130 OVER ON THE ISLAND

each of us saying inwardly that the steeple had lost—— only until we had seen the Point.

Instead of coming to a deserted Point as we had expected, and hoped, the place was alive with activity. Along the fringe of woods in a wide semi-circle stood a long row of tents. Down by the water some Boy Scouts were collecting brush for a bonfire. Farther up stood the memorial. We soon found that this memorial was like all other Island memorials— exceedingly plain. Island memorials generally have little architectural beauty. Their interest lies solely in the history they preserve. Often, however, the lines engraved on these simple tablets surpass in drama and interest those of the finest memorials in the world. Take this one, for instance—

Turn back the pages of time to the year 1731—to the palace of Fontainebleau, in France—

King Louis XV and Jean Phélippeaux, Count de Maurepas, have just signed a grant giving to Sieurs Cottard, du Bocage, Nancis, and de Roma a tract of land in the eastern part of Isle St. Jean, embracing the land drained by the Cardigan, Montague, and Brudenell rivers—exclusive of any private possessions there. This is free of all Royal dues but subject to Louisburg.

The scene now shifts to the New World—~to Three Rivers, the newly granted territory. The Company of the East is expected to take over eighty settlers during the first year, and thirty each succeeding year, with necessities for the new colony. But, of all the partners in this company, there is only one man, the Director, Jean Pierre de Roma, who works energetic- ally, and tries to fulfil literally the terms of the agreement.