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Las cartas, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre flimte i das taux de rMuction diffirents. Lorsque la document est trop grand pour itra raproduit en un seul clich*. it eat film* i partir da I'angla sup4rieur gauche, de gauche k droite, et de haut en baa, an prenant le nombre d'Imagas n^cessaira. Laa diagrammes suivants illustrent la m*thoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 J > \ ^OVA SCOT/4 PROVINCE HOUSE V \ I 1 »' t :ii^y»»J5J»Mi ■r=|--— ooiroBBiiiiia A Tt /iPERANCE AND EDUCATIONAL MISSION W TBB EA3TBEN SHORS OF HAIiIFAX COUNTY. Bt JOHN g* THOBrrsON, Esq. iHiia|PMii|ir K^i^e»*4 l\^ \ f^mmmmmmm imimmmmMt>&i0liit mtmrn' \i "V^" ttet IMBMHMiMNHM l\l THE EASTERN SHORE. liEPORT, TO A COMMITTEE OF THE GRAND DIVISION, S. of T„ of NOVA SCOTIA, CONCERNING A TEJIPERIXCE A3fD EDUCATIO AL MISSIOS TO TDK EASTERN SHORE OF HALIFAX COUNTY. \ .^' BY JOHN S. THOMPSON, ESQ. PRINTED AT THE "ABSTAINER" OFFICE 18G0. t^^^^m <^S 1« V >- S O I r^PiP i > .# \ tmmm \ MEMORANDUM BY THE AGENCY COMMITTEE. In tho year 1857 n Bazaar was held at Halifax, under the auspices of the Grand Division of the Sons of Temperam^e of this Province, for the purpose of raising a fund to be ex- pend .d w promoting the progress of tho principle and practice oi' Tu'U AHsunence. Of the sum then obta ined a considerable prnpciiioii \?asrG,orvcd fur the exclusive benefit of the City an.' LVoupty of Halifax; but tho greater part of this amount re- 'na'as stir i-i the hands of the Agency Committee, solely on ar'^outit of the Jiaieulty of procuring a Lecturer who would be likely to i.npress our z\ty population. The repeated disappoint- ments experienced by the Committee when trying to obtain S'jch assistance, together with the success which had crowned the ex- penditure of the remaining portion of the fund, which had been employed in defraying the expenses of a number of Lecturers throughout the ountry— each delivering a course of lectares at various places within a certain distance from his own resi- dence—at length induced the Committee to turn their attention to the remote districts of the County of Halifax, and, accord- ingly, they procured the consent of Mr John S. Thompson to deliver a scries of lectures at the settlements on the Eastern Shore of that County. On Mr Thompson's return after tho fulfilment of his engagement, he laid betbre the Committee a report of his proceedings containing a large amount of valuable and interesting information ; and this report they now publish. They hope that the record of Mr Thompson's success in the pro- secution of his mission may stimulate the friends of Total Ab- stinence to raise a fund for permencntly establishing a system iiili ■IPPH 1 IV. >ir.M0IlANDU5r. of lectures on Temperance in every village and hamlet in Nova Scotia. This, they believe, and this alone, would ere long [»lace in our hands the power of abolishing the traffic in intoxicating drink?, and enable us to avert the ruin which annuidly falls on hundreds of our countrymen, and the misery which is the lot of all who are so unfortunate as io be their relatives. The Com- mittee are not without the hope also, that the light which Mr Thompson throws on the social and educational condition of a district which is probably less known and cared for by our le- gi.slati»rs than any other part of the Province, may tend to ob- tain that sympathy and assistance without which the efforts to iuiprove their position which its inhabitants are evidently so willing to make, must be to a great extent unavailing. The Oommittee respectfully commend these topics, to the favourable consideration of the many friends for whose consideration this ' Heport has V)et.n prepared. I \ M -^ ' t ' - - •■ ■mifiiiiaii 11 K IM) H T . i Some time in the siimmor of 18')0 llio Ajjcix-v Committee propnst'd that I should s;o on a mis/ion of about a tnonthV duration, alon;i the Easforn Shore of the County of Ualilari. I accepted the proposition, hut ircumstaiicea iiiad*' if inconvenient for me tc leave town about that time, and I also beeanie aware that the 8"a- son was cpiite unsnited for finding the men of the Shore at their Deveral localities, and was told that about Chtistmas or New Year's would afford the best opportunities. A wi>h to be home at those seasons was only reason.-djlc, but I left Halifax on the forenoon of December 13th on my way to Mnsquodoboit Harbour. Some unu- sual delav occuned on the road, but I arrived at the hospital)le home of William Anderson, Esi]., at about nine that eveninjj. Next morniuii I visited the School, tind jzave such noiiee of my intention to lecture that eveninji, as limited opportunities allowed. At the hour appointed, the comfortable School-room was well oc'.:npied with an int^reslinji audience ; I spoke lor upwards of m hour. WHS heard with mu h attention, distributed coyties c.( priiited address and tracts, and obtained eighteen names to the pled>ie. N. xt mornimi 1 was kindly conveyed by wa^-ion, a distanee of about three miles, to the head of .leddore llarboin-, wh re I expect- ed to lecture. On eiupiirinq., near the entrance of the Har- bour, whose hospitality I rrratefully aeknawledue. 1 lectured at the School-house next e'veninjj; ; courteous aitention marked the audi- ence. I distributed papers, and detained twenty four sisinatures. Next morning, Saturday, I proceeded from Mr Harple's to the / V {>._ ip""»" HM'ORT. J (Iwellinnr of M,. J,,|,„ \a,in'is, '• Kent". Main!," wlicro I was kir-.H^ entertairu'i]. I kTH.rcil ;,t lluj .Si hool-liou^e ol tlic s<'tlli>uu-nt lu-xt evening, of.faiiiin;! clovi-n nann-s. I r.'maini'd at the loi-ality on the S.ibhatli, aiii] rftiirinMi to Jtddort! on Monda^, Ilcn'. in the evcn- inji, I altcn.lfd aiKjtlicr nli-i-ioii.s iiiefrin-jr, expt'ctin}; tu he coiivey- ed across the Iliilmur bv some ot flic, persons retiirnirjj to tlie'ir homes at the other side. Subsecjnent to much sfumhlirnr and a lew lalls in niyht^tnivellinpr across rocky (ichls and ah.nii'ihe ser. shore, I obtained a passajje, and felt compensated lor my unpleasant anibulations, by j.dassy water, star lit sky, am"- the hymn of" Happy Land" well snn«j by a lady passenjier, Anived at'the East side of the Harbour. I n mained that niiilit at tlie d\vellin;i of Mr K. Baker. Next day I made some urran^'eme-its towards announcinjr a meet- in*.', and lecluied same eveiiiiitr, to a few, in a sequestered place of worship. The nijjht was dark, paths rnj»;;ed, and weather threat- ii\\n». On h'avin^i the place of mfetinju% a brand from the stove, swayed lieartily to and fio, was resorted to, as a means of lii»hting the track, and so preventin;^ some a<:;;ravated renewal of the previ- ous ni;iht's experience amonj;; the ro»;ks. 1 obtained twelve names at the locality. A few years a;io a conllapration rava^'ed the wood- lands East of Jcddore,— greatly despoiling; the appearance of ex tensive tracts of hill anroceeded to Dy. *cr Pond, towards the Ileadof JeddoiP, wlieie I was entertained at the dwellir);; of Mr MltdicII, and lectured ;n a room of the house tliat eveninj:. I (lis- Jribute a room of ihe dwellintan('H, on a wilder- ness path, of about nine mihs, 1 was very kindly eniertained at the residence of Mr ]). L\ ('unie, found there was butsli^dit jiroba- bility of having a UK'etinjj that evenin'ifci , **^- REPORT. * pine. There was no appearance of a meeting at the Bay, and no practi'jability of jjoing tariher thj»t night ; so I remained at the house to which 1 had been directed. A s'i.-nicircle of both saxes, and va- rious agv no PieaiiS monoto- nous walk, that no maiming of limb had hap ;ed, a"d that I was able to scramble along to next place of sh»;if'.,r. At Pope's Har- bour I was kindly entertained at the residence of Mr Neil Polong. Here I pasted Christmas day, the cold of v,hich was intense, but the holiday did not lack its warm fireside, .. reditary plum pudding, et-cetra. Rev Mr Jamison preached the iestival sermon, to a congregation of some four and twenty persons. He kindly announ- ced my meeting for next evening. I lectured accordingly in the little School-house of the settlement, which was nestled in a snug nook shaded by evergreen trees. Here the schooimaater took the chair, and an interesting meeting, at which twenty-two names were obtained, was held. Among the names, as at Jeddore, were those of grandparent and grandchildren. Setting out next afternoon, I nroceedea over the new snow, to cast side of Sheet Harbour, a distance of about fourteen m.iles, the ample measure of which \ by no means questioned. Here I found hospitable shelter at the dwelling of Mr W. Hall, senr., the cold being considered more severe than any of the preceding winter. — Next morning I visited t^ e two school-houses of the place, about a mile apart, but *' Jack Frost" appeared more imperative than '• Wm. Dilworth ;" for only a few children were in attendance be- cause of (he weather. Such notice as appeared available was given of my meetinji, which was held in the evening, at a school- house about haU-a-raile from the Hf, '1, and at the east side of the Haibour. Good order and deep attention again marked my audience ; I obtained eighteen names, the lisi< being headed by the young lady in charge of the school, to whom I thus express acknow- ledgement for the good example given. ^ The weather convinued severe and threatening ; most of the time alloted for th^ raiseion had been expended, and awkward delays appeared probable if I proceeded farther ; I therefore turned home- ward cheerfully, on Thursday forenoon. About seven miles from Sheet Harbour, I passed a bye path. I I rr- 8 REPORT. leadinn; to Taylor's Bay, where, I understood, an opportunity for speakinj; raijTht be bad at the ho' ;e of one of the principal inha- bitants. Doubtful of the circumstances, in consequence of the person alluded to dealing in liquors, and anxious to arrive at Pope's Harbour that evening, I passed along; but, on consideration, retra- ced my steps for above a mile, and turned to the Bay. Here 1 was very kindly entertained, at the dwelling of Mr Henry Leslie, which is situated on a picturesque declivity ; — around it were appurtenances of a shore farm, — and before, the curving, cot- tage dotted beach, the murmuring surf, the bold headlands, wooded islands, and fine Atlantic horizon. Here I held a Tem- peran<;e meeting, the Mistress of the house giving valuable aid in ibrwarding the objects of my misaion. The meeting was very in- teresting to myself, and twenty-one names were added to my list of pledged Tetotallers. Four or five of the names belonged to the fa- i2iily in whose house I lectured ; and the proprietor listened patient- ly to my plain-speaking. I hope to hear of him also adopting the pledge, and of the resolution being abundantly beneficial to all his best interests. Much pleased with my visit, I set out next morning towards Pope's Harbour, arrived there in due time, and proceeded to Tangier, on my way to Ship Harbour. At Tangier, I stopped at the house of Mr John Mayer, where 1 was very kindly treated, but found no opportunity of lecturing;. I hope he is convinced by this time, that the mention of wine in Scrip- ture, gives no countenance to the modern intoxicating liquor system. Leaving on next morning, I resumed my journey along the beach and through the wilderness; crossed Ship Harbour inlet about noon on Saturday, and again found hospitable entertainment «t the residence of Mr Curry. That evening, under rather un- pleasant circumstances of cold and want of usual accommodation in the deserted school-house, I lectured to a small attentive audi- ence, and obtained nine names. Hearing of a meeting concerning a Militia Company, called for Monday, I considered it my duty, as fa- cilities were presented, to wait and address the assemblage, seeking volunteers also. The meetings were announced, I attended ac- cordingly, about 17 persons as-^emblfd, and, subsecjuent to the Mi- litia enrollment, I delivered an address and added four names to my list. Immediately si:bsequent to the meeting, I left on my way to Jed- dore, and staid at a house five miles distant that night. Next morning I went on (crossing the just re opened Salmon River Brid{;3) about nine miles to the Head of Jeddore, where I lectured at the house of Mr Wm. Myers, and obtained two names. Some fallacious notions seemed to prevent friends from coming up to what I considered the point of duty, as regarded avowal of prin iple* and setting good example. K%' jfi RF.POHT. 9 "1 Same evening, after the meetinji, I was conveyed by kindness of Mr J.uni's Ritchie, Methodist missionary, to Musfjuodoboit Harbor ; the night was fine, and the moon beautifully illuminated the fields of snow and ice over which the sleigh glided. I again arrived at Mr Anderson'^, at about nine o'clock, experiencing very kimd welcome. Mr Ritchie offered the use of the Methodist chapel, for a Temper- ance meeting, for next evening. I thought it my duty to improve the unexpected opportunity, — and remained and lectured accord- inglv. The audience was not numerous, but verv attentive and good humoured ; eight names were added to my list of pledges, — making one hundred and seventy names obtained at the ihirt»»en lectures of my mission. Again favoured by the kindness of Mr Ritchie, I left Musquodobit by sleigh conveyance on the forenoon of" January 5th, and arrived at Halifax at about six o'clock same evening, glad to be at home, and, thank Providence, feeling better, rather than worse, for my three weeks winter journey along the Eastern Shore. In addition to the foregoing outline, a few paragraphs on certain particulars, may not be undesirable. The line of coast from Halifax round Sheet Harbour, measuring along its chief sinuosities, some two hundred miles, is curiously in- dented with coves and inlets of the ocean. Between the places named there are seventeen harbours, so called, some of them fine pieces of water. Running some miles inland, — norih of Cole Har- bour, Cow Bay; and ^awrencetown. — the road touches the waters of the c»a8t, at Porter's Lake, and then on, by the head of Chezet- cook, and Port Peswick, to Mu?quodoboit; there the course com- mences, as described in the outline. At none of the houses where I rested and whose owners names have been mentioned, was any charge made for the accommodation experienced. My expenses were trifling, a chief item being com- posed of presents made for guidaroe in the paths oetwcen the set- tlements, and other incidental travelling services. A free, simple, unostentatious hospitality, marked the conduct of the kind people whose homes I visited. In many places I noticed the elevating, refining, influences of religious profession, where many other advantages were absent. It tended to educate and dignify the mind, and, where a rude state mighl be apprehended, to give some tone of higher civilization and gentility. The time of the winter was not propitious for gathering average audiences, — but my addresses were, on each of the occasions men- tioned, treated respectfully and attentively. I generally occupied I I. I ■^ "1 i^ 10 REPORT. about twenty minutes on Education, and from fifty to sixty on Temperance. My mode was, on the former topic, to speak of the nature of Education, and the duty of providing that element of re- spectability for the young ; to describe the rudiments of Education, as eminently useful in themselves, but especially as forming an es- sential introduction to more advanced stages, and to point out some of these stages. To explain the great disadvantages caused by ig- norance of the rudiments, in the race of life ; to state the conditio'n of Education along the Shore, the improvements that were demand- ed, the benefits that might be secured,— and otherwise call atten- tion to the great subject in aid of its progress. On Temperance,— I explained the origin of my mission, and its objects^— dwelt on the nonessential and dangerous character of intoxicating liquors j—on the evils of Intemperance; the deceptious plea of what is called the •• moderate" use of ardent liquors, and the reasonableness and safety of" Total Abstinence." 1 also eom- batted some dangerous errors concerning use of liquois as common medicine,-— concerning their application in cases of exposure to toil and hardship, — and concerning any supposed sanction of our per- nit 'ous licjuor system, from the wines mentioned in Scripture. On most of these particulars I was in the habit of stating instances in proof of my argument. Supposing the audiences convinced of the truth of the propositions advancsd, I then urged generally, not in- dividually, the duty of making avowal of good principle's, by ac- ceptance of pledge and enrolment of names. At some more advanced period, a Missionary might wisely include cottage and field economy, and other general topics, in his ad- dresses. The Comniittee having directed my attention to Education, as one of the objects of my mission, I not only made it a topic of my addresses as described, but made frequent enquiries concerning its state as I went along. On this I found some circumstances to ad- mire, and others to lament. Within a few years several schooU houses have been put up at various parts of the Shore, and are in- dications of a change from a state of great neglect and deprivation. Some of these are in useful operation, others are deserted, and ad- ditional accommodation is much required at other localities. A stnall new building, near the Head of Jeddore, was about to be opened for public worship, for different denominations ;— and, as was hoped, for school purposes also. Mr Ritchie, the Methodist Missionary, was named as a zealous promoter of the improvement. Causes might be mentioned for the low state of the important Edu- cational element of social life ;— such as,— scattered settlement, — scantiness of means in some instances, — character of some teachers, — difllculty of obtaining others,— occasional want of interest and appreciation,— and, chiefly, want of active public sentiment, and } 1 I RKPORT. 11 union of effort. While fine groups of vounj? persons appear at each locality alonpr the Shore,— jireat j:iiu(.'ational deficiencv or destitution has to he deplored. The remedy, most evidently, 'is a trise sijsiem of assessment, arranjiement and manajiement. To es- timate this too hijzhly, would be dinicult,— and its accomplishment mi^ht well be considered worthv of some of thb oest efforts of our most enli;ihtened statesmen, patriots and Christians. The most respectable schools which I visited, as rejrarded school- houses, furniture, and teachinof.— were those at eacirextremity of ^the line: one at Musquodohoit Harbour, and the other at the east side ot Sheet Harbour. I heard that a small school was kept near u u^ of Jeddore,— but from that down,— west and east of the Harbour, alonnr lines of some twelve miles in extent, and compri- sing a population of four or fi>e hundred souls, I understood ♦nat no school was in operation. About three schools should be on each Side. Very praiseworthy anxiety was felt bv some of the inhabi- tants, on this subject, and I hope to hear that the deficiency, in part, at least, wdl soon be dont, away. On Kent's Island, near en- trance of Mu?quodoboit Harbour, three tamilies support a school ot themselves, rather than have their children fjrow up destitute of the advantajres of Education. A couple of miles up ihat Harbour, a school is held one half the month ; the other half, the teacher is employed at Oyster Pond, abouf eight miles distant. I 'ound him at the latter place, engaged with his small class, in the family room ot a coltage, the good wife's spinning wheel humming away whde the children were reciting their lessons. I heard of no school be- tween Oyster Pond and Ship Harbour,— and at the latter fine and comparatively populous t;ettlement, on enquiring for the school teacher, I was told, to my surprise and regret, that no school was held there !— and that the person who recently tau-ht had migra- ted to Po[)e's Harbour ! Along the Shore, to Pope's Harbour, I heard of one s-hool only ; and on my return, the track of one of its little female pufiils, across the snow, along cliffs and through bush- es, for about a mile, was my only guide, through the oTherwise trackk'ss wild. At Pope's Harbcur, an interesting school was about commencing,— to which, and to the venerable teacher and his part- ner in life, both from Aul'i Scotia, I wish all prosperity. Between Popti's Harbour and Sheet Harbour, 1 heard ol but one school, and that maintained by one man in his own house! At Sheet Harbour were two schools : one on the west side, and the other, before alluded to, on the east. Thus along this coast line of some ninety miles, 1 found about six schools, tw^ of them having the evidences of ellicieney, and heard of two uv three others, of but sevy small pretension and influence. When an observer thinks of the numerous fine-looking and intelligent children, what they will be without the rudiments of Education, and what they mn'ht be \ \ mi 7-i r ^ I \l 12 RKPOUT. with such rudimi'nts well tauizht, an ardent desifft for a better state of thiutrs, whether by lef:;isUfive interferem-e or otherwise, isa very natural emotion. It appears to me that an enlightened people "ike those of Nova St.-otia, should not allow a btate of things to exist that adatits of such deprivation of one o! the essentials of respectability and prosperity. Ajjain 1 express a hope that the reproach may soon be removed, and not b\ vajjue and transitory cllbrt, but by some praiseworthv approach to a wise systen). The places of worship observed by me alon;» the line may be thus named : Musquodoboit ILirbour, Free Church and Methodist, — handsome new building's; Jeddore Head, E[)iscopal ; — West Jeddore, Baptist,— East Jeddore, a small buililinfi, I believe Bap- tist;— Ship Harbour, Episcopal and Roman Catholic ;— Pope's Harbour, the same ; — Sheet Harbour,— Episcopal, Roman Catholic, and Presbyterian. The roads of this line of coast, as well as the schools,^ require some serious attention. The people acknowled;»e the improve- ments which have been realized, as compared with a former period, in some parts, — but they complain loudly of the jreneral state of the means of intercourse between the settlements, and ot any de- mand for freneral taxes, until the localities are belter provided for. It would be a dilficult task, I found, to set about convincing them that they should contribute to railr.iads by whirh twenty miles are accomplished in the midland counties, while the shore is without "tracks," in many parts, except those suited to goats rather than to men or horses.' From Musquodoboit, there is a back wajiiron road, to Ship Harbour, but at each side of Jeddore, and then alonjr the shore settlesnents to Shi[) Harbour, the mode of intercourse is, during summer, by boat, when the boats and ihe hands are requir- ed for other purposes ; — and in winter, when the boats are laid up, by rocky wilderness paths, throuah tangled swamps, along the slip- pery beach stones, and by a kind of steei.lechase course, across fields and over fences. At Ship Harbour, the back road from Ha- lifax terminates, and the distance to Spry Harbour, about fifteen miles, has to be accomplished by pedestrian etlbrt, under circum- stances such as have been just described. From Spry Harbour there is a back waggon road to Sheet Harbour, a distance of sonio ten miles, seven of which are without a dwelling ; but if the sellle- menis on the shore are to be visited, the diflicultiea of cow-paths and no-paths have to be encountered. Indicative of the roads, I may muntion, that no horse is kept at either side of Jeddore. The oecupalion of that useful animal has not commenced there yet. The patient ox, with its wood sled, lumbers along, through rocky ravines, where the steed would founder. A traveller some time ago, described his attempts at equestrianism, along some of the better of those paths, by remark- •■MttaMAaMi^t. REPORT. 13 ing that " somelimps liis horse carried him, and sometimes he car- ried his horse." A f'eelin» of self-preservation as well as of eonsi- deration for the stu blinfj quadruped, induces the adventurer to dismount, and lead l.... horse over the rocks and stumps and roots, and aeross the swampy places or' his forlorn path. At many parts of the shore line, however, the idea of any means of locomotion, except that known as " shank's mare," would be ridiculous The completion of a wapnon road from Halifax to the county line, on the way to Canso, wiih jfood bridle paths be) ween the seUkments, would b'j of Provincial advantajie and credit. It would fa(;ilitate settlement, — would tend to develop distiicts valuable for fisheries and in several parts tor a