132 FRESH PROVISIONS. 



CHAPTER IX. 



Dinner off fresh meat — Credit and shiftlessness — A Labrador snowstorm — 

 Wind — Preparing for storm — Storming hard — Firewood — Storm in- 

 creases — Sleepless night — Another day of it — A grand sight — Vio- 

 lence of wind and wave — Destruction of stage — Calmer weather — 

 Beautiful ice scene — End of storm — Thanksgiving Day — Komatiks 

 and rackets. 



Saturday, November 13. W^e went to Bonne Esperance partly 

 with the intention of staying and visiting, and partly to mail our 

 letters which of course we found were too late, and consequently 

 obliged to remain over until next spring. Encouraging prospect ! 

 We had for dinner a piece of fresh pork which the shipwrecked crew 

 of the Edward Cardwell had presented to Mr. Whiteley. It tasted 

 very nice, especially as we had been living on salt pork in a log 

 cabin for a month past. Pork is with me at no time a favorite dish, 

 and it is only a luxury when nothing better has been afforded for a 

 month or two previous. The following Sunday was spent in doors, 

 in reading and in pleasant conversation with this most agreeable 

 family. 



Monday it came off clear and cold. I had a chance to observe 

 the island quite closely. Mr. Whiteley has greatly improved it since 

 my visit in 1875. He now has a httle shop or store, and sells a 

 great many things to the people. Of course he only attempts to keep 

 in stock those things absolutely needed by the people for food and 

 clothing. One is obliged to give so much credit here that it 

 hardly pays to keep anything, much less an assortment of useless 

 articles to please the fancy of some wordly-minded maid or fellow. 

 A very few send to Quebec every year and purchase a few articles 

 of gorgeous colors, and display a dress disproportionate to their 



