208

THE SAGO-PALM.

several of a toler

cutting open a

stem which had been uprooted and laid prostrate by the wind; and in its interior I found a white farinaceous pith, which was, indeed, the sago imported into Europe from the Indies. Delighted with this discovery, which was for us, as was everything of an edible nature, very important, my son and I set to work, stripped the bark from the trunk, and scooped out of the interior nearly twenty-five pounds of that precious pith. The task occupied us upwards of an hour. We then became sensible both of hunger and thirst, and as, moreover, the day was rapidly declining, I did not consider it prudent to push our investigations

SAGO-PALM (Phanix farinifera).

A PRESENT FOR A WIFE.

209

any further. We made towards the sea-shore, and having mounted the rocky headland which we had named Cape Hope Deceived, could see nothing novel anywhere around us. On all sides flourished the same rich and vigorous vegetation; the same landscapes, the same solitude, met our wistful gaze; and not a trace of human beings could be discerned. We decided, therefore, on retracing our steps to Calabash Wood, where we had left our provisions. In its pleasant shade we enjoyed a hearty meal, and having thoroughly rested ourselves, we deposited all our treasures on the sledge, harnessed our quiet donkey, and set our faces towards Falcon's-Nest.

My wife was delighted at our return, and received with great favour the new farinaceous product we had brought her. The pretty green and red parroquet which Frederick had captured, the story of the social birds, of the ruffed grouse, and, above all, of the caoutchouc, which was to provide us with impenetrable chaussures, amused and diverted us during our evening repast.

But my wife reserved her particular attention for the waxen berries, of which we showed her a large bag full. She rejoiced at the news that she would at length be provided with an evening light, and not be constrained to retire to bed, as had hitherto been the case, the moment day was ended.

ET the reader rest assured that, next day, my wife and children gave me no rest until I had undertaken my manufactory of candles. The trade of a candle-maker was, for me, an entirely new one. But I well remembered having seen the various processes, and endeavouring to recall to my mind all that I knew, I set to work.

First, I carefully picked off all the berries, and these the children threw into a large boiler, which I placed over a moderate fire. The waxen envelopes of the berries soon melted in the boiling water, and while the berries sunk to the bottom, a beautiful green wax rose to the surface. This I carefully removed with a large flat spoon, and as it collected, deposited in a great earthen vessel standing by my side. When it was nearly full, I took the wicks which my wife, meanwhile, had prepared of the thread of sailcloth, and fastened them in fours to a small stick.

After dipping them in the liquid wax, I suspended them on two branches of a tree to dry. I repeated this operation until the candle was of a sufficient thickness. The whole were then stored in a cool shady place near the fountain, to acquire a proper consistency, and that same evening we put their illuminating qualities to the test.

A NEW MODE OF CHURNING.

211

My wife was delighted with the invention; and although our candles were of unequal sizes, and their light was not very pure, they agreeably reminded us of European usages, while enabling us to add to our days several hours which had previously been wasted.

This success emboldened us to attempt another manufacture. My wife deeply regretted the daily loss of all the cream which might have been gathered from the milk of our cow and goats. She had attempted to make some butter by beating up the cream in a vessel; but whether she was deficient in patience, or whether the heat of the climate was the cause, she had not succeeded. A churn was required, but as I did not think myself skilful enough to make one, I conceived the idea of supplying its place by a simple method which I had somewhere read of as practised by the Hot

tentots.

These people fabricate their butter by enclosing a certain quantity of cream in a skin stitched up like a bag, and shaking it to and fro with a regular movement of the arm. For the skin I substituted a large pumpkin, cleaned out, and divided into halves; I filled it with about three quarts of cream, sealed it hermetically, and having fastened to four posts the corners of a square piece of canvas, I placed the gourd in the centre, and directed two of the boys to shake the canvas with a slow but regular movement, like rocking a child's cradle.

The exercise amused them greatly; but what was more to our advantage, when, in about a quarter of an hour, we opened our machine, we found therein a lump of excellent butter, which my wife made use of at supper, to the intense satisfaction of all her guests.

In another experiment I was less successful. I was desirous of constructing a cart or car to take the place of our sledge, which on some kinds of ground was almost useless; but though I had the advantage of a couple of wheels brought from the ship, I turned out but a heavy and ungainly machine. Shapeless as it was, however, it proved very useful for collecting our harvest.

While I was thus engaged in the improvement of our stock, my wife and sons were by no means idle. They undertook the deco

212

CULTIVATING THE WILDERNESS.

rative work; from the orchard where I had planted them they removed the fruit-trees, and arranged them, with much intelligence, in the places best adapted to facilitate their growth. I assisted the boys with my counsel, and in the more laborious part of their work with my active help. For instance, I directed them to plant the vine at the foot of the roots of our giant tree, and the chestnuts, walnuts, and cherry trees in parallel rows, stretching from Family Bridge towards Falcon's-Nest, and forming a shady avenue for our recreation when we visited Tent-Town. Between these trees we laid down a solid footway, which we might conveniently traverse in all weathers; and as our wheel-barrows were not strong enough for this work, I constructed a small cart, which was drawn by our patient ass.

We next addressed ourselves, with busy hands, to the improvement of Tent-Town, our first settlement, and our possible refuge in case of future danger.

Nature had done little for it; but we supplied her place as best we could by planting there those trees which flourish most under great heat, such as the citron, pistachio, and shaddock-the latter a kind of orange whose fruit is as large as an infant's head—the almond, the mulberry, and the Indian fig, with its long spiry leaves. In a short time we completely transformed this once desert spot, and our plantations thriving mightily, a barren and burning waste of sand was converted into a grove blooming with fruits and flowers.

But as Tent-Town was intended for an asylum in case of need, rather than for a "bower of delights" or an "Armida's garden," it was there we stored our arms, our munitions, and provisions of every kind; and, not content with embellishing it, we resolved to augment its defensive capabilities. For this purpose we surrounded it with a fence of stout prickly bushes, so as to render it impregnable against the attacks of wild animals, and even strong enough to hold out against a leaguer of savages, if there were any in the country. We likewise fortified our bridge, whose movable planks might, by being withdrawn, impede an enemy's passage; and a gentle eminence in the interior was mounted with the two small guns of the pinnace.