554 saiPWRECK OF THE MEDUSA, 
cumference. After having finished our humhle repast under 
the, umbrage of that wonderful tree, my father would go and 
amuse himself with the chase; my sister Caroline and my- 
self went to search for rare plants to assist our studies in 
botany ; whilst the children hunted butterflies and other in- 
sects. Charles, the eldest of the boys, swam like a fish ; and 
when my father shot a duck or aigreite upon the water, he 
would instantly throw himself in and fetch the game. At 
other times he would climb the top of the trees to rob the 
birds, QT bury himself in the midst of bushes to gather the 
fruits of the countrj^ then run, all breathless and delighted, to 
present us with his discovery. We would remain in the isl- 
and till nearly four in the afternoon, then return to our boat, 
and our negi'oes rowed us to our island. 
During the time of the greatest heats, for we could not 
long endure the rays of the sun, we passed a part of the Sun- 
day under a very bushy tamarind tree, which stood at a little 
distance from our cottage. Thus, in the good times, did the 
lords, barons, and marquises gather themselves under the old 
elms of the village, to discuss the concerns of their vassals^ 
in like manner did my father collect us under the tamarind 
tree, to regulate the afiairs of his republic, and also to enjoy 
the landscapes which our island afibrded. We sometimes 
took our meals there, and on those occasions the ground serv- 
ed us at once for table, table-cloth, and seat. The children 
gamboled on the grass, and played a thousand tricks to amuse 
ms. We now began to discover that ever}^ condition of life 
has its own peculiar enjoyments. If the labors of the week 
seemed long and laborious, the Sabbath recompensed us by 
our country recreations. Vv^e lived thus for some time in the 
greatest tranquillity. Shut up in a desert island from ajl so- 
ciety, we ventured to think we had discovered the condition 
of real happiness. 
Every Wednesday we sent two negroes to the village of 
Gandiolle, to purchase provisions, such as butter, milk, eggs, 
&c. One day, however, my father resolved to purchase a 
cow and thirty fowls, that we might have in our island all the 
little necessaries used by a family. Our poultry yard being 
thus augmented, we looked upon ourselves as great as the 
richest princes in Africa ; and in truth, since we had a cot- 
tage, milk, butter, eggs, maize, millet, cotton, tranquillity and 
health, what more was necessary to our comfort ? 
Whilst we were thus enjoying, in peace, our little good for- 
tone, my father received a letter desiring him to repair to Se- 
