firm and perfect seat on horseback, their fearless
(helter-skelter) sort of character; since
they would, he said, dash with their horses
and guns over roads and precipices that would
make a white man tremble to look a t ; added
to which, he highly praised their invariable
good humour, but stated the great, indeed
almost only, drawback to their merit to be,
their proneness to drunkenness, which no
punishments nor disgrace could eradicate.
Another proof of Glass’s good sense was
manifested in his wishing to remain here,
when the garrison abandoned the island.
“ Why, you know, sir (said he to me), what
could I possibly do, when I reached my own
country, after being disbanded ? I have no
trade, and am now too old to learn one. I
have a young wife, and a chance of a numerous
family; what could I do better for them
than remain ? ” So he requested and obtained
his discharge ; and the few articles which the
officers did not consider worth taking back
again to the Cape, were given him : but the
greatest treasure he obtained was a bull, a
cow, and a few sheep, which stocked his farm;
and, with his economy, and the care he bestows
upon them, I have no doubt he will,
eventually, become the possessor of extensive
flocks and herds.
The next in rank (for even here we must
have distinctions made) is a man of the name
of Taylor, and he, being the oldest sailor, steers
the whale-boat; and, as is usual amongst all
gangs of men engaged either in fishing, sealing,
or any boating work of that description,
those who are at the helm assume a superiority
over their comrades. The circumstance that
induced this man to settle here is very curious,
and shows, in strong colours, the peculiarities
of seamen, and the very original
notions they sometimes get into their heads.
During the time the garrison occupied this
island, it was occasionally visited by the
squadron stationed at the Cape, and Taylor
and a comrade of his belonged to a schooner
acting as a tender to the Admiral. They
sometimes served on shore; and once paid
Glass a visit after the soldiers had abandoned
the settlement. It then struck them, that it
would be a most admirable plan to go home j
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