76 LUNDY ISLAND. 



all kinds of culinary vegetables were raised in great 

 abundance ; the fields were well stocked with cattle, 

 sheep, and goats ; a brisk trade was carried on in the 

 skins of rabbits, which then, as now, perforated the 

 barren slopes by myriads ; and the resources of the 

 inhabitants were increased by the sale of feathers and 

 eggs, the produce of the sea-fowl winch every summer 

 tenanted their cliffs. 



Confiding in the natural strength of their insular 

 rock, the inhabitants dwelt in unsuspecting security, 

 notwithstanding the war that raged abroad. One day 

 an armed ship was seen to anchor in the roads. She 

 hoisted the national flag of Holland, with which coun- 

 try England was at that time in amity, and presently 

 a boat was seen to leave her side and pull for the 

 landing. The crew, in imperfect English, contrived 

 to make themselves understood. They stated that 

 they had mistaken the proper channel, and had taken 

 shelter in the road ; that their captain was lying grie- 

 vously ih 1 , and that supplies of milk, and other little 

 luxuries of that kind, would be a desirable addition to 

 his comfort, and would be gratefully received. The 

 simple people believed the story, and readily granted 

 such supplies as were desired, which were regularly 

 fetched for several days in succession. At length the 

 crew reported that their captain was dead, and they 

 requested, as the last favour, that if there were any 

 church or consecrated ground on the island, they 

 might be permitted to deposit the corpse in it ; and 

 they intimated also, that it would be an additional 



