We had now reached some trees quite unknown They were from forty to sixty feet in height, and bark, cracked in many places, issued small balls of thick gum Fritz got one off with difficulty, so hardened sun to soften it hands, but found that heat only gave it the power of extension, by pulling the two extremities, and then releasing them, it immediately resumed its first form

Fritz ran , crying out, " found some India-rubber ! "

" be true," said I, "you most valuable discovery "

He thought laughing at him, for we had no drawing to rub out here

him this gum turned to many useful purposes; rest make excellent shoes of it This interested him How could we accomplish this ?

"The caoutchouc," said I, " milky sap obtained from certain trees Euphorbium kind, by incisions made bark collected in vessels, care being taken to agitate them, liquid may not coagulate state they cover little clay bottles with successive layers of it, till it attains the required thickness then dried in smoke, which gives it the dark brown colour quite dry, ornamented by lines and flowers drawn knife Finally, they break the clay form, and extract it mouth; and there remains the India-rubber bottle of commerce, soft and flexible Now, my plan for shoemaking; fill stocking with sand, cover it with repeated layers gum till proper thickness; then empty out the sand, and, if deceive myself, perfect boots or shoes "

Comfortable hope of new boots, we advanced through an interminable forest of various trees The monkeys cocoa-nut trees furnished us with pleasant refreshment, and small store of nuts besides trees some lower bushes, whose leaves were covered with white dust I opened the trunk of , which torn up wind, and found interior white farinaceous substance, which, on tasting, the sago imported into Europe This, as connected subsistence, was most important affair, and my son and I, hatchets, laid open the tree, and obtained twenty-five pounds valuable sago

This occupied us an hour; and, weary and hungry, it prudent not to push our discoveries farther this day We therefore returned Gourd Wood, placed all our treasures sledge, and took our way home We arrived without more adventures, and were warmly greeted, various offerings gratefully welcomed, especially the green parrot We talked caoutchouc, and new boots, with great delight during supper; and, afterwards, my wife looked with exceeding content at her bag of candle-berries, anticipating the time when we have to bed, as now, sun set

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CHAPTER XXIII

The next morning my wife and children besought me my manufacture of candles I remembered having seen the chandler at work, and I tried to recall all my remembrances process I put into boiler berries as it would hold, and placed it over moderate fire: the wax melted berries, and rose surface, and this I carefully skimmed with large flat spoon and put in separate vessel placed near the fire; , my wife supplied me with some wicks she had made threads of sailcloth; these wicks were attached, four , to small stick; I dipped them wax, and placed them on two branches of tree to dry; I repeated this operation as often as necessary them the proper thickness, and then placed them in cool spot to harden But forbear trying them that very night; and, thought somewhat rude in form, sufficient reminded us European home, and prolonged our days by many useful hours we had lost before

This encouraged me to attempt another enterprise My wife had long regretted that she able butter She had attempted to beat her cream in vessel, but either the heat climate, or her want of patience, rendered her trials unsuccessful that I skill enough churn; but I fancied that by some simple method, like that used Hottentots, who put their cream in skin and shake it till they produce butter, obtain the same result I cut large gourd in two, filled it with three quarts of cream, then united the parts, and secured them closely I fastened stick to each corner of square piece of sailcloth, placed the gourd middle, and, giving corner to each sons, directed them to rock the cloth with slow, regular motion, child's cradle quite an amusement ; and end of an hour, my wife had the pleasure of placing some excellent butter I then tried cart, our sledge being unfitted for some roads; the wheels I had brought wreck rendered this less difficult; and I completed very rude vehicle, , nevertheless, very useful

While thus usefully employed, my wife and children idle They had transplanted the European trees, and thoughtfully placed each situation best suited I assisted with my hands and counsels The vines we planted round the roots trees, and hoped trellis-work chesnut, walnut, and cherry-trees, we formed an avenue from Falcon's Nest to Family Bridge, which, we hoped, would ultimately be shady road between our two mansions solid road two rows of trees, raised middle and covered with sand, which we brought shore wheelbarrows I also made sort of tumbril, we harnessed the ass, to lighten this difficult labour

We then turned our thoughts to Tent House, our first abode, and which still might form our refuge of danger Nature favoured it; but our labour soon supplied all deficiencies We planted round it every tree that requires ardent heat; the citron, pistachio, the almond, the mulberry, the Siamese orange, the fruit is as large head of child, Indian fig, with its long prickly leaves, all had place here These plantations succeeding admirably, we had, after , the pleasure of seeing the dry and sandy desert converted into shady grove, rich in flowers and fruit place magazine arms, ammunition, and provisions of all sorts; sort of fortress of it, surrounding it with high hedge of strong, thorny trees; to wild beasts, but even to human enemies, inaccessible Our bridge only point of approach, and we always carefully removed the first planks after crossing it We also placed our two cannon on little elevation enclosure; and, finally, we planted some cedars, near our usual landing-place, , at future time, fasten our vessels These labours occupied us three months, only interrupted by strict attention devotions and duties Sunday most especially grateful to God robust health we all enjoyed, midst employments All went on well little colony We had an abundant and certain supply of provisions; but our wardrobe, notwithstanding the continual repairing my wife bestowed , was in most wretched state, and we had no means of renewing it, except by again visiting the wreck, which still contained some chests of clothes, and bales of cloth This decided me another voyage; besides rather anxious the state vessel

it much same condition we had left it, except being much more shattered winds and waves

We selected many useful things cargo; the bales of linen and woollen cloth forgotten; some barrels of tar; and everything portable that remove; doors, windows, tables, benches, locks and bolts, all the ammunition, and even such guns as move we completely sacked the vessel; carrying off, after ' labour, all our booty, exception of some weighty articles, amongst which were three or four immense boilers, intended for sugar-manufactory These we tied to some large empty casks, which we pitched completely over, and hoped to float water

When we had completed our arrangements, I resolved to blow up the ship We placed large barrel of gunpowder hold, and arranging long match , which would burn some hours, we lighted it, and proceeded without delay to Safety Bay to watch the event I proposed to my wife to sup on point of land where distinctly see the vessel Just sun was going down, majestic rolling, like thunder, succeeded by column of fire, announced the destruction vessel, which had brought us from Europe, and bestowed its great riches on us help shedding tears, heard the last mournful cry sole remaining bond that connected us with home We returned sorrowfully to Tent House, and felt we had lost an old friend

We rose early next morning, and hastened shore, which covered wreck, which, with little exertion, it easy to collect Amongst the rest, were the large boilers We afterwards used these our barrels of gunpowder, which we placed in part rock, where, even if an explosion took place, no damage could ensue

My wife, in assisting us wreck, made the agreeable discovery, that two ducks, and one goose, had hatched each brood, and were leading their noisy young families water This reminded us of all our poultry and domestic comfort, at Falcon's Nest, and we determined to defer, for , the rest work at Tent House, and to return the to our shady summer home

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CHAPTER XXIV