CHAPTER III. 



PENIKESE- AND AGASSIZ. 



Supper time at last, our second, though real- 

 ly our first, meal at Penikese. The cooks had come 

 to the island in the same steamer that we ourselves 

 had arrived in, and were hardly yet fully established 

 in their new quarters, one could hardly expect 

 everything to be perfected at once. It was no easy 

 task, that of opening and arranging boxes, bags, and 

 barrels, and sorting and storing their contents. Then 

 preparing the food for the* table, with the limited 

 supply of culinary articles yet at their disposal, 

 would have taxed the patience of much more angelic 

 individuals than those same "colored brethren" were 

 supposed to be; but the supper, like the dinner, was 

 on time, as was everything that Professor Agassiz 

 superintended. 



There is a trite old Latin adage, that reads, 

 "Fames bene condimentum est," better known as 

 "hunger is the best sauce " and I do not believe that 

 there was one amongst us that night who did not 

 fully enjoy all that had been provided for the occas- 

 ion, notwithstanding the difficulties under which it 

 had been prepared. 



After supper "the school" scattered about the 

 island in every direction, singly or in groups which 

 were all soon lost sight of behind the hillocks and 

 surrounding rocks. As to many the position and 

 general appearance of Penikese may be unfamiliar, I 

 will try to give you a glimpse, though a very imper- 



