Page:The history of Grand-Pre by Herbin, John Frederic.djvu/18

10 three miles away, is the centre about which cluster the points of beauty, and from which radiate the lines of road which communicate with them. Directly in front lies the blue stretch of Minas Basin. The distant purple hills of Cumberland are cut off and relieved on the west by the bold and clearly defined shape of Cape Blomidon. Numerous large and beautiful streams empty their waters into the Basin, which in turn flows into the Bay of Fundy. Cape Blomidon terminates the range of mountains which lies on the north side of the Annapolis Valley. The eastern extremity of this valley is the Canard and Habitant of the Acadians, now named Cornwallis, and the broad fields of the Grand-Pré. These are seen to best advantage from Look-Off, a point on the North Mountain about five hundred feet above the level of the plain. This overlooks a varied and extended scene of great beauty. Look-Off is about twelve miles from Wolfville, and the road thither lies through the finest of the orchard country, and over marshes of wonderful fertility and richness.

When the traveller reaches Wolfville his feet are on Acadian ground. The town is set in the midst of scenic and historic richness of varying aspect; and combining with meadow, marsh, forest, green slope, orchard and mountain are the phenomenal tides of the famous Fundy. It occupies the site of an Acadian village, and has become the most important town in that part of Minas, overlooking the waters of the Basin, re-named Horton after the deportation. In its old cemetery may be read the names of some of the early settlers from New England, one stone