CHAP. x. EDWARD A REFEREE. 193 



Being unable to purchase presses for his plants, 

 he used heavy flat stones, and boxes filled with gravel 

 and dry sand. These answered very well, and were 

 all the presses he ever had. 



After his first exhibition at Banff, Edward became 

 a general referee as to all natural and unnatural 

 objects found in the district. People of all sorts 

 brought "things" to him, to ascertain what they were. 

 Sometimes they were rare objects, sometimes they 

 were monstrosities. His decision did not always 

 satisfy the inquirers ; and then they sent the objects 

 to some other person, who, they thought, knew better. 

 They always found, however, that Edward had been 

 right in his decisions. When he knew with certainty, 

 he gave his opinion. When he did not know the 

 object, he said he could not give an opinion. And 

 this was, doubtless, the best course to adopt. 



Several of his friends told him that he ought to 

 extend his investigations into Aberdeen, and even into 

 Elgin. They did not offer to help him, but they 

 advised him to go. He had now eight of a family, 

 and his wages, allowing for extra work, only amounted 

 to about fifteen or sixteen shillings a week. To range 

 the counties of Aberdeen, Banff, and Elgin, in search 

 of objects in Natural History, while he was maintain- 

 ing his family on such slender wages, was therefore 

 an altogether impossible task. 



His wife was his best helper. She bound all his 

 upper leathers, and also the upper leathers of several of 



o 



