THE ARCHIPELAGO OF CHAUSEY. 33 



first touch of cold, these nomadic populations dis- 

 perse. The barilla-collectors are the first to take 

 their departure, soon afterwards the numbers of the 

 quarrymen diminish, and, last of all, the fishermen 

 return to the sandy harbour of Blainville, when the 

 islands are again left to the exclusive possession of 

 the farming community, and of two or three families 

 of stone-cutters. 



My arrival in the island produced quite a sensa- 

 tion. On the very first day the whole of the little 

 republic knew that a doctor had come to spend some 

 time amongst them, and before three days had passed 

 my talents had been brought into requisition. Being 

 anxious to visit the western group of islands, I had 

 just crossed to Genetaie, when I heard some one 

 calling to me in a loud voice. I was soon joined by 

 a young man, who, breathless and with tears in his 

 eyes, implored me to come to the aid of his father. 

 1 returned in haste, and found that it was quite time 

 that I should do so. Not being sufficiently acquainted 

 with the course of the tides, I had set out too late, 

 and the tide having turned, the sea had already 

 covered the sand-banks which a short time before 

 1 had crossed without wetting my feet. Ten minutes 

 more would have sufficed to shut off all means of re- 

 turn, and I should have been obliged to sleep in the 

 open air, if it had not been for the accident which 

 had happened to the poor bargeman. The serious 

 nature of the occurrence had not been exaggerated. 

 His finger had been caught by the rope of the cap- 

 stan, whilst he was shipping a piece of stone of several 

 thousand pounds' weight, and the joint was exposed 



VOL. I. D 



