PRIMITIVE STATE OF COMMERCE. 195 



It is only on making inquiries in the (lirection of commerce 

 that the mind gets ftimiliarised witli the consequences of the 

 remoteness of these islands. Then it is seen that, as far as 

 civilisation is represented by shopkeeping, Scilly is at present 

 in an embryonic condition. To speak physiologically, there 

 is but slight differentiation of function in the Scillian com- 

 mercial tissue. Just as in the simpler organisms we see one 

 part of the body imdertaking several functions which in more 

 complex organisms devolve upon separate parts, so here we 

 perceive the same smiling individual weighing out butter 

 and measuring yards of muslin, proposing the new cut of a 

 cheese to your discriminating taste, or the new style of 

 bonnet to your instincts of fashion ; sarsenet ribbons are 

 flanked by mixed pickles, and the pickles thrown into relief 

 by loaves. If you are troubled with a raging tooth, you 

 must apply to the postmaster for his gentle services ; whether 

 he pimches it out with the letter-stamp, or employs more 

 elaborate instruments, I know not. This want of differen- 

 tiation is, however, but a slight obstacle, especially to me, 

 who am not likely to array myself in sarsenet, and don't 

 buy bonnets. Far otherwise is the imperfection there where 

 it could least have been expected, least endured — in the 

 meat and market departments. It is prol)able, on zoological 

 grounds, that the Scillians, being carnivorously organised, 

 would eat meat with gusto could they get it. Nay, as there 

 are several well-to-do people residing here, some shipowners 

 and shipbuilders, and as there are no poor, it would, on a 

 priori grounds, be assumed that meat was freely assimilated 

 by the Scillians, they not having fallen into the fallacy of 



