ACADIA AND THE ACADIANS.

Acadia, now known as Nova Scotia, was settled by the French in 1607. Many of
the colonists settled in the fertile region about the Bay of Minas, an arm
of the Bay of Fundy. One of these settlements was called Grand Pre, meaning
Great Meadow. The people were industrious and thrifty and they soon attained
a considerable prosperity.

During the early period of American History, France and England were almost
continually at war with one another, and in these wars the colonists were
concerned. At the close of what is known as Queen Anne's war, in 1713,
France ceded Acadia to the English, and it has since remained in their
possession. Some thirty-five years passed before an English settlement
was made at Halifax, the Acadians in the meantime remaining in undisturbed
possession of the country. Soon after the settlement of Halifax trouble
began between the rival colonists.

The Acadians were, as a whole, a quiet and peaceable people, content to till
their farms and let the mother countries settle any disputes. Some of them
were not thus minded and they succeeded in causing considerable trouble.
Frequent attacks were made upon Halifax by the Indians who were supposed to
have been aided and encouraged by the Acadians. The Acadians had refused
to take the oath of allegiance to the English and this caused them to be
regarded with suspicion and fear. They had sworn fidelity on the condition
that they should not be required to bear arms against the French, with
whom they naturally sympathized, being of the same blood and religion. They
persistently refused to go further and swear allegiance.