222 OVER ON THE ISLAND

wealth and importance, it became Cascumpeque. Here in this district and along Hill’s River the ship- building industry grew, flourished, and then died a natural death. It owed its success and enterprise to a certain Samuel Hill, who established a shipbuilding and lumber-export trade here. Cargoes were sent to far-off England and to the West Indies. As he prospered he bought further adjoining townships, which he leased to settlers. He was considered a harsh landlord. He allowed his tenants little for what they sold him, and in return, charged high prices for what they bought from him. Misfortune, however, attended him. Christy, a trusted servant, robbed his store and set fire to the building to cover up his guilt. The shop, at that time, was well filled with goods, and was worth about twenty thousand dollars. The deed, however, was traced to Christy. He was con- victed and hanged. Years after, some of the stolen goods were found under the barn floor of Christy’s old farm. Hill retired to England, and Samuel Cunard obtained possession of his townships.

By 1837, there were thirty families at Cascumpeque and two or three at Tignish. Between them was an almost unbroken forest, and though they were only about twelve miles from Cascumpeque, their nearest place of worship, it took them three days to get to the church and home again. Perhaps modern living is too easy after all, for then, they actually went to church. They generally started on Saturday morning, and travelled along the shore until they came to the Montrose River. Across the mouth of this river they swam their horses while they themselves were paddled over in a log dugout. Then, they continued their journey to what was known as ”the Dock.” The old