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and extraordinary History of Connecticut, and he is now engaged with a certain member of parliament [probably Brook Watson] in completing a Description of Nova Scotia, and they have employed your humble servant to collect materials, and I have already furnished them with an ample collection.
This much, by way of introduction, we now proceed to quote Jacob Bailey's description of the inhabitants of Nova Scotia.
The Native Indians.
It naturally occurs to treat first of the Indians, who were the ancient or original proprietors of this country, till European interest and ambition deprived them of the most eligible situations.
1. I am informed that the Mickmacks, who reside on the peninsula of Nova Scotia amount to several hundreds, but were formerly much more numerous, when they were reckoned a powerful tribe, remarkable for their savage disposition and hostility against European invaders. They preserved for many years an ascendency over the French inhabitants, and treated them with much complaisance. They entered the habitations of the latter without ceremony, and made free with their liquors and provisions. But the present generation are esteemed an inoffensive and harmless set of people, except when under the influence of intoxication. They chiefly support themselves by hunting and fishing. Some few, however, apply themselves to agriculture with success, but are generally poor. They profess the Roman Catholic religion, and are subject to the direction of their spiritual fathers.
2. The tribe of St. Johns on the continent are abundantly more numerous, and according to the best information I could obtain, their numbers cannot be less than fifteen hundred. They have always been considered as a more polished people than the former, and used to denominate the Mickmacks fools and savages. They certainly eye the emigrations from New York with the utmost jealousy and