198 THE ISLAND OF NANTUCKET. 



capture. Even if a large supply had been brought 

 here, few persons would have been able to purchase, 

 from the fact that there was no money. The people, 

 however, suffered much more for the want of bread 

 than fuel, finding various substitutes for the latter; 

 peat being one of them, of which there was an abun- 

 dance and it made excellent firing. The shrub-oaks also 

 were dug up, and with their roots made another substi- 

 tute. Many persons cut brush in the swamps, or went 

 up harbor to Coskata and procured large quantities of 

 oak, cedar, and juniper. 



A few figures in relation to the property of the 

 island at this time (1778) are here given, for which the 

 compiler is again indebted to Macy's History: — 



" The dwelling-houses, barns, and other buildings 

 not hereafter specially mentioned, with all yards, gar- 

 dens, and passageways to the same belonging," num- 

 bered 604, the total value of which was £35,633 5s. 

 The value of the " upland, mowing, orcharding, and 

 tillage land" was £14,688; f)f salt and fresh meadows, 

 £4,050; of pasture land, £55,840; of woodland and 

 unimproved land, £4,338. The wharves were valued 

 at £1,708 2s. 4r2. They had u money at interest and 

 on hand more than they are indebted " £11,222 16s. 8cZ., 

 and " debts due not on interest more than they are 

 indebted " £3,732 10s. Their " goods, wares, merchan- 

 dises, and stock in trade " amounted to £8,257 8s. 

 And the valuation of u vessels of all sorts with their 

 stores, and the true value thereof, whether at home or 

 abroad," was £12,860 8s. They had also 1,780 ounces 

 of plate and 270 horses, valued together at £4,860; also 

 54 oxen, 540 cows, 155 steers, 9,938 sheep and goats, 299 



