News and Reflections: A biased peek at Acadia from the "Journal of a Voyage to Nova Scotia Made in 1731 by Robert Hale of Beverly" -- February 26, 2022

Source: [Robert Hale], “Journal of a voyage to Nova Scotia made in 1731 by Robert Hale of Beverly,” Essex Institute (Salem, Mass.), Hist . Coll ., XLII (1906)

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Journal entries made in 1731 by Englishman Robert Hale, Esq., during his trip to Nova Scotia offer a biased view of Acadians, the fur trade, money, religion, clothing and other aspects of daily life, from an Englishman's perspective. In the following journal entry, for example, Hale paints a picture of a priest, a bell-ringer and an "Indian Trader named "Pierre Asneau" who lately came from St. Johns in Canada River with Furs and Seal Skins":

Then, in a discussion about the fur trade and commerce, Hale opines, "Money is the worst commodity a man can have here."

After elaborating about food and religious practices, Hale observes how "The women here differ as much in the Clothing (besides wearing of wooden Shoes) from those in New England as they do in Features and Complexion, which is dark enough by living in the Smoak in the Summer to defend themselves against the Muskettoes and in the winter against the Cold."

So, according to Hale, it was "living in the Smoak" that accounted for the dark complexion and features of the Acadian women! Those "muskettoes" must have been pretty annoying!

Last, Hale laments the tight quarters he encountered while visiting Acadian homes, complains about a general lack of crockery,  and then after observing how Acadian women were a step ahead of Acadian men (which he attributes to their "gait,"), adds insult to injury: "The Women's Cloaths are good enough but they look as if they were pitched on with pitchforks & very often the Stockings are down about their heels." Hey!

Source:  [Robert Hale], “Journal of a voyage to Nova Scotia made in 1731 by Robert Hale of Beverly,” Essex Institute (Salem, Mass.), Hist . Coll ., XLII (1906), 217–44. No copyright date found. Retrieved from https://archive.org/details/essexinstitutehiv42esse/page/n291/mode/2up [February 26, 2022].