284 BERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



the old country, and can make the trees take the 

 precise direction they choose in falling. 



'* We are much better off than most people 

 are on first settling in the woods. There are some 

 families here, who for the first six months had no 

 food of any kind, except salt pork, for breakfast, 

 dinner and supper, and without even bread ; but 

 we have good bread and peas, and sometimes 

 turnips, with excellent milk. We brought barley 

 and rice with us ; and the arrow-root that you 

 gave me is a great comfort to the children ; I 

 never saw three more healthy creatures. 



" May 2nd. Last week we were busily en- 

 gaged in burning the fallen trees, which covered 

 the surface of the ground that we had cleared. 



" The branches were first piled up and burned ; 

 then the great stems, which had been cut into 

 pieces about twelve feet long, were drawn toge- 

 ther by the oxen, and with much labour raised 

 into piles, and set on fire. This was a very dan- 

 gerous operation, for some of them were very 

 near our wooden house ; and the whole surface 

 of the ground is combustible, as for several inches 

 deep it is composed of leaves and bark, and 

 looks like a bed of peat earth. When this takes 

 fire the flames rapidly spread, and are very diffi- 

 cult to extinguish ; but we are now safe. 



* e The Indians sometimes walk into our house; 

 but they are harmless and inoffensive, and ask 



