STRENGTH AND ACTIVITY. 155 
described by Admiral Beecliey, as he observed 
them in 1825, do not seem to be diminished at 
the present day. The Lieutenant Belcher, men- 
tioned in the subjoined extract, is now Captain 
Sir E. Belcher, C.B. 
" 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. Quintal, at another time, car- 
ried a boat, twenty-eight feet in length. Their 
activity on land has been already mentioned. 
1 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 
spite of the warning given by his friend, that he 
was unequal to the task. They, however, com- 
menced the perilous descent ; but Mr. Belcher 
was obliged to confess his inability to proceed, 
whilst his companion, perfectly assured of his 
own footing, offered him his hand, and said he 
would conduct him to the bottom, if he would 
depend on him for safety. In the water they 
are almost as much at home as on land, and can 
remain nearly a whole day in the sea. They 
frequently swam round their little island. When 
the sea beat heavily on the island, they have 
plunged into ,the breakers/ and swum to sea 
beyond them. This they sometimes did, push- 
ing a barrel of water before them, when it could 
