36 
HISTORY OF NOVA SCOTIA. 
men belonging to this place were attacked whilst 
cutting wood in the forest ; four of them were killed 
and scalped, and one was taken prisoner, A few 
months afterwards, the Indians, having crept upon 
the settlement during the night, killed and scalped 
several of the panic-stricken inhabitants. The screams 
of the terrified women and children were heard across 
the harbour in Halifax. "The governor and council, 
unwisely adopting the barbarous custom of the 
savages, offered large rewards for Indian prisoners 
and Indian scalps. 
Disputed Territory.— We have already stated 
that the, French claimed the country north of the 
Bay of Fundy, asserting that Nova Scotia, which they 
had given up by the Treaty of Utrecht, extended only 
to the Missaquash River and the Isthmus of Chig- 
necto. Commissioners were appointed by England 
and France to settle the dispute, but they failed to 
agree, The French, however, kept a body of soldiers 
at the Isthmus to prevent the English from crossing 
the line which they had laid down. On a ridge of 
ground in the marsh north of the Missaquash they 
erected Fort Beausejour, which was placed under the 
command of La Corne. "They had another fort also 
near the head of Bay Verte. 
On the south of the Missaquash was the 
Acadian settlement Beaubassin. "The people of this 
place were not disposed to obey the government at 
Halifax, As the produce of the country was all 
needed at Halifax, a law was made forbidding its 
exportation. But the Acadian farmers sent their 
grain and cattle by way of Bay Verte to the Louis- 
burg market. 
To enforce the laws, and to keep the French