EPISODES 415 



teen miles that morning, we helped ourselves in a manner 

 that seemed satisfactory to all parties. Our host gave us 

 newspapers from different parts of the world, and showed 

 us his small, but choice collection of books. He inquired 

 after the health of the amiable Captain Bayfield of the 

 Royal Navy, and the officers under him, and hoped they 

 would give him a call. 



Having refreshed ourselves, we walked out with him, 

 when he pointed to a very small garden, where a few vege- 

 tables sprouted out, anxious to see the sun. Gazing on 

 the desolate country around, I asked him how he had thus 

 secluded himself from the world. For it he had no relish, 

 and although he had received a liberal education, and had 

 mixed with society, he never intended to return to it. 

 "The country around," said he, "is all my own, much 

 farther than you can see. No fees, no lawyers, no taxes 

 are here. I do pretty much as I choose. My means are 

 ample through my own industry. These vessels come 

 here for Seal-skins, Seal-oil, and salmon, and give me in 

 return all the necessaries, and indeed comforts, of the life 

 I love to follow; and what else could the world afford 

 me ? " I spoke of the education of his children. " My 

 wife and I teach them all that is useful for them to know, 

 and is not that enough ? My girls will marry their coun- 

 trymen, my sons the daughters of my neighbors, and I 

 • hop.e all of them will live and die in the country!" I 

 said no more, but by way of compensation for the trouble 

 I had given him, purchased from his eldest child a beau- 

 tiful Fox's skin. 



Few birds, he said, came round him in summer, but in 

 winter thousands of Ptarmigans were killed, as well as 

 great numbers of Gulls. He had a great dislike to all 

 fishermen and eggers, and I really believe was always 

 glad to see the departure even of the hardy navigators 

 who annually visited him for the sake of his salmon. Seal- 

 skins, and oil. He had more than forty Esquimaux 



