19OI-1902.] A Winter in Cornwall. 357 
gathered, few remains of its literature, either in manuscript or 
in print, exist, but some of the words used by the people to- 
day are no doubt remnants of the extinct tongue. The great 
majority of the population are dark in hair and complexion, 
light or red hair being very unusual, and are stoutly built, 
somewhat after the Dutch type. The men are not very tall, 
but are broad-shouldered, muscular, steady fellows, and, as 
previously mentioned, Cornwall is a splendid recruiting-ground 
for our Navy, not forgetting those equally brave heroes who, 
carrying their lives in their hands, do not hesitate to “man the 
lifeboat ” when occasion requires. 
It would hardly be possible to come across people more 
obliging, civil, and respectful than the working and farming 
orders in the country districts; and there is an absence of 
that hateful, independent boorishness that is unfortunately to 
be met with in so many places of Great Britain among a 
similar class. Of course there are, as everywhere, exceptions 
to this rule, but they are not numerous. The smaller centres 
of population, however, in common with most little provincial 
towns in England and Scotland, are not free from the infliction 
of that insignificant coterie who visit only among their own 
set, think themselves superior to all other residents and visitors, 
and justly merit a place in Thackeray’s ‘ Book of Snobs.’ It 
is somewhat amusing to watch the airs of these gentry as they 
pass along the thoroughfares, or attend church, concerts, &c. 
To use a French phrase, it is a case of “le nez retroussé,” 
coupled with a thanking of the Almighty that they are not as 
other folks. There is a considerable foreign element in the 
county, many sailors of various nationalities having settled 
down from time to time, intermarrying with native women, 
and their descendants still bear unmistakable traces of Con- 
tinental origin in their features, &c. In Fowey, several families 
of the name of Vargo exist, and those claim descent from a 
shipwrecked mariner of the ill-fated Spanish Armada. 
Living is fairly cheap, and if one resided permanently there, 
a much smaller income would suffice to keep things going than 
is required in Edinburgh. Visitors, however, as is almost uni- 
versally the case, have to pay more than residents for house 
accommodation and food, while house rent is high; but even 
at the enhanced prices, provisions are much less than at home, 
