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Archiver > ACADIAN-CAJUN > 1999-03 > 0920416852


From: "Fredrica Givan" <>
Subject: pioneer courage and faith
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 19:20:52 -0400


This small reference to the Savoies, who settled at Neguac, NB, gives us
insight into the living conditions and environment of many Acadians who
settled in that area during the time period, circa 1756-7 and after.

"The five Savoie brothers, Jean, Pierre, Joseph, Aman and Francois with
their wives and their sister Josephte decided to settle definitely at
Rieviere-des-Caches. They are thus the founders of Neguac....

It is hard to give an idea of the trials these first settlers endured, of
their courage and their faith in the future. The Savoie brothers chose
their land, made clearings and built their cabins. These houses were built
of logs in the round, or squared with an axe, the chinks caulked with clay
or moss, with two or three openings to serve as windows.

In those days. lighting by paraffin, or coal oil was unknown. People used
boxes of tin or wood fastened to the wall or hung from the ceiling, filled
with cod oil or elderberry oil, if cod oil was lacking. They boiled the
pith or white substance found in the stems of the elder shrub and obtained a
kind of oil which satisfactorily replaced the cod oil. I say
satisfactorily, for its odor was more agreeable than of burnt cod oil. Tow
served for a wick.

For sweeping they used a broom made of birch shavings or branches of fir or
spruce. White sand cleaned the floor. clothing was washed with soap of the
country, made of cod oil.

Their food consisted of potatoes, game and fish, but what a variety of fish!
Cod, mackerel, herring, bass, eels, shad and trout; add to that lobster and
shellfish. Beechnuts were also on the menu, they made a kind of flour from
them. Small wild fruit, such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries,
cranberries, garnished the pantry.
And do not let us forget the brown bread, made of wheat, barley and
buckwheat flour.

Beverages consisted of an infusion of lime flowers, of wild cherry leaves or
potato(tea of the woods).

The raising of sheep and the cultivation of flax provided clothing."

Source:"History of Neguac", by Rev. Arthur Gallien, Petit Rocher, NB,
translated from the French by Dr. Louis Manny.

Fredrica Givan

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