VI.

They told them that the north side of the island was better suited for a settlement, and transported all their goods (S. 236, N. 11) thither in one of their boats. Being familiar with the place, they showed them generally their way about and the different passes by which the plateau might be reached, and they taught them how to build[1] to withstand the violent winds, and how to thatch with tussock-grass. Immediately after they left, the brothers set about building a house and clearing some ground[2] for potatoes and other vegetables. They killed nineteen seals, and prepared the skins, but they were unable to make any[3] quantity of oil. Towards the end of the sealing season their boat got damaged in the surf, and they were obliged to cut it in two[4], patch up the best half of it, and use it as best they could[5] in smooth weather, close to shore.

They went from time to time to the upper plateau and shot goats and pigs. When they first arrived, they counted a flock of twenty-three goats; three of these were killed during the summer of 1871-1872 by the Tristan people (S. 157, N. 4), and six by themselves; the remaining fourteen remained over the winter of 1872. The flesh of the goats they found extremely delicate. Pigs were much more numerous, but their flesh was not so palatable, from their feeding[6] principally on sea-birds; that of the boars was especially rank. They found the pigs very valuable, however, in yielding an abundant supply of lard[7], which they used for frying their potatoes.

[1] = how they must (Imp. Subj.) build.

[2] to clear the ground (= land), +eine Strecke Landes urbar machen+.

[3] here +erzielen+; any = a large.

[4] to cut in two, +entzwei´schneiden+, sep. comp. irr. v.

[5] = as well as possible.

[6] from their feeding = as they lived; on, +von+.

[7] in — lard = on account of their lard (+Schmalz+, n.).

_Section 239._

A CURIOUS STORY.