into inland seas, traversing the province from west to east for more than half its length. The combined influence of the same powerful agent and of the Atlantic Ocean has produced (though in a less striking manner) the same effect upon the south shore. Owing to the operation of these causes, the harbours of Nova Scotia for number, capacity and safety are unparalleled in any other part of the world between Halifax and Cape Canseau are 12 ports capable of receiving ships of the line, and there are 14 others of sufficient depth for merchantmen. curious. The palm tree, the bamboo, the cactus may be dug from the rocks and coal seams. All indicating that Nova Scotia at one time enjoyed a tropical climate. [See Dr. Gesner's valuable work on the Geology of Nova Scotia.] Diluvial Alluvial Tertiary. Respecting the interior of the colony, it may be a observed that of 15,617 square miles, the superficial contents of Nova Scotia, one third is supposed to be occupied by lakes of various shapes and sizes, so spread out that there is no point in the province 30 miles from navigable water. The surface is undulating, there being scarcely more than half a mile at a time of level ground, but the elevation is inconsiderable, the highest land (Ardoise hill or Arthur's Seat) being only 810 feet above the level of the sea. There is a range of high lands on the west coast, between St. Mary's Bay and Argyle, and another more extended and lofty on North Coast, skirting the Bay of Fundy, between Annapolis and Windsor, or indeed to the head of Minas basin. The scenery throughout the province is beautifully picturesque, owing to the great variety of hill and dale, and the numerous rivers and lakes scattered throughout the country. [See Colonial Library, vol. vi.] The harbour of Halifax has not perhaps a superior in any part of the world. It is situate in 44. 40. N. latitude, 63.40. W. longitude, nearly midway between the east and west extremity of the peninsula—and from its situation being directly open to the Atlantic and its navigation scarcely ever interrupted by ice (as Quebec is annually), it is our chief naval station in North America, and affords safe anchorage for 1000 ships. Several islets exist at the entrance between Sambro Head and Devil's Island, rendering the navigation apparently rather intricate, but even a stranger with proper precaution has nothing to fear. channels east and west of M'Nabs island are guarded by York redoubt, Sherbrooke tower, East battery, and several others. The city of Halifax is built on the east side of a small peninsula on the declivity of a hill, which rises gradually from the water's edge; its length being about two miles, and its breadth about half a mile, with wide streets crossing each other at right angles, and containing nearly 2000 houses, and a population not far short, including strangers, of 20,000. The IV. Nova Scotia is divided into four geological divisions, extending from S. W. to N. E. nearly, and running in a longitudinal direction with the greatest diameter of the country. The south side of Nova Scotia, bordering on the Atlantic and forming a narrow strip from Cape Sable to Cape Canseau, is a primary district and composed principally of granite. gneiss and mica slate. The second division is three to four times the breadth of the first, and extends also the whole length from Cape St. Mary to Chedabucto Bay; it is composed of slate, greywacke, and greywacke slate. The third is a trap district, and forms a narrow slip from Briar island to Mina basin, including the whole of the North Mountains, and the islands, &c. on the Nova Scotia shore of the Bay of Fundy. The fourth is a red sandstone district, and extends from the Gut of Canseau, along the Northumberland strait. The fossil remains found in the mountain limestone, transition slate, &c. are extremely Oolitic. Order of succession of the different strata of Rocks in* Sandst. Trap. new red Nature of Rocks and Soils. Coal group. sandst. limest. Secondary rocks. O. red old M. Primary transition. A A vegetable soil. Where found. Every where. B Gravel, sand, and clay, Valley of Annapolis and containing the bones of Kings. animals now existing. By G. R. Young, Esq., of Nova Scotia. Marble, alabaster, porphyry, &c., abound. Beds of rich iron ore have been found in various directions ; the sulphuret of lead has been found in narrow veins among the limestone at Guys' river; the copper ore is rich, and doubtless many other minerals will hereafter be discovered. The soil of Nova Scotia is of various qualities; there are extensive alluvial tracts, producing as rich crops as any soil in England would do; some of the uplands are sandy and poor, while, singular enough, the tops of the hills are productive to a high degree. On the south coast the land is so rocky as to be difficult of cultivation, but when the stones are removed, excellent crops are yielded. The banks of rivers and the heads of bays on the north coast afford many fine fertile tracts. remove the prevailing idea in England that Nova Scotia is a region of snow and fog, I may state, that the orchards of the province are equal to those of any part of America; plumbs, pears, quinces, and cherries are found in all gardens, and of the most excellent quality. Cider of superior quality forms an article of export, and peaches and grapes ripen in ordinary seasons without any artificial aid. Frost binds the earth from Christmas to April, with almost invariably an intervening thaw in January, as already described under Lower Canada. The heaviest fall of snow is in February, during the predominance of the N.W. wind. Rain falls most frequently in spring and autumn, and a fog prevails on the S. shore near the mouth of the Bay of Fundy, but does not extend far inland. As the country becomes cleared, or owing to some unknown causes, the climate is becoming milder. V. The temperature of Nova Scotia is milder in winter, and the heat less intense in summer than is the case at Quebec; the air is highly salubrious, 80 years being a frequent age in the full use of bodily and mental faculties; many settlers pass 100 with ease and comfort. There are no diseases generated in the colony, which is also free from intermittent and other fevers. The summer heat is moderate and regular, with a soft S. W. wind, changing materially on any inclination N. or S. of that point. The autumn is a delicious season, and there is seldom any severe weather until the end of December. In order to The following Meteorological Register is for Halifax. The vegetable and animal kingdoms being similar to those of Canada, require no separate description. VI. When first discovered, Nova Scotia, as well as other parts of America, was inhabited by Indians of a reddish-brown colour, with high cheek-bones, large lips and mouths, long black coarse hair, and fine in- | telligent penetrating eyes; the males in height from five feet eight inches to six feet, with broad shoulders and strong limbs. The two principal tribes, the Micmacs and Richibuctoos, differing in features and in dialect, were equally savage in their mode of life and manners, but to some extent civilized and made nominal Christians by the early French settlers, who trained the Indians to assist them in their wars against the English; and, in order to infuriate the semichristianized Indians against the English, the French inspired them with the horrible idea that it was the English who crucified Christ! The wars between the rival contestors for the possession of Nova Scotia, the introduction of the small pox, and, above all (strange to say), the maddening use of spirituous liquors, have swept off nearly every Indian from the face of the country where he was once master; and but few (not 1,000) of the Micmacs still exist. Indolent, when not roused by the stimulus of hunger or revenge, the Indian dreams N. S. W. N.W. and variable. N.W. and S.W. Westerly. N. and ditto. W. and Northerly. W. N. and S. W. and Southerly. N.W. and S. S.W. N. and N.W. W. and S.W. N.W. and N.E. away life in a silent monotonous existence; his only wants are food, raiment, and shelter of the humblest kinds; and within a few years more, the remnant of this extraordinary specimen of the human race will have entirely passed away. 1 have been unable to find any very accurate early details of the progress of population in the colony. In 1749, about 140 years after the settlement of the colony, the Acadians amounted to 18,000 in number. After the removal of these people from Nova Scotia, in 1755, the British settlers were computed at only 5,000; and in 1764, the number of souls was reckoned at 13,000, including 2,600 Acadians. In 1772, the reported numbers were 19,120; but in 1781, in consequence of a number of persons having quitted the colony, the number was reduced to 12,000. Two years after, 20,000 loyalists arrived, so that the numbers were increased to 32,000; but by the subsequent separation of New Brunswick, Prince Edward's Isle, and Cape Breton into distinct governments, Nova Scotia had of course a diminished population. In 1807, the number of mouths was estimated at 65,000, exclusive of Cape Breton Isle, then 2,515. Two censuses have since been made at intervals of 10 years each, the result of which was as follows. There has been no census since 1827. The totals in the two returns above for 1827 somewhat differ. I do not know whether the term free blacks in the census of 1817 (and which I do not find in the census of 1827), applies to the aboriginal inhabitants of the colony, or to the residue of a large party of maroons, who were shipped from Jamaica to Nova Scotia, and who becoming dissatisfied, were for the greater part subsequently trans-shipped to Sierra Leone. Nova Scotia has been so long and so unjustly considered in England a bleak, marshy, and almost uninhabitable country, that it may be necessary to enter into some detail as to its inhabitants and localities; for, as has been truly observed by a native of the colony, the extended and well-cultivated valley of the Annapolis-the diversified and picturesque country of Horton and Cornwallis-the richness and extent of views in the vicinity of Windsor- the unrivalled beauty of Mahone Bay, with its numerous verdant islets-the whole country bordering on the Shubenacadie-the very many spots in the eastern parts of the province and the extensive townships of Newport and Yarmouth, cannot fail to excite the wonder of strangers, and they exist in a territory which has always been represented as the most uninteresting part of the continent of North America. Halifax division, containing part of the county of the same name, and the townships of Halifax, The territorial distribution of the Nova Scotia | ter). There are ten counties, some of which are again government is-1, Eastern division; 2, Middle; 3, subdivided into districts and townships, for the more Western; 4, Halifax; 5, Cape Breton (see next chap- convenient administration of justice. FF The only counties divided into districts are, Halifax into three, viz. Halifax, Colchester, and Pictou; and Sydney into Lower and Upper. in an English parish, and assesses themselves for the support of the poor. The naval capital of British North America, HaliThe townships are not all of equal extent, nor of fax, has been before described, and Dartmouth reequal number in each county; viz. in Halifax Dis- quires no separate account: we may, therefore, protrict there are Halifax, Dartmouth, Preston, and Law-ceed to the eastern division, containing the districts rence Town; in Colchester District, Truro, Onslow, of Colchester, Pictou, and the counties of Sydney and and Londonderry; in Pictou District, Pictou, Eger- Cumberland. The district of Colchester, is a part of ton, and Maxwelton; Lunenburg County, Chester, the county of Halifax, and is bounded on the northLunenburg, and New Dublin; Queen's, Liverpool, west by the county of Cumberland, on the west by and Guysborough; Shelburne, Shelburne, Yarmouth, the Shubenaccadie River, on the south by the district Barrington, Argyle, and Pubnico; Annapolis, Digby, of Halifax, and on the north and east by the district Clements, Clare, Annapolis, Granville, and Wilmot; of Pictou. It contains three townships; Truro, OnKing's, Aylesford, Horton, Cornwallis, and Parrsbo- slow, and Londonderry, besides the settlements of rough; Cumberland, Amherst, Wallace, Hants, Fal- Economy, Stewiack, Tatamagouch, Salmon River, Shumouth, Windsor, Rawdon, Kempt, Douglas, and benaccadie, Brookfield, &c. Newport; Sydney, Dorchester, St. Andrews, Arisaig, Tracadie. In each township the inhabitants meet as Castlereagh lies north of the Folly Mountain, between the District of Colchester and the County of Cumberland. N. B. The year 1827 was very unfavourable to the growth of wheat, and this return may be considered not more than one-third of an average crop. Pictou, which is the third and last district of the | Halifax, on the east by the county of Sydney, and on county of Halifax, is bounded on the west by the the north by the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It contains district of Colchester, on the south by the district of three townships, Pictou, Egerton, and Maxwelton. |