294 LIFE OF AUDUBON. 



season, when the whole of her children would again perform 

 many beautiful airs, for in fact anybody could use it with ease, 

 as when she or the children felt fatigued the servant played on 

 it for them. Eather surprised at the extraordinary powers of 

 this family of musicians, I asked what sort of an instrument it 

 was, when she described it as follows : ' Gentlemen, my instru- 

 ment is large, longer than broad, and stands on four legs like a 

 table ; at one end is a crooked handle, by turning which round 

 either fast or slow I do assure you we make excellent music' 

 The lips of my young friends and companions instantly curled, 

 but a glance from me as instantly recomposed their features. 

 Telling the fair one it must be a hand-organ she used, she 

 laughingly said, ' Oh, that is it, it is a hand-organ, but I had for- 

 gotten the name, and for the life of me could not recollect it.' 

 The husband had gone out to work, and was in the harbour 

 caulking an old schooner. He dined with me on board the 

 Kipley, and proved to be an excellent fellow. Like his brother- 

 in-law, he had seen much of the world, having sailed nearly 

 round it ; and although no scholar, like him, too, he was disgusted 

 with it. He held his land on the same footing as his neighbours, 

 caught seals without number, lived comfortably and happily, 

 visited his father-in-law and the scholar by the aid of his dogs, 

 of which he kept a great pack, bartered or sold his commodities 

 as his relations did, and cared about nothing else in the world. 

 Whenever the weather was fair he walked with his dame over 

 the snow-covered rocks of the neighbourhood, and during winter 

 killed ptarmigans and caraboos, while his eldest son attended 

 to the traps and skinned the animals caught by them. He had 

 the only horse that was to be found in that part of the country, 

 as well as several cows ; but, above all, he was kind to every one, 

 and every one spoke well of him. The only disagreeable thing 

 about the plantation or settlement was a heap of fifteen hundred 

 carcasses of skinned seals, which at the time when we visited 

 the place, in the month of August, notwithstanding the coolness 

 of the atmosphere, sent forth a stench that, according to the idea 

 of some naturalists, might have suf&ced to attract all the vultures 

 in the United States. During our stay at Bras-d'or the kind- 

 hearted and good Mrs. daily sent us fresh milk and butter, 



for which we were denied the pleasure of making any return." 



