142 STRENGTH AND ACTIVITY. 
This is the period for the people to indulge, be- 
yond their usual custom, in animal food. 
There are three burial-places on the island. 
The funerals are always attended by every 
member of the community, who is able to go 
out of doors, even if the deceased should be but 
an infant. 
The children are early instructed in swim- 
ming; and many of their sports are in the water. 
They also learn to thread the difficult passes of 
the rocks like so many young goats. The per- 
sonal strength and activity of the men, which are 
described by Captain Beechey, as he observed 
them in 1825, do not seem to be diminished at 
the present day. Lieutenant Belcher, mentioned 
in the subjoined extract, is now Captain Sir Ed- 
ward Belcher, C.B., who has gone out in H.M.S. 
Assistance, to the North Seas, in search of the 
missing crews of the gallant and enterprising 
Sir John Franklin. 
" Two of the strongest men on the island, 
George Young, and Edward Quintal!, have 
each carried at one time, without inconvenience, 
a kedge anchor, two sledge hammers, and an 
armourer's anvil, amounting to upwards of six 
hundredweight. Quintall, at another time, car- 
ried a boat, twenty-eight feet in length. Their 
activity on land has been already mentioned. 
I shall merely give another instance, which was 
supplied by Lieut. Belcher, who was admitted 
to be the most active among the officers on 
board, and who did not consider himself behind- 
hand in such exploits. He offered to accompany 
one of the natives down a difficult descent, in 
