CHAPTER 1X

In the neighborhood of Grand Pree, then district of Minas (now Horton) there were collected about two thousand souls. The tenth of September (3) was scarcely ushered in, by firing the morning gun and rolling the drum, etc., before the whole were in motion. T'he road from the chapel to the shore, just one mile in length, was crowded with women and children, who awaited in breathless expectation, the appearance of husbands, brothers, fathers, and sons (4). Pale faces bathed in tears might be seen on every side.

About an hour had elapsed since this mournîul company had gathered along the highway — an age to them. When suddenly, the blast of a trumpet was heard, and, emerging from a road on the right, the commander and his military escort appeared in sight.. With an air of sullen dignity, our commander passed on through the ranks of sobbing females that lined the road (5).

(1) Cf. Evangeline, v. 628-635.

(2) Ibid., v. 524-536, et notamment v. 528, 533-534 :

Driving in ponderous wains their household goods to the sea-shore… .… and there on the sea beach

Piled in confusion lay the household goods of the peasants.

(3) Ibid., v. 524 :

Four times the sun had risen and set; and now on the fifth day.

(4) Ibid., v. 533-541. ù

(5) Ibid., v. 545, 550.

(Pauline) stood like some marble statue (1) and there was a rigidity about her features that was absolutely startling.

On the bank before him was sealed an aged man, of most venerable appearance (2), while a girl of almost infantile years knelt before him, with her face hid in his lap, sobbing with violent emotion. Not sothe graceful Pauline, who supported his head on her bosom. and held one of his withered hands clasped in hers, though the look with which she regarded him seemed almost petrified.…. À

«As soon as they were all out ofthe church, the young men and lads were ordered to stand apart. They were then arranged six deep, and, contrary to all ideas of precedence, to march on first. In the utmost surprise and confusion, they demanded to know what it meant.

[153]1t was now that Colonel Winslow threw off the mask,and appeared in the true spirit of his embassy, he now boldly proclaimed his intention of sending the youngmen by themselves, the old ones by themselves and the women and children (he observed) would fill the remaining vessels (3).

Horror and amazement were depicted on every countenance. Many of the females fainted on the spot, and cries, groans, shrieks, and prayers were mingled together in such lamentations as we question ever was heard, unless it might be when Herod gave command to destroy all the first-born of the children of Israël. To be not only driven out from their peaceful and happy homes, scattered in a strange land, whose manuers, language, and customs they were unacquainted with; to be taken from . plenty and condemned to poverty and servitude; to not only encounter the perils of the ocean, but, as a refinement in cruelty, to be condemned to encounter them alone, separated from all they loved on earth. Oh!it was too much to think of, it was heartrending.

This unreasonable and tyrannical command was most unexpectedly met by the young men with suitable demonstrations of

(1) Cf. Evangeline, 553-555.

(2) Ibid., v. 598-604.

(8) Tbid., v. 568-573 :

There disorder prevailed, and the tumult and stir of embarking.

Busy plied the freighted boats ; and in the confusion

Wives were torn from their husbands, and mothers, too late, saw their children Left on the land, extending their arms, with wildest entreaties.

So unio separate ships were Basil and Gabriel carried:

While in despair on the shore Evangeline stood with her father.

resentment. Theg one and all drew back, and refused to proceed unless their parents and families were permitted to accompany them.

The demoniacal passions which policy had kept down, while cunning and caution were necessary, were no longer concealed, as with close-shut teeth and eyes sparkling with rage, the commander fiercely ordered the soldiers to advance upon them with fixed bayonels unarmed and defenceless as they were, while himself rudely seizing the foremost one, jerked him forward (1). Of this ridiculous and contemptible action, Colonel Winslow actually boasted afterwards in his report, and the same circumstance is narrated in his journal, which, as we observed, is still to be seen...

[155] And thus goaded, they took up their march, followed at some little distance by the older men (2), in the same order ; their feelings partook not of the warmth of the younger part ofthe company ; and, we record it with grief, there was an evident feeling of disappointment, mixed with anger, at their peaceable deportment, which left no room for the exercise of severity on the part of their oppressors. |

With the most perfectly calm and collected deportment (3), they passed on through the groups of women and children, that lined the road on each side through that interminable mile, and who fell involuntarily on their knees as they passed, with streaming eyes imploring heaven in strong cries for mercy (4). In the midst of this all-harrowing scene, the men were enabled, like Paul and Silas (5), to sing praises unto God, and one universal strain of praise and thanksgiving, in loud hosannas, burst in full chorus from a thousand lips.

Oh you who assert that Frenchmen have no feeling, and papists no piety, read this, a fact sufficiently attested in history, and ponder. With short intermissions of ejaculatory prayer, this was continued until they reached the shore, where a trial

(1) Nous avons précédemment exprimé notre surprise de ne pas trouver dans Evangéline la moindre allusion à cet incident si pénible que Winslow lui-même note dans son Journal.

(2) Cf. Evangeline, v. 546 : Foremost the young men came...

(3) Ibid., v. 549 :

Fill our hearts this day with strength and submission and patience !

(4) Cf. Evangeline, v. 544-552.

(5) Ibid., v. 597 :

Like unto shipwrecked Paul on Melita’s desolate sea-shore.

Allusion au naufrage de saint Paul sur la côte de l’île de Malte (Melita).

awaited them worse than all. It wasthe parting look at their families, the consummation of their martyrdom. Upon stepping on board the transports, each one might have exclaimed with the hapless Agag, € Surely the bitterness of death is past ». The moment in which they took this last look of their greatest earthy treasures, must have been one of excruciating agony, and we doubt if their fortitude did not falter in so trying a moment.

Five transports lay too and received the male part of the population, and each one was guarded on the voyage with sixnoncommissioned officers and eighty privates (1). We dare not dvwell upon the scenes attending the embarkation of the wretched Neutrals — the agonizing shrieks of children for their parents, wives for their husbands and sons (2), and the great distress of removing the sick, many of whom died on their passage, and a vast many aged persons. Imagination sickens over the horrors of that day...

[156] « In the background of the scene... Pauline, who had continued {o support the tottering steps of her grand father (3), was now seen holding his trembling arm, while she parlied with the soldier who was urging him to hurry on board where the older men were embarking... Until the last streak of day had faded from the horizon, you might have discovered the graceful form of Pauline clinging to the railing of the last vessel, while one arm clasped the person of her aged grand father, whose sightless orbs were raised to heaven, while his gray hair fluttered in the gale. What a contrast to the youthful figure beside him! Her long dark curls were waving about her person, and her dewy eyes directed to the receding landscape. Together, they formed a group that might have stood for the angel of the resurrection about to bear some aged saint to heaven. »

[157]. A few more hours on that cold shore, and the craft destined to receive the females arrived. Just as the sun was sinking behind the western hills, enveloped as he was in flying clouds, and every thing presaging a storm, half sick with grief, terror, watching, and exposure, the wretched women and their little ones bade a long and last adieu to their native shore, their once lovely and still beloved home.

(1) Des détails comme celui-ci (rigoureusement exact) prouve que Catherine Williams était bien au courant de l’affaire de Grand-Pré.

(2) Cf. Evangeline, v. 570-571 ; 578.

(3) Tbid., v. 598-604.

Mœurs des Acadiens.

Sur ce point si controversé, nous donnons quelques intéressants témoignages. L'officier britannique Brook-Watson et le marchand Moyse de les Derniers ont connu de près les Acadiens avant leur expulsion. Leurs appréciations, datées de plus de trente ans après les événements de Grand-Pré, peuvent être considérées comme rapportant la vérité des faits.

La lettre inédite du commissaire de la marine Guillot, qui a vu de près les 1700 exilés acadiens résidant dans la région de Saint- Malo (Voy. Les Exilés acadiens en France), corrobore, à quelques nuances près, l’opinion exprimée par Raynal, Haliburton, Brook-Watson, Moyse de les Derniers et Longfellow.

Extrait d'une lettre de l’ofjicier britannique Brook, Watson au Révérend Mr. Andrew Brown Halifax.

Londres, 1" juillet 1791,

I am informed they [the Acadians] still continue what I knew them to be in their prosperous state, an honest, sober, industrious and virtuous people. Seldom did any quarrels happen amongst them. The Men were in the summer constantiy employed in Husbandry, in the Winter, in cutting Timber, Fuel and Fencing, and in Hunting, the Women in Carding, Spinningand Weaving Wool, Flax and Hemp of which their Country furnished aboundance, these with Furs from Bears, Beaver, Foxes, Otters and Martin gave them not only comfortable but in many instances handsome Clothing, and wherewith to procure other Necessaries and Conveniencies from the English and French who carried on a Trade of Barter with them : few Houses were to be found that had not a Hogshead of French Wine on Tap: they had no Dye but black and green, but in order to obtain Scarlet of which they were remarkably fond, they procured from the English Scarlet Duffil which they cut, teized, carded, spun and wove in Stripes to decorate the Womens Garments; their Country so

abounded with Provisions that I have heard people say they bought an Ox for fifty Shillings, a Sheep for five, and Wheat for eighteen pence per Bushel: their young people were not encouraged to marry till the maid could weave a web of Cloth, the Youth make a pair of Wheels, these qualifications were deemed essential to their well doing and little more was necessary, for whenever a marriage took place the whole Village set about to establish the young Couple, they built them a Log-House and cleared Land sufficient for their immediate support, supplyed them with some Cattle, Hogs and Poultry ; and Nature, aided by their own Industry, soon enabled them to assist others; Infidelity to the Marriage Bed I never heard amongst them; the Win— ters long and cold were spent in cheerful hospitality, having Fuel in aboundance their Houses were alwaise Comfortable, the rustic Song et Dance made their principal amusement...

(British Museum. Add. Mss. 19071. Brown Collection. Papers relatingto Nova Scotia.)

Extrait d'un Mémoire sur les Acadiens rédigé par le marchand Moyse de les Derniers (vieux colon de la Nouvelle-Écosse qui les a bien connus) pour le Révérend Andrew Brown, d'Halifax, quiprojetait d'écrire une histoire de l’Acadie et de l'Expulsion des Acadiens.

The Acadians were formerly the most Innocent virtuous People that I have ever been acquainted with or read any historical Account of (considered in a mere State of Nature). They lived in a perfect State of Equality of Rank in Society (the Title of Mr. was not known amongst them) Being ignorant of the Luxuries or even the Conveniencies of Life they were content with very plain Fare which they easily procured by the Cuitivation of the Land. Very little of Ambition or Avarice was obvious amongst them ; they relieved each others Necessities with a becoming Freedom and received no Interest for the Loan of Money or other Property. They were humane and hospitable to Strangers, and very liberal to such as embraced their Religion and most remarkable for inviolate Chastity {1 do not recollect an Instance of an unlawful Birth amongst them ; even to this day). Their knowledge of Agriculture was very limited; altho’ they cultivated their Marsh Lands tolerably well (which was almost their whole Dependence), yet that Branch would admit of great Improvement, whilst they wholly neglected improvingthe Upland

and left all their Manure in Heaps about their Barns during a Century or more ; and altho, they were accustomed to keep great Herds of Cattle they never made any Cheese or any Merchantable Butter, being used to set their Milk in small Noggins which were kept in such Order as to turnit thick and very sower in a short Time. Of this they ate voraciously with Bread, etc., and what they did noteat was given to their Swine of which they kept very considerable Herds, being very fond of fat Pork and greasy Victuals. They ate a deal of Fish; especially in Time of Lent; mostly Shad which they caught by means of a Hedge made on the large muddy Tide Flats crossing some small Creeks at about half Tide. The Shad in this partare very fat and Excellent good; they usually ate them raw when pickled.

They were a strong healthy People capable of enduring great Fatigues and generally lived to a great Age altho’ they employed no Physicians. The Men laboured very hard in Seed Time and Harvest, in suitable Seasons for diking and draining the Marshes and on all pressing occasions, by which Means they afforded themselves nigh half the Year to spend in Entertainments and Frolicking; of which they were very fond ; but the Women were more constant to Labour than the Men, yet shared much in their Diversions. And (altho they were quite illiterate) seldom any of them remained long silent in Compagny, never seeming to be at a loss for a Subject of Discourse, in short they always appeared Cheerful and merry Hearted and were unanimous on almost all Occasions. If any Disputes arose about their Dealings, etc., they were always submitted to Arbitration : and their last Appeal was to their Priest : And altho, I have known some Instances of their reviling each other on their Return from this decisive Trial, still Malice and Revenge was seldom or never discovered amongst them. In short they were wholly accustomed to deal candidly on all Occasions and really, if I ever knew a People amongst whom the golden Age (as described in History) was apparent, it was the ancient Acadians... Every Farmer was his own Architect and every Man of Property a Farmer and they lived almost independent on other People except for Salt and edged Tools as they used very little Iron. about the other farming Utensils. They Raised and manufactured their Clothing and were very uniform in their Dress, fond of black and red Colours with Leg Bandages, Belts, etc. hanging in Knots and Bows.

shall here observe (as a Proofof the Fertility of the Soil and Tolerableness of the Climate of this Country) that notwithstanding their Neglects and wants of Means and knowledge in Agri-

culture they raised plenty of Food and Raiment and had comfortable Buildings and sold their Produce very cheap and still continue so to do.

As to their Number, [ have no exact Account (perhaps they might be better ascertained by the Nova Scotia Records) but it was the common received Opinion of my Acquaintance, that they were in all about 18.000 Souls, of whom about 12.000 were Transported to different Parts of the, then, British.Colonies on the Continent...

(British Museum, ibid., 19071.)

Extrait d'une Lettre de M. Guillot, commissaire de la marine à Saint- Malo, à M. Lemoyne, commissaire général de la marine, chargé de l'administration des familles acadiennes résidant en France.

Saint-Malo, le 17 novembre 1772,

Je crois que vous avez bien vu les Acadiens. J’en ai la même opinion que vous. Mais regardant ma façon de penser sur leur compte comme une opinion, craignant de juger les hommes avant que de les avoir approfondis par des expériences suivies, j'ai mis mon opinion au rang des soupçons qui ont des vraisemblances, mais que je ne puis et ne dois manifester qu'à vous seul, qui voulez bien aujourd’hui leur servir de père, dans la crainte de faire tort et de me tromper sur le compte d’une nation comblée d’éloges tant en France qu’au Canada, éloges qui supposent un mérite réel, mérite qui les fait rechercher par les Anglais dans le Canada et leur attire tous les ans et même aujourd’hui encore de nouvelles sollicitations de leur part, capables d’ébranler des sujets qui seraient moins fidèles.

Cependant, Monsieur, puisque vous voulez que je m’ouvre tout entier à vous sur leur chapitre, je crois qu’il ne faudrait pas les juger par comparaison avec nos cultivateurs de France, ce point de vue leur serait trop défavorable. Peut-être seraient-ils aussi capables qu'eux d’un coup de main, vif et prompt, mais je ne puis croire qu’ils missent autant de constance, d’assiduité et d’efforts multipliés que nos vaillants cultivateurs. Je crois qu’ils ne sont point accoutumés à la même frugalité pour la nourriture ni à la même épargne pour le vêtement que les paysans de nos campagnes. Je présume aussi qu'ils ignorent ou qu'ils ne savent que très imparfaitement les différentes façons qu’on donne à la

PIÈCES JUSTIFICATIVES Dh

terre de France pour forcer sa stérilité et la faire produire malgré son ingratitude…

Mais, Monsieur, ceite première idée des Acadiens, quelque fondée qu'elle nous paraisse à vous et à moi, ne suffit pas pour les apprécier et pour leur rendre justice. Il faut encore les considérer comme un peuple sorti d’une terre de bénédiction, comme des propriétaires qui avaient chacun une, deux, trois et quatre lieues de terrain fertile. Leurs possessions étaient couvertes de bois, de gras pâturages et de bestiaux. Un travail modéré. peu de labours et d’engrais leur donnaient d’abondantes récoltes. La dépouille des animaux, façonnée par leur industrie, leur fournissait des vêtements. Le lin croissait plus abondamment sur leurs terres que sur les nôtres. La chasse, la pêche, les produits de leurs troupeaux, mettaient autant d'agrément dans leur vie que d’abondance et de variété sur leur table. Contents d’une honnête subsistance qui remplissait tous leurs besoins, ils ne pensaient point à amasser. La soif de l'or n'avait point corrompu leur cœur ; ils ne fermaient point leur porte ; le zèle et la bonne conduite des missionnaires les entretenaient dans l'esprit de modération, de justice et de désintéressement. Rien n'excitait leur émulation, rien n’exigeait un travail forcé. L'agriculture ne demandait point une industrie particulière et des connaissances profondes... La fécondité de leur sol les dispensait de la perfectionner.

Quand il s'agissait de marier leurs enfants, ils bâtissaient des cases à une moyenne distance. Ils y portaient des provisions, ils y conduisaient des bestiaux. Ils cédaient à leurs enfants une partie de leurs immenses domaines, et les envoyaient ainsi à leur ménage. Îls passaient leurs soirées les uns chez les autres. Quelques pipes de tabac faisaient leur délassement et leurs délices.

Leurs mœurs étaient irréprochables. Leur éducation et leur vie, quoique molles en comparaison de celles de nos paysans, n'étaient point vicieuses. Elles étaient analogues à leur position. Leur fidélité à la France les a sevrés d’une aisance qu'ils ne retrouveront plus.

(Bibl. de la Ville de Bordeaux, Ms 1480, f. 120-122).

Costumes et intérieurs acadiens.

D'un autre ouvrage de Thomas Chandler Haliburton, intitulé Nature and Human Nature (New-York, 1855), nous extrayons les passages suivants: dans lesquels l’auteur, qui a longtemps vécu parmi les descendants des proscrits, à une époque où les traditions n’avaient guère changé, décrit en détail les costumes et un intérieur acadiens.

Pour bien marquer l'attachement des Acadiens à leurs traditions, Haliburton intitule son chapitre : « Le monde avant le déluge » — The world before the Flood.

Costumes acadiens, ouvr. cité {p. 211-212).

The men all dress alike, and the women all dress alike, as you will presently see, and always have done so within the memory of man.

À round, short jacket which scarcely covers the waistcoat, trowsers that seldom reach below the anklejoint, and yarn stockings, all four being blue, and manufactured at home and apparently dyed in the same tub, with mocassins for the feet, and a round fur or cloth cap to cover the head, constitute the uni- form and unvaried dress of the men.

The attire of the women is equally simple. The short gown which reaches to the hip, and the petticoat which serves for a skirt, both made of a coarse domestic cloth, having perpendicular blue and white stripes, constitute the differences of dress that marks the distinction of the sexes, if we except a handkerchief thrown over the head, and tied under the chin, for the blue stockings and the mocassins are common to both, males and females.…

He was a little saucy urchin, of about twelve years of age, dressed in striped homespun, and had on his head a red yarn clackmutch that resembled a cap of liberty...

There has been no innovation for a century in these particuars.…

Women, especially, are modest, discreet, unobtrusive women...

They are stared at because they dress like those in the world before the flood but it's an even chance if the antediluvian damsels were half so handsome ; and what pretty girl can find it in her heart to be very angry at attracting attention ?

Yes, their simple manners, their innocence, and their sex are their protection. But no cap, bonnet, or ribbon ; velvet, muslin, or lace was ever seen at Chesencook (1)...

Still both men and women are decently and comfortably clad. There is no such thing as a ragged Acadian, and Ï never yet saw one begging his bread.

Un intérieur acadien en 1855 (p. 223-254).

Proceeding to one of the largest cottages, we immediately gained admission,

The door, unlike those of Nova Scotian houses, opened outwards, the fastening being a simple wooden latch. The room into which we entered was a large, dark, dingy, dirty apartment. In the centre of it was a tub containing some goslins, resembling yellow balls of cornmeal, rather than birds.

Two females were all that were at home ; one an old wrinkled woman, whose age it would puzzle a physiognomist to pronounce on, the other a girl about 25 years old. They sat on opposite sides of the fire-place, and both were clothed alike in blue-striped homespun.…..

The girl, had she been differently trained and dressed, would have been handsome ; but spare diet, exposure to the sun and wind, and field-labour had bronzed her face, so that it was difficult to say what her real complexion was. Her hair was jet black and very luxuriant ; but the handkerchief which served for bonnet and head dress by day and for a cap by night, hid all but the ample folds in front. Her teeth were as white as ivory, and contrasted strangely with the gipsy color of her cheeks.

The eyes were black, soft, and liquid, and the lashes remarkably long ; but the expression of the face which was naturally good indicated, though not very accurately, the absence of either thought or curiosity.

After a while objects became more distinct in the room, as we gradually became accustomed to the dim light of the small windows. The walls were hung round with large hanks of yarn,

(1) Chezettcook, village acadien isolé de la Nouvelle-Ecosse, au N.-E. d'Halifax.

2 a] ÉVANGÉLINE \ 23

principally blue and white. An open cupboard displayed some plain coarse cups and saucers, and the furniture consisted of two rough tables, a large bunk, one or two sea-chests, and a few chairs of simple workmanskip ; a large old-fashioned spinning wheel, and a barrel-churn stood in one corner, and in the other a shoemaker’s bench, while carpenters’tools were suspended on nails in such places as were not occupied by yarn. There was no ceiling or plastering visible anywhere ; the floor of the attic alone separated that portion of the house from the lower room, and the joist on which it was laid, was thus exposed to view and supported on wooden cleats, leather oars, rudders, together with some half dressed pieces of ash, snow shoes, and such other things as necessity might require.

The wood-work, wherever visible, was begrimed with smoke, and the floor, though doubtless sometimes swept, appeared as if it had the hydrophobia hidden in its cracks, so carefully were water and soap kept from it. Ham and bacon were nowhere visible. It is probable, if they had any, they were kept elsewhere ; but still more probable that they had found their way to market, and been transmuted into money, for these people are remarkably frugal and abstemious, and there can be no doubt, the doctor says, that there is not a house in the settlement, in which there is not a supply of ready money, though the appearance of the buildings and their inmates would by no means justify a stranger in supposing so. They are neither poor nor destitute, but far better off than those who live more comfortably, and inhabit better houses.

The only article of food that I saw was a barrel of eggs most probably accumulated for the Halifax market, and a few small fish on rods, undergoing the process of smoking in the chimney corner.

The old woman was knitting and enjoying her pipe, and the girl was dressing wool, and handling a pair of cards with a rapidity and ease that would have surprised a Lancashire weaver. The moment she rose to sweep up the hearth I saw she was an heiress. When an Acadian girl has but her outer and under garment on, it is a clear sign if she marries, there will be a heavy demand on the fleeces of her husband’s sheep ; but if she wears four or more thick woolen petticoats, it is equally certain her portion of worldly goods is not very small...