Account of a Voyage to Spltjhergen. ii'f 



the Harbour of the Fat Borough. We had above fix miles 

 to walk to the northward, and were very- much fatigued on 

 account of the unevennefs of the ground and the heat, when 

 we difcovered the hut of the Ruffians at a diftance. They 

 perceived our approach, and fcnt two or three people to meet 

 and welcome us. 



The common men made a ftrange appearance ; they ^ 

 looked ver)' much like fome Jews in Rag Fair or Rofemary- 

 Lane : they wore long beards, fur caps on their heads, brown 

 ftieep-fkin jackets with the wool outfide, boots, and long 

 knives at their fides by way of hangers. When we arrived 

 at the hut, we were prefented to the caravelfk or commander, 

 and to the furgeon, who both received us very politely, and 

 invited us into the houfe, where we fat down to reft and re- 

 frefh ourfelves. Our people were introduced to their people 

 in an outer room, and were entertained with meat and 

 brandy. It happened fortunately that the furgeon was a Ger- 

 man, a native of Berlin, of the name of Iderich Pochenthal, 

 confequently I could converfe with him ; and we both afted 

 as interpreters between his and our commander. 



Captain Souter began with offering to the RuflTian com- 

 mander, (who was alfo drcfiTcd in furs, only of a finer fort, 

 and wore his beard and whifkers like the common men,) 

 the keg of gunpowder and half a dozen of good table knives 

 and forks : the RufiTian captain accepted them with a great 

 deal of joy, and made us a prefent in return, confifting of 

 half a dozen of white fox (kins, two brown loaves of rye 

 bread, fix fmoked rcin-dcer tongiies, and two rib-pieces of 

 fmoked deer, for which we kindly thanked him. They 

 turned out to be moft excellent eating, and of a finer flavour 

 than any Englifli fmoked tongues, or hung beef. 



We placed our wine on the table, our bread and cheefe, 

 and the Ruffian captain ordered boiled fmoked rein-deer 

 tongues, new rye bread, and good brandy and water to be 

 brought in. We all made a hearty, fociablc meal; the 

 tongues, and the r}'e bread, which was new and favory, were 

 L 2 a rarity 



