196 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



"vegetarianism." But a priori conclusions force no path- 

 Avay tlirougli facts ; and the stern and startling fact early 

 obtruded itself on me, that of all things meat is one of the 

 most unattainable in these parts. Do not imagine that by 

 " meat " I euphuistically indicate prime parts, and quick 

 varieties ; no, I mean meat of any kind, vdthout epicurean 

 distinctions. Beef is obtainable — by forethought and stra- 

 tagem ; but mutton is a myth. A vision of veal floats with 

 aerial indistinctness through the Scillian mind. Poultry, 

 too, may be had — at Penzance ; and fish — when the weather 

 is calm, which it never is at this season ; and when the one 

 solitary fisherman adventurously takes out his line — which 

 he seldom does. But market there is none. Twice a-week 

 a vegetable cart from " the country " (which means a mile 

 and half distance) slowly traverses the town, and if you like 

 to gather round it, as the cats and dogs do round the London 

 cats'-meat-man, you may stock youi-self with vegetables for 

 three days. The inhabitants, of course, know how to arrange 

 matters for themselves, although it was evident that my 

 landlady regarded the wish of dining daily, and if possible 

 on meat, as rather a metropolitan weakness, which was to 

 be politely allowed for. The other day I should have gone 

 meatless, but for a certain astuteness of forethought, met 

 by a yielding benevolence on the part of the captain's wife. 

 Meat was not to be had for love or money, especially love. 

 The " country " had been scoured for a fowl — 



" But no such animal the meadows cropp'd." 



I saw myself midway in the dilemma of going impransus, 

 or of cooking my Actiniaj with what appetite I could— an 



