NELLIS SETTLEMENT. 151 



of mutton, the fragment of a joint which had been prepared 

 for us three days before, and now produced to show we would 

 have fared better had we kept our appointment. I had made 

 up my mind to try if there was flesh on the bone, which could 

 not be ascertained without using a knife, but unfortunately a 

 large dog scampered off with the relick before our eyes. Mr 



W at this time was in the kitchen, infusing tea, and, 



when informed of the catastrophe, promised to reward with a 

 swing in a rope the poor dog, which had no master, and had 

 taken up its quarters with him a day or two before. A con 

 sultation was held about obtaining a substitute for the bone, 

 when two of us went in quest of hen-eggs, a nest of which 

 was found in the barn, containing a great supply. On search 

 ing for the means of cooking them, we could only find a boiler 

 with a hole in the side, which seemed to serve for general 

 use. Into this vessel part of the eggs were put, but it was 

 impracticable to make the water boil, as it would have escaped 

 through the hole. On removing them, they were found suffi 

 ciently done, and formed an excellent repast in connexion 

 with the best wheaten bread I ever met with, and which had 

 been baked by the lady of the former proprietor. 



I have noticed these particulars in Mr W s household, 



from being amongst the first real Backwood scenes we had met 

 with, and which his kindness and good-humour would have ren 

 dered agreeable under any circumstances. He had been ac 

 customed to move in the best society in Edinburgh, and the 

 facility with which he accommodated himself to his altered 

 situation, was deserving of praise. It has been said, the cir 

 cumstances of his household were temporary ; and I have since 

 learned he soon afterwards married a young lady, whom I 

 saw on the banks of the Grand River, and trust he now enjoys 

 that degree of happiness he so well merits, and which I sin 

 cerely wish him. 



In the forenoon of the day after our arrival, Mr W 



rlrove my two friends, C and S , down the banks of 



the river, I riding on horseback, in company with Mr W. 



N . The banks form what is called the Reserve of the 



Six Nations, which extends from the mouth of the river on 

 Lake Erie to Brantford, a distance of about fifty miles, and 



