MEAT AND MARKET DEPARTMENTS. 207 



pected, least endured — in the meat and market depart- 

 ments. It is probable, on zoological grounds, that the 

 Scillians, being carnivorously organised, would eat meat 

 with gusto could they get it. Nay, as there are several 

 well-to-do people residing here, some shipowners and 

 shipbuilders, and as there are no poor, it would, on a 

 2wiori grounds, be assumed that meat was freely assi- 

 milated by the Scillians, they not having fallen into the 

 fallacy of '' vegetarianism.''" But a priori conclusions 

 force no pathway through facts ; and the stern and 

 startling fact early obtruded itself on me, that of all 

 things meat is one of the most unattainable in these 

 parts. Do not imagine that by " meat " I euphuisti- 

 cally indicate prime parts, and quick varieties ; no, I 

 mean meat of any kind, without epicurean distinctions. 

 Beef is obtainable — by forethought and stratagem ; 

 but mutton is a myth. A vision of veal floats with 

 aerial indistinctness through the Scillian mind. Poul- 

 try, too, may be had — at Penzance ; and fish — when 

 the weather is calm, which it never is at this season ; 

 and when the one solitary fisherman adventurously 

 takes out his line — which he seldom does. But market 

 there is none. Twice a-week a vegetable cart from 

 " the country " (which means a mile and half distance) 

 slowly traverses the town, and if you like to gather 

 round it, as the cats and dogs do round the London 

 cats'-meat-man, you may stock yourself with vegetables 

 for three days. The inhabitants, of course, know how 

 to arrange matters for themselves, although it was 

 evident that my landlady regarded the wish of dining 



