thankful when reflecting how much worse my
situation might have been had I fallen amongst
a set of selfish, unfeeling men, instead of these
kind-hearted, worthy creatures. I am an uninvited
pensioner on their hospitality, with
but a slight chance of my ever having it in my
power to prove my gratitude : and yet, they
are all unremitting in their exertions to cheer
my spirits, and make my situation comfortable.
Glass is as eager in watching for a sail as myself,
and says (and I fully believe him), that
should a vessel arrive, the master of which
refuses to take me without payment, he shall
have all his cattle and stock of potatoes, rather
than I shall be disappointed of a chance of
returning to my family. While speaking of
Glass, I may be permitted to record a circumstance
highly characteristic of national
feeling, and of that love of country which
never forsakes a Scotchman. As he is an experienced
tailor, as well as an excellent operative
in various other trades, I proposed to
him, when my clothes were completely worn
out, to make me a full dress suit out of my
tartan cloak. He agreed to do so; but still
my clothes were not forthcoming. One evening,
on my return from a fatiguing day’s hunting,
Glass came to me with a most melancholy
face, and began, — “ It is no use holding out
any longer, Mr. Earle; I really cannot find in
my heart to cut up that bonnie tartan. I have
had it out several times, and had the scissors
in my hands, but I cannot do it, Sir; it is the
first tartan that ever was landed on Tristan
d’Acunha, and the first I have seen since I left
Scotland ; and I really cannot consent to cut it
up into pieces.” I replied, he was most welcome
to keep the cloak for his own use as it was;
but that, as I could not make my appearance,
even at Tristan d’Acunha, quite in a state of
nature, he must contrive to make me a pair
of trowsers out of any thing he might happen
to have amongst his stores. His face instantly
brightened up, and I was soon after equipped
in a costume which, even here, excited no
small curiosity : the front of these <c Cossacks”
consisting of sail cloth, and the back
of dried goat’s skin, the hair outside, which
they all assured me I should find very convenient
in descending the mountains. I laughed