82 FOOD. 



which, although presented by her individually, were 

 of course understood to be from her husband and 

 son also. 



Our friends were distributed between the cabin and 

 gun-room, and supplied with refreshment ; but only 

 a few of our edibles were relished by them, the 

 preserved meats in particular being held in very light 

 estimation generally, a few natives only, who per- 

 severed in eating them, gaining an acquired taste for 

 their flavour. I think that the spices employed in their 

 preparation were especially disagreeable to the native 

 palate. On one occasion, 1 remember a number of 

 young men, " just arrived from the country," rejecting 

 with disgust a large tin of delicious beef, which had 

 not been bestowed upon them without murmm^s of 

 dissatisfaction, and only because there was an absolute 

 necessity to provide them with food. As they would 

 not eat this, we had nothing left but some blubber 

 which had been pm'chased for the dogs and for oil ; 

 this was ofiered them as a dernier resort, but our 

 fears for its favourable reception might have been 

 spared ; it was devoiu-ed with the greatest avidity. 

 Of all our stores, those most preferred were biscuit, 

 sugar, raisins, or indeed anything sweet, and also 

 almonds, of which we had a quantity in our private 

 stock. The passion for sugar was general ; great and 



