[ 59 ] 
find, had fuflained fome damage, and it 
was this : there were cracks in many 
places between the boards of the building, 
which freely admitted the air. This in- 
conveniency was however eafily reme- 
died, as they had an axe, and the beams 
were flill found (for wood in thofe cold 
climates continues through a length of 
years unimpaired by worms or decay) fo 
it was eafy for them to make the boards 
join again very tolerably ; befides, mofs 
growing in great abundance all over the 
iiland, there was more than fufficient to 
ftop up the crevices, which wooden 
honfes muft always be liable to. Repairs 
of this kind coil the unhappy men the lefs 
rrouble, a? they were Ruffians ; for all 
Ruffian peafants are known to be good 
carpenters: they build their own houfes, 
and are very expert in handling the axe. 
The intenfe cold, which makes thofe 
climates habitable to fo few fpecies of 
animals, renders them equally vnU: for 
. ? production of vegetables. No fpecies 
J 2 
01 
