Three Years in Tristan da Cunha Part 18

_Wednesday, April_ 15.--I persuaded Graham to remain indoors to-day. I had a busy morning. First, I went out and took the readings of the thermometers, then soon after nine went up to church to read the daily service. From there I went to the Andrew Swains' to dress the baby's scalded foot. He cried more l.u.s.tily than ever, but this will be the last dressing that will be necessary, the wound having healed beautifully. I then retraced my steps to the Henry Greens' to inquire after Alfred, who is a little better. His mother thought another mustard-leaf would do him good, so I came home for it and before long took it up and put it on.

_Thursday, April_ 16.--No unloading has been done since Sat.u.r.day.

I had to administer a caning to little Charlie this morning. William told me he was constantly cruel to his dog by beating it for no reason. We had often heard the dog crying out. I believe the mother was not overpleased at the chastis.e.m.e.nt, but Graham always comes down upon the boys if he hears of any cruelty.

_Good Friday_.--I took both services to-day.

_Sat.u.r.day, April_ 18.--The schooner came in to-day and has been unloading.

Mr. Keytel is shipping for the Cape two hundred sheep, which he expects to put on board to-morrow. We are sorry it has to be done on Sunday. As the schooner will probably leave the same day we are finishing our letters to-night.

We have been much interested to hear about the snails sent to Cambridge.

In acknowledging their receipt the Professor writes: "The conical ones are no doubt _Siphonaria Lessoni_, a species found all round the south end of South America; and the 'scaly' one is _Magellanic Chiton_." And again: "You will note the connection with _Magellanica_. The _Magellanica_ is evidently the typical circ.u.mpolar fauna; and even Kerguelen Island is much more akin to Magellanica than to Africa or New Zealand. I should expect Tristan to be the same, though it has a distinctly European element in Balea."

CHAPTER XXVIII

_Easter Sunday_.--Very few elders were at either morning or afternoon service, only two or three of the regular ones. Graham was not able to get out, but is improving.

The men were occupied in getting the sheep down to the sh.o.r.e, but in the end were not able to put off, for heavy rain came on and the sea grew rough; one boat started, but had to come back.

_Monday, April_ 20.--No business could be done with the ship to-day; it had been blown eastward. The weather has been bad and there have been heavy rain-storms.

One of Mr. Keytel's dogs, a well-bred pointer, has taken up his abode with us while his master is on the ship. We dare not leave him for an instant in the room by himself if there is any food on the table. The other morning he ate our breakfast of bacon, which had been prepared as an especial delicacy.

_Tuesday, April_ 21.--Another stormy day, and nothing seen of the schooner.

This afternoon school began again; Ellen is helping me with the infants.

Nearly all the children attended.

_Wednesday, April_ 22.--There was a very small school, for many boys were away helping to collect the sheep for the schooner, which was coming in, and some were playing truant. The sheep were carted down to the sh.o.r.e and the men were ready for embarking, when the ship moved out, and so all their labour was again in vain. The sea was "making up," and to-night is stormy. It is rather late in the year for a sailing-ship to do business.

_Thursday, April_ 23.--A roughish sea. No sign of the schooner.

I had some trouble in school to-day with one of the new scholars, a boy of eleven. He thinks he can come to school late, not learn his lessons, and do just as he pleases. I had to cane him. He fought all the time, but at last subsided and meekly went back to his place. I felt breathless, and I am sure the children were breathless with surprise at such behaviour. I had a talk with him afterwards when he stayed behind to learn his lessons.

I think that, after his Cape school, he rather looks down upon a little school like this. It is remarkable how well he and his younger brother have been taught to read.

_Friday, April_ 24.--A fairly rough sea and no sign of the schooner.

I have spent the afternoon writing, at Graham's dictation, his yearly report to the Colonial Office; to-morrow I hope we may finish it.

_Sat.u.r.day, April_ 25.--No appearance of the schooner. The wind is rising to-night.

_Sunday, April_ 26.--There were better congregations to-day, with a sprinkling of men.

No schooner.

_Monday, April_ 27.--Our eyes have scanned the horizon in vain, but I feel sure we shall see the schooner to-morrow. Graham has quite made up his mind that we cannot go home by it next year. It has no accommodation for pa.s.sengers beyond the hold.

_Tuesday, April_ 28.--The people had become somewhat anxious about the schooner's non-appearance, but to-day it appeared on the horizon. It was too rough, however, for any business to be done, though one boat went out with the mail. It is a rough night again.

_Wednesday, April_ 29.--Too wet and stormy for either church or school.

In one of our letters we were asked what is our daily menu, so I give it here. Breakfast: milk-coffee, bread and b.u.t.ter, and a boiled egg when in season, varied with grape-nuts, porridge, or occasionally fish. Dinner: mutton, either hot, cold, or curried. About five days a week milk puddings, sometimes served with stewed dried fruit. Supper: tea, bread and b.u.t.ter, cold meat or fish. Fish is rather an uncertainty, but when it does come it is fresh. The people always bring it scaled and cleaned.

_Thursday, April_ 30.--Nothing has been seen of the schooner to-day.

_Friday, May_ 1.--I am taking school for a short time each morning just to keep the children up in reading and writing. I also give them Bible instruction and hear their lessons.

We have again an invasion of mice or small rats. A day or two ago one was found drowned in the milk-pan, this morning a second in the water-pail, and a third in the milk-jug. A great many have been caught in the loft, and occasionally we see them in the sitting-room popping in and out of holes when all is quiet.

_Sat.u.r.day, May_ 2.--The schooner was sighted this morning, but there was not enough breeze to bring her in.

_Sunday, May_ 3.--This morning we were awakened by a loud shouting. It was one of the men arousing the settlement. The sheep had to be driven in and taken down for embarkation.

_Tuesday, May_ 5.--The schooner will probably leave for good to-day. The only thing that now remains to be done is to take a few more sheep on board and barrels of water for them. The crew are to look after the sheep and every day will have to give each one a bottleful of water. Mr. Keytel says that the poor sheep have been very roughly handled, and even, in some cases, have had their horns broken. He came in early this morning with Bob Gla.s.s, who, I thought, looked rather uncomfortable when we talked about the things that have been stolen. One of these, we very much fear, is the bale of calico from Carlisle, which would have been such a boon to the people. We have been told it has been seen on board since the ship has been here, and I believe it is on the island. We feel sure our Tristanites have nothing to do with its disappearance. We fear we have also lost one or two small parcels from the Cape. The Henry Greens have lost a box containing clothing, groceries, and a good clock which they had sent to the Cape to be mended.

9.15 p.m.--The schooner is off at last; and, really, we are glad, for every one will be able to settle down to ordinary life again.

_Thursday, May_ 7.--Ellen and I spent the morning in cutting up material, and making up parcels to send round to each family. We wish the people would show a little more grat.i.tude. I think they are pleased, but they do not show it in the least. There was only one who showed grat.i.tude, and she sent a thousand thanks and said how useful the materials would be, for she had just made up her mind to cut up some of her own and her husband's clothes to make shirts for the boys. The people had nearly all run out of sewing-cotton, so the supply just sent by friends has come in most usefully. I have been able to give two reels to each family and to keep some in reserve. This time we divided the material ourselves, because we wished it to go to those who needed it most.

The men are working at Henry Green's lamb-house to turn it into a residence for Mr. Keytel. They are rebuilding the west wall, laying down a floor, and putting on a zinc roof.

_Sat.u.r.day, May_ 9.--Graham and Mr. Keytel are having a game of chess. The former is much better than he was, but has still to lead an invalid life.

Some nights he gets but little sleep on account of rain, and has to pace up and down a good deal.

Our fine weather has broken, and to-day we have had heavy rain and a thunderstorm.

_Monday, May_ ll.--Yesterday I had again to take the two services. I felt rather alarmed in the morning, for Mr. Keytel was present. The church was full each time. I began school again to-day after a week's holiday. It is rather a business, taking the whole school in hand; and teaching is not much in my line. This morning David Hagan began to roar because I took him from his sister's lap and put him with his cla.s.s. He would not stop, so I was obliged to put him in the vestry, where he continued roaring and occasionally uttered threats. During it all I had to go on hearing lessons. At last he stopped, so I brought him out and put him again with the infants, and had no more trouble with him. I give the cla.s.s easy mental arithmetic, which is much less trouble than putting down figures.

_Sat.u.r.day, May_ 16.--To-day it was warm, without wind, and Graham went out for the first time. He has made a great advance in the last two or three days. We made our way up to Mr. Keytel's house. The work goes on slowly, as the men are uncertain and turn up when they like. Henry Green and Repetto are the two reliable ones. Mr. Keytel is rather disappointed in the men; he thought they would have done what they could for him, as he is trying to work up a trade. He says he has already lost two or three hundred pounds. He does not, however, seem disheartened. I think the house will look very well when finished. It consists of two rooms. Round each, six inches from the wall, he has put on a framework of wood canvas, which will be painted white. This will both keep out the damp and make the room lighter.

_Tuesday, May_ 19.--It is difficult to find time for writing in the evening now, as we talk so much. We generally end up with a game of Tiddley Winks. Ellen and I usually get beaten; the two men want us to change partners, but I will not.

To-day Graham came in at the end of school. Every one seems unfeignedly pleased to see him out again.

We wish Tristan could be what it was before the new-comers came. Mr.

Keytel has been opening some of his cases, and from the first two finds hatchets and rugs missing. Graham intends to give those whom it concerns a piece of his mind when he is well.

[Ill.u.s.tration: MRS. REPETTO FISHING]

_Wednesday, May_ 20.--Graham was able to take service, but did not stay for school. He came for me after school, and we walked down to the sh.o.r.e and watched Mrs. Repetto catching craw-fish. She got her skirt and feet very wet in the process. I was amused the other night by Mr. Keytel saying to Graham, "You had better wait one more Sunday before taking the service, Mrs. Barrow gives us good teaching."

_Thursday, May_ 2l.--I spent the afternoon doctoring the poultry. To my surprise every hen and chicken I caught had "pip," a h.o.r.n.y substance under the tongue and rather hard to get off. I operated on nearly thirty. The fowls are rather a trouble, from their habit of getting into all sorts of impossible places. The other day I found a hen on the pillow and her chickens on the dressing-table and window-sill.

_Tuesday, May_ 26.--Mr. Keytel took a sample of the white mould to the Cape to be examined by an expert, who said it was due to the ground not being worked, and recommended its being brought to the surface, where the sun and air will get rid of it.

_Friday, May_ 29.--Mr. Keytel slept in his house last night for the first time, and to-morrow intends moving in. He had no gla.s.s for the windows, but happily we had some to spare. Much to his amus.e.m.e.nt, he had entirely forgotten to bring plates, spoons and forks and a teapot, and again we were able to come to the rescue with a heterogeneous collection.