river is situated the Indian vil- 

 lage of St. Francois, of about 25 or 30 very 

 indifferently built wooden houses, inhabited by 

 some families of the converted Indians of the 

 Abenaqui tribe, who subsist themselves upon 

 the lands that are their own property within 

 this seigniorj^, by raising, in their peculiarly 

 careless manner, some Indian corn, growing 

 potatoes, and rearing poultry and pigs; they 

 sometimes increase these means by fishing, and 

 during the winter months by hunting parties ; 

 the latter is but a precarious resource, as they 

 are compelled to go an immense distance 

 before they can meet with game to repay 

 their labour ; for as the habitations of civilized 

 man have spread over the province, the animals 

 that were the prior occupants have fled for pro- 



