AUCTIONS. 23 



Upton, and Mrs. Priscilla Wyer. Mrs. David Joy 

 presented to the library a complete set of Audubon's 

 " Birds of America," with a handsome cabinet for 

 their preservation; a valuable donation and an orna- 

 ment to the room. 



Miss Sarah F. Barnard, Librarian; Joseph S. Swain,* 

 -Custodian of Museum. 



Auctions. 



Auctions are by no means peculiar to Nantucket; 

 yet it is probable that more auctions are held here, 

 and are better attended, than in any other place in the 

 Union. One would suppose that the merchants of 

 the town were in a state of perpetual bankruptcy, from 

 the number of red flags continually displayed. 



There are customs connected with these auctions 

 which are really peculiar to the island. To meet, after 

 an auction, ten or a dozen well-dressed men, each 

 bearing in his hand, on a sharp stick called a skewer, 

 and held straight out before him, a leg of mutton, a 

 huge round of beef or pork, or a chicken, is to the 

 eye of the uninitiated a novel sight. 



The several meat markets have each week an auc- 

 tion of their surplus stock in front of their places of 

 business. The meats are arranged in lots upon long 

 tables, each lot being pierced by a " skewer " to which 

 is attached a number. A* few hours previous to an 

 auction, a crier is sent around the town to announce 

 it; he propels himself through the streets as if shot 



* Mr. Swain is also the janitor of the building, and applica- 

 tions for renting the hall should be made to him. 



