CHAPTER IX.

_Change of abode._

As soon as we were all up and had breakfasted, the next morning,
I assembled all the members of my family together, to take with
them a solemn farewell of this our first place of reception from
the horrible disaster of the shipwreck. I confess that for my
own part I could not leave it without much regret; it was a place
of greater safety than we were likely again to meet with; it
was also nearer to the vessel: but it was sufficient for me to
know that the kind and faithful companion of my misfortunes had
conceived an unalterable distaste for it, to incline me to yield
my own opinion and my wishes. I should indeed consider myself
unworthy of such a partner, if I could have felt hesitation in
a point of so much interest to her feelings. I thought it right
to represent strongly to my sons, particularly to the youngest,
the danger of exposing themselves as they had done the evening
before, along the river. We are now going, continued I, to inhabit
an unknown country, which is not so well protected by nature
as that we are leaving; we are unacquainted both with the soil
and its inhabitants, whether human creatures or beasts; it is
therefore necessary to use the utmost caution, to make it a rule
never to remain separate from each other; particularly you young
ones must take care not to run on before, or stay too far behind.
This you must promise, my boys. Having unburdened my mind of
this necessary charge, we prepared for setting out. I directed
my sons to assemble our whole flock of animals, and to leave
the ass and the cow to me, that I might load them with the sacks
as before concerted; I had filled these at the two ends, and
made a slit longways in the middle of each of them, and to each
side of the slits I tied several long pieces of cord, which crossing
each other and being again brought round and fastened, served
to hold the sacks firmly on the back of the animal. We next began
to put together all the things we should stand most in need of, for
the two or three first days, in our new abode; working implements,
kitchen utensils, the captain’s service of plate, and a small
provision of butter, &c. &c. I put these articles into the two
ends of each sack, taking care that the sides should be equally
heavy, and then fastened them on. I next added our hammocks and
other coverings to complete the load, and we were about to begin
our march when my wife stopped me. I cannot prevail upon myself, said
she, to leave our fowls behind us to pass the night by themselves;
for I fear they would infallibly become the prey of the jackalls.
We must, somehow or other, contrive a place for them among the
luggage, and also one for our little Francis, who cannot walk
so far, and on that account would not fail to interrupt our speed.
There is also my enchanted bag, which I recommend to your particular
care, said she, smiling, for who can tell what may yet pop out
of it for your good pleasure!

Women, for their part, never fail to have more things to carry
than there are places to put them in, said I, also laughing:
however, let us see how handsomely I shall be able to provide
for what belongs to you, my love. Fortunately, I had already
thought of making the ass’s load as light as possible, foreseeing
that it would be necessary he should carry our little one a part
of the way. I now accordingly placed the child upon his back,
fixing the enchanted bag in such a way as to support him, and
I tied them together upon the ass with so many cords, that the
animal might even have galloped without any danger of his falling
off.

In the mean while, the other boys had been running after the
cocks and hens and the pigeons, but had not succeeded in catching
one of them; so they returned empty-handed and in ill-humour.
Little blockheads! said their mother, see how you have heated
yourselves in running after these untractable creatures! I could
have put you in a way to catch them in a moment; come along with
me, and see.—Yes, yes, you may think so, mother, said Jack, a
little sulky, but I will give you leave to roast me in the place
of the first fowl that you shall be able to catch. Poor Jack,
said she laughing, you will then soon be on the spit, I can tell
you; which would really be a pity, considering what better things
we might do with you; though, to say the truth, you have not
shown that you have more brains than a goose, in thinking to
catch the animals by running after them in this manner. She now
stepped into the tent, and brought out two handfuls of peas and
oats, and by pronouncing a few words of invitation in the accustomed
tone, the birds all flocked round her in a moment. She then walked
slowly before them, dropping the grain all the way, till they
had followed her into the tent. When she perceived that they
were all in the inside, and busily employed in picking up the
grain, she shut the entrance, and caught one after the other
without the smallest difficulty. The boys looked at each other
half-ashamed, though much amused with the adventure. Grant me
a reprieve from the spit, mother, cried Jack, and I will do all
I can to help you in securing your prisoners. Accordingly, he
set himself to work, and had soon caught the whole. They were
then tied by the feet and wings, put into a basket covered with
a net, and placed in triumph on the top of our luggage. Ernest
suggested the placing two bent sticks arch-ways across the basket,
and throwing a blanket over it, that the want of light might
incline them to repose; for, with the clatter they made, it was
impossible to hear each other speak.

We packed up every thing we were obliged to leave, and placed
it in the tent, which we carefully closed, and, for greater security,
fastened down the ends of the sail-cloth at the entrance, by driving
stakes through them into the ground. We ranged a number of vessels,
both full and empty, round the tent, to serve as a rampart, and
thus we confided to the protection of heaven our remaining treasures.
At length we set ourselves in motion: each of us, great and small,
carried a gun upon his shoulder, and a game bag at his back.
Children are always fond of a change of place; ours were full
of joy and good-humour; nor was their mother less affected with
the same cause; she walked before with her eldest son, the cow
and the ass immediately behind them; the goat conducted by Jack
came next; the little monkey was seated on the back of his nurse, and
made a thousand grimaces. After the goats, came Ernest, conducting
the sheep, while I, in my capacity of general superintendant,
followed behind and brought up the rear; the dogs for the most
part paraded backwards and forwards, thus seeming to play the
part of adjutants. Our march was slow, and there was something
solemn and patriarchal in the spectacle we exhibited; I fancied we
must resemble our forefathers journeying in the deserts, accompanied
by their families and their possessions. Now then, Fritz, cried
I, you have the specimen you wished for of the patriarchal mode
of life; what do you think of it? I like it much, father, replied
he: I never read the Bible without wishing I had lived in those
good times.

And I too, said Ernest, I am quite delighted with it, I cannot
help fancying myself not merely a patriarch but a Tartar, or
an Arab, and that we are about to discover I know not how many
new and extraordinary things. Is it not true, father, that the
Tartars and the Arabs pass their lives in journeying from one
place to another, and carrying all they have about them?

It is certainly for the most part true, Ernest, replied I, and
they are denominated wandering tribes; but they generally perform
their journeys attended by horses and camels, by means of which
they can proceed a little faster, than if, like us, they had
only an ass and a cow. For my part, I should not be sorry if
I were quite sure that the pilgrimage we are now making, would
be our last.

And I too am of your way of thinking, cried my wife, and I hope
that in our new abode we shall be so well satisfied with the
shade of such luxuriant trees, that we shall not be inclined
to rove. Let us, however, think as little as possible of the
fatigue which seems to be our lot today, since tomorrow you will
all be ready to thank me for having been the occasion of it.

Be assured, my dear, said I, that we have adopted your plans,
and endure the fatigue they occasion, with cheerfulness, and
that one and all, are already grateful to you for their future
happiness; which happiness will be still increased by the reflection,
that to your kind and anxious exertions it has been that we are
indebted for it.

We had now reached our bridge, and advanced half way across it,
when the sow for the first time took the fancy of joining us,
and, by the uncouth and listless figure she made, contributed
to the pictorial effect of our procession. At the moment of our
departure, she had shown herself so restive and indocile, that
we had been compelled to leave her behind us; but when she saw
that we had all left the place, she set out voluntarily to overtake
us: but she took care to apprize us, by her continual grunting,
that she disapproved of our migration.

On the other side of the river, we experienced an inconvenience
wholly unexpected. The nutritious aspect of the grass, which
grew here in profusion, was too strong a temptation for our animals,
who, unable to resist, strayed from us in every direction to
feed voluptuously upon it; so that, without the assistance of
our dogs, we should not have been able to bring them back to
the line of our procession. These active creatures were of great
use to us on this occasion, and when every thing was restored
to proper order, we were able to continue our journey. For fear
however of a similar occurrence, I directed our march to the
left, along the sea side, where there was not a sufficient quantity
of grass to attract them.

But scarcely had we advanced a few steps on the sands, when our
two dogs, which had stayed behind among the grass, set up a loud
barking, mixt at intervals with howling, as if they had been
wounded, or were engaged in an encounter with some formidable
animal. Fritz in an instant lifted his gun to his cheek, and
was ready to fire; Ernest, always somewhat timid, drew back to
his mother’s side; Jack ran bravely after Fritz with his gun
upon his shoulder; while I, fearing the dogs might be attacked
by some dangerous wild beast, prepared myself to run to their
assistance. But youth is always full of ardour; and in spite
of all my exhortations that they would advance with caution,
my boys, eager for the event, made but three jumps to the place
from which the noise proceeded. In an instant Jack had turned
to meet me, clapping his hands and calling out, Come quickly,
father, come quickly, here is a monstrous porcupine!

I soon reached the spot, and perceived that it was really as
they said, bating a little exaggeration. The dogs were running
to and fro with bloody noses, about the animal; and when they
approached too near him, he made a frightful noise, and darted
his quills so suddenly at them, that a great number had penetrated
the skins of our valiant dogs, and remained sticking in them;
and it was no doubt the pain they occasioned, which made them
howl so violently.

While we were looking on, Jack determined on an attack, which
succeeded marvellously well. He took one of the pistols which
he carried in his belt, and aimed it so exactly at the head of
the porcupine, that he fell dead the instant he fired, and before
we had a notion of what he was about. This success raised Jack
to the height of joy and vanity; while Fritz, on the other hand,
felt a sensation of jealousy almost to shedding tears. Is it
right, Jack, said he, that such a little boy as you, should venture
to fire off a pistol in this manner? How easily might you have
wounded my father or me, or one of the dogs, by so rash an action!
Oh yes, to be sure, and what do you suppose hindered me from
seeing that you were all behind me? Do you think I fired without
taking care of that? Do you take me for an idiot? The porcupine
could tell you about that, brother Fritz, if he could but speak.
My first fire—pop—dead as a herring! This is something like,
brother Fritz, and you would be glad enough to have had such
a chance yourself!

Fritz only replied by a motion of his head. He was out of humour,
because his younger brother had deprived him of the honour of
the day; and he sought a subject of complaint against him, as
the wolf did with the poor little lamb. Come, come, boys, said
I, let me hear no envious speeches and no reproaches; luck for
one to-day, for another to-morrow; but all for the common good.
Jack was, perhaps, a little imprudent, but you must allow that
he showed both skill and courage; let us not therefore tarnish
the glory of his action. We now all got round the extraordinary
animal, on whom nature has bestowed a strong defence, by arming
his body, all over, with long spears. The boys were absolutely
at a loss what means to use for carrying away his carcase. They
thought of dragging it along the ground; but as often as they
attempted to take hold, there was nothing but squalling, and
running to show the marks made by his quills on their hands.
We must leave him behind, said they; but it is a great pity.

Not for an empire, cried Jack, shall he be left there, for my
mother must have a sight of him. In saying this, he tied one
corner of his handkerchief round the neck of the animal, and
drew him by the other to the place where we had left his mother
in care of our possessions, and who had been in great uneasiness
at our long absence.

Here is the monster, mother, said he, armed with his hundred
thousand spears; but I was a match for him, and at one fire too!
His flesh is excellent food; at least papa says so.

Ernest began, with his usual coolness, to examine the animal
minutely. After having looked at him a long while, he said, He
is a most singular animal; his mouth contains the _dentes incisores_,
and his ears and feet are much like those of a man.

Ah! said Jack, if you had seen how he darted out all his quills
against the dogs, and the noise they made, rattling one against
another! He is a most terrible creature; but what of that? I
did not mind going up to him, and I dispatched two or three balls
at his head, and it was over with him in an instant!

He cannot be so terrible an animal, said Ernest, if it was so
easy for a mere child to destroy him. _A mere child!_ replied
Jack, much mortified, and drawing up his head. It was plain that
his conquest had added half a foot to his height, in his own
imagination.

While the boys were disputing, my wife and I had hastened to
relieve the dogs, by drawing out the quills and examining their
wounds. Having done this, we joined the group which surrounded
the porcupine; Jack taking upon him to do the honours, as if
he was showing the animal at a fair. Observe, cried he, what
a terrible creature it is! how long and hard his quills are!
and see what strange feet he has! I am sure he must have run
like a hare: but I killed him for all that! And what a singular
sort of crest he has on his head! Upon my word, I like my day’s
work vastly.

That, said I, is the reason why naturalists call him the crested
porcupine. But now tell me, my young hero, were you not afraid,
in going so near him, that he would dart some of his quills at
you?

_Jack._—Oh no, papa, I knew that the stories about his quills,
were merely fabulous.

_Father._—But you saw that many of them had stuck in the dogs,
and this, surely, was no fable.

_Jack._—That was because the dogs attacked the animal furiously
from behind, thus putting themselves exactly in the way of his
quills, so that it is not extraordinary that they should be wounded
by them; but I took care to attack him in front, in which direction
I knew he would not shoot them, so I had no reason to be afraid.
Is it not also a fable, father, that when they escape the hunter,
they throw their quills as they run, and sometimes kill him with
them?

_Father._—This account is, I believe, in a great measure untrue;
but it is not improbable that it was such an occurrence as we just
now met with, which first gave rise to the notion. An observation
no less singular than true, has been made, that natural history,
whose basis ought to be the strictest truth, has given birth
to more fables than mythology itself. In general, mankind are fond
of the marvellous, and the composed march of nature is uninteresting
to them, from its simple uniformity. They accordingly dress her with
all the singularities and extravagancies of their own imaginations.
But tell me, Jack, what you mean to do with your prize? Are we
to take it with us, or leave it here?

_Jack._—Oh, take it with us, take it with us, father, I entreat,
for you say its flesh is good to eat.

I could not resist his pressing importunity, and I resolved to
lay the porcupine on the back of the ass, behind little Francis,
first having wrapped his bloody head in a quantity of grass,
and then rolled him up in a blanket to protect my boy from his
quills. We now resumed our journey, but had not proceeded far,
when the ass began to kick furiously with his hind legs; tore
himself away from my wife, who was guiding him, and set off full
gallop, braying so loud, as almost to deafen us, and scampering
from side to side in so extraordinary a way, that the boys were
thrown into fits of laughter; in which my wife and I should probably
have joined, if we had not conceived the idea, that the situation
of our little Francis was not quite safe. A sign we made to the
dogs, made them set off like lightning after the deserter, whom
they in a moment overtook, and stopped his way with a tremendous
barking. They would no doubt have attacked him violently, if
we had not ourselves run quickly to the spot, to intimidate them.
We took our boy from the ass’s back, delighted to find that (thanks
to the care I had taken in tying him on securely) he had kept
his seat, and had scarcely even experienced any alarm. But tell
me, Francis, said I jocosely, have you been clapping spurs to
your horse, or what have you done to make him set off on a gallop
in this manner? I no sooner pronounced these words, than suddenly
I recollected the porcupine. I immediately examined if the quills
had not penetrated through the covering in which I wrapped it:
this I found to be the very thing: though I had folded it three
times double, the quills had pierced through all, and produced
the effect of the sharpest spur on the poor animal. I soon found
a remedy for this inconvenience, by placing my wife’s enchanted
bag, which was filled with articles of a nature to be absolutely
impenetrable, between the ass’s back and the dead animal. I now
restored Francis to his place, exhorting him to keep in an upright
posture, and we then resumed our journey.

Fritz had run on before with his gun, hoping he should meet with
some animal of prey. What he most desired, was to find one or
two of those large bustards which his mother had described to
him. We followed him at our leisure, taking care not to expose
our health by unnecessary fatigue; till at last, without further
accident or adventure, we arrived at the place of the giant trees.
Such, indeed, we found them, and our astonishment exceeded all
description. Good heavens! what trees! what a height! what trunks!
I never heard of any so prodigious! exclaimed one and all. Nothing
can be more rational than your admiration, answered I, measuring
them with my eyes as I spoke. I must confess I had not myself
formed an idea of the reality. To you be all the honour, my dear
wife, for the discovery of this agreeable abode, in which we
shall enjoy so many comforts and advantages. The great point
we have to gain, is the fixing a tent large enough to receive
us all, in one of these trees, by which means we shall be perfectly
secure from the invasion of wild beasts. I defy even one of the
bears, who are so famous for mounting trees, to climb up by a
trunk so immense, and so destitute of branches.

We began now to release our animals from their burdens, having
first thrown our own on the grass. We next used the precaution
of tying their two fore legs together with a cord, that they
might not go far away, or lose themselves. We restored the fowls
to liberty; and then, seating ourselves upon the grass, we held
a family council on the subject of our future establishment.
I was myself somewhat uneasy on the question of our safety during
the ensuing night; for I was ignorant of the nature of the extensive
country I beheld around me, and of what chance there might be of
our being attacked by different kinds of wild beasts. I accordingly
observed to my wife, that I would make an endeavour for us all
to sleep in the tree that very night. While I was deliberating
with her on the subject, Fritz, who thought of nothing but his
sporting, and of his desire to take his revenge of the porcupine
adventure, had stolen away to a short distance, and we heard
the report of a gun. This would have alarmed me, if, at the same
moment, we had not recognised Fritz’s voice crying out, I touched
him! I touched him! and in a moment we saw him running towards
us, holding a dead animal of uncommon beauty by the paws. Father,
father, look, here is a superb tiger cat, said he, proudly raising
it in the air, to show it to the best advantage. Bravo! bravo!
cried I; bravo, Nimrod the undaunted! Your achievement will call
forth the unbounded gratitude of our cocks and hens and pigeons,
for you have rendered them what no doubt they will think an important
service. If you had not killed this animal, he would no doubt
have destroyed in the course of one night our whole stock of
poultry. I charge you look about in every direction, and try
to destroy as many of the species as fall in your way, for we
cannot have more dangerous intruders.

_Ernest._—I wish, father, you would be so good as to tell me
why God created wild beasts, since man seems to be appointed
to destroy them?

_Father._—This indeed is a question I cannot answer, and we must
be contented with taking care to arm ourselves against them:
neither can I explain to you, why many other things, which to
us appear to have only injurious qualities, have been created.
With respect to beasts of prey, I am inclined to believe, that
one of the ends of Providence, in giving them existence, is their
embellishing and varying the works of the creation; of maintaining
a necessary equilibrium among creatures endowed with life; and
lastly, to furnish man, who comes naked into the world, with
materials for protecting him from the cold, by the use of their
skins, which become the means of exchange and commerce between
different nations. We may also add, that the care of protecting
himself from the attacks of ferocious animals, invigorates the
physical and moral powers of man, supports his activity, and
renders him inventive and courageous. The ancient Germans, for
example, were rendered robust and valiant warriors, through their
habitual exercises in the field, which enabled them, at a time
of need, to defend their country and their liberty, with as little
difficulty, as they would have experienced in killing a wolf
or a bear.

_Jack._—But what do you say of the insects, which feed on living
human flesh, and who neither contribute their skins for the wants
of man, nor to his health by exciting him to pursue them in the
field? Of what use are such creatures as these?

_Father._—They serve, my son, to exercise his patience, and to
compel him to a constant cleanliness, which contributes to a
perfect state of health. But let us return to the animal Fritz
has killed. Tell me all the particulars of your adventure. How
did you kill him?

_Fritz._—With my pistol, father, as Jack killed the porcupine.

_Father._—Was he on this tree, just by us?

_Fritz._—Yes, father, I had been observing that something moved
among the branches. I went softly as near as I could; and on
seeing him, I knew him for a tiger cat. I immediately fired,
when he fell at my feet wounded and furious; and then I fired
a second time, and killed him.

_Father._—You were very fortunate in escaping thus, for he might
easily have devoured you. You should always take care, in aiming
at animals of this kind, to be at a greater distance.

_Fritz._—Why so, father? I might have missed him if I had been
further off. I, on the contrary, tried to be as near him as possible,
and fired close to his ears.

_Father._—This was acting in the same way as your brother Jack,
whom you so much derided for his want of care, and may serve
you as a lesson not to blame in your brothers, what you would
yourself be perhaps obliged to do in the same situation; and
not to interrupt their joy with unkind reflections, but rather
to partake with them the pleasure of their success.

_Fritz._—Well, father; all I now ask of Jack is, that he will
be so good as not to spoil the beautiful skin of this animal,
as he did that of the jackall. Only observe what beautiful figures
it is marked with, and the fine effect of the black and yellow
spots; the most richly manufactured stuff could not exceed it
in magnificence. What is the exact name of the animal?

_Father._—You may for the present give it the name of the tiger
cat. I do not, however, think that it is the animal which is
so denominated at the Cape of Good Hope; I rather think it is
the margay, a native of America, an animal of extremely vicious
dispositions and singular voraciousness; he destroys all the
birds of the forest, and neither a man, a sheep, or goat, that
should fall in his way, could escape his rapacity. In the name
of humanity, therefore, we ought to be thankful to you, for having
destroyed so formidable an enemy.

_Fritz._—All the recompense I ask, father, is, that you will
let me keep the skin; and I wish you would tell me what use I
can make of it.

_Father._—One idea occurs to me, and it is this:—you must skin
the animal yourself, taking the greatest care not to injure it
in the operation, particularly those parts which cover the fore
legs and the tail. If you will do this, you may make yourself
a belt with it, like your brother Jack’s, except that it will
be much more beautiful. The odd pieces will serve admirably to
make some cases to contain our utensils for the table, such as
knives, forks, spoons; and as they will be light, we can easily
carry them about with us, should we make any further excursions.
It is not amiss, in such a situation as ours, to exercise ourselves
in all kinds of trades and manual labour, and to do every thing
with the utmost care, and in the best manner possible. Man, the
lord of the creation, should always aim at perfection. Go, then,
boy, and put away its bloody head, and we will see how to set
about preparing the skin.

_Jack._—And I too, father, will make some cases with the skin
of my porcupine.

_Father._—And why should you not, my boy? The skin of the tiger
cat, can only furnish us with four, and we ought to have six
at least, which will be one a-piece. So set to work, and show
us quickly what you can perform. I should like for you to preserve
some of the quills of your porcupine for me; for I think I can
contrive to convert them into packing-needles, or into arrows;
and what bits of skin are left, may serve to repair the dogs’
collars when they begin to wear; or, which would be a masterpiece
of invention, might be joined together and made into a sort of
coat of mail, as a protection to them when they have to encounter
wild beasts.

_Jack._—Oh! yes, father, I will make the coat of mail, the coat
of mail! Ernest, Fritz, did you hear what papa said? Why, our
dogs will look like a couple of knights of chivalry. The idea
is most excellent; how I shall like to see them with a coat of
mail!

The boys left me no moment of repose till I had shown them how
to take off the skins of the animals without tearing them. In
the mean while, Ernest looked about for a flat stone as a sort
of foundation for a fire-place, and little Francis collected some
pieces of dry wood for his mother to light a fire. Ernest was
not long in finding what he wanted, and then he ran to join us
and give us his assistance, or rather to reason right or wrong
on the subject of skinning animals; and then on that of trees;
making various comments and inquiries, respecting the real name
of those we intended to inhabit. It is my opinion, said he, that
they are really and simply, enormously large hazel trees; see
if the leaf is not of exactly the same form. But that is no proof,
interrupted I; for many trees bear leaves of the same shape,
but nevertheless are of different kinds. Besides, it appears
to me, that there is not so great a resemblance as you think,
between the leaves of the trees which grow here, and those of
the hazel, the former being of a paler colour, and white underneath.
I recollect too, that there is the wild mango and also the fig-tree,
whose roots grow in the same manner as our giant trees, forming
a beautiful arch, and sometimes reaching to an immeasurable height.

_Ernest._—I thought, father, that the mango tree only grew on
the sea-shore, and in marshy soils?

_Father._—You were not mistaken; it is the black mango tree which
loves the water. But there is, besides, the red mango, which
bears its fruit in bunches, something like our currant bushes.
This kind of the mango tree, is found at a considerable distance
from the sea, and its wood is used for dyeing red. There is a
third sort, which is called the mountain mango, or yellow wood,
and this is the kind, whose roots produce the beautiful arches
you now see around us.

We conversed thus as we proceeded with our work; for it was always
my endeavour to compensate to my children, as much as I was able,
our want of books for their instruction. Little Francis presently
came running loaded with dry branches for his mother, with his
mouth crammed full of something, and calling out, Mamma, mamma,
I have found a nice fruit to eat, and I have brought you home
some of it!

Little glutton! replied his mother quite alarmed, what have you
got there? For Heaven’s sake, do not swallow, in this imprudent
manner, the first thing that falls in your way; for by this means
you may be poisoned, and then you would die. She made him open
his mouth, and took out with her finger, what he was eating with
so keen a relish. With some difficulty she drew out the remains
of a fig. A fig! exclaimed I: where did you find it? Thank God,
this is no poison! But nevertheless, remember, Francis, that
you are never to put any thing into your mouth, without first
showing it to your mother or to me. And now you may tell us where
you got this fig.

_Francis._—I got it among the grass, papa; and there are a great
many more. I thought it must be good to eat, for the fowls and
the pigeons, and even the pig, came to the place and ate them
in large quantities.

_Father._—You see then, my dear, said I to my wife, that our
beautiful trees are fig-trees, at least the kind which are thus
named at the Antilles; for they do not in the least resemble
the tree called by that name in Europe, except that they both
bear a fruit having some little resemblance to each other. I
now recollect that the leaves of the mango tree are of a round
form, and not oval like these. I took this occasion to give the
boys another lesson, on the necessity of being cautious in an
unknown country, and never to venture on tasting any thing they
met with, till they had seen it eaten by birds and monkeys. At
the word monkeys, they all ran to visit the little orphan, whom
they found seated on a root of a tree, and examining with the
oddest grimaces and the most singular expression of curiosity,
the half-skinned porcupine and the tiger cat, which lay near
him. Francis offered him a fig, which he first turned round and
round, then smelled at it, and concluded by eating it voraciously.
Bravo, bravo! Mr. Monkey, exclaimed the boys, clapping their
hands; so then these figs are good to eat! Thank you, Mr. Monkey;
for, after your wise decision, we shall make a charming feast
on them.

In the mean while, my wife had been employed in making a fire,
in putting on the pot, and preparing for our dinner. She had
put a large piece of the porcupine into it, and the rest she
had laid in salt for another time. The tiger cat was bestowed
upon the dogs, who waited impatiently to receive it. While our dinner
was dressing, I employed my time in making some packing-needles
with the quills of the porcupine. I put the point of a large
nail into the fire till it was red hot; then taking hold of it
with some wet linen in my hand, by way of guard, I with great
ease perforated the thick end of the quills with it. I had soon
the pleasure of presenting my wife with a large packet of long,
stout, needles, which were the more valuable in her estimation,
as she had formed the intention of contriving some better harnessing
for our animals, and had been perplexed how to set about them
without some larger needles. I, however, recommended to her to
be frugal in her use of the packthread, for which I should soon
have so urgent a need, in constructing a ladder for ascending
the tree we intended to inhabit. I had singled out the highest
and thickest fig-tree; and while we were waiting for dinner,
I made the boys try how high they could throw their sticks and
stones in it. I also tried myself; but the very lowest branches
were so far from the ground, that none of us could touch them.
I perceived, therefore, that we should be under the necessity
of inventing some method to reach so far, as, otherwise, it would
be impossible to fasten the ends of my ladder to them. I allowed
a short pause to my imagination on the subject, during which
I assisted Jack and Fritz in carrying the skins of the two animals
to the adjacent stream, where we confined them under water with
some large stones. By this time we were called to dinner, and
we all partook with pleasure of our porcupine, which had produced
an excellent soup, and had no fault but being a little hard.
My wife, however, could not prevail upon herself to eat of it;
which occasioned Jack, who did the honours of the dish, a little
mortification. My wife could not be brought to relent, but made
her dinner on a slice of ham and some bread and cheese, under
the shade of the trees which she had so much desired, and where
she found the plainest repast delicious.