From: anonymous@rip.ax.lt   
      
   The hunt, with its going and coming, the racing backwards and forwards, the   
   shouting and hallooing, was fatiguing enough. Out of a hundred animals that   
   were driven together many escaped, but little by little some thirty moufflons   
   and a dozen wild goats    
   were driven within the corral, whose open gate seemed to offer a chance of   
   escape. The result was, therefore, satisfactory; and as many of these   
   moufflons were females with young, it was certain that the herd would prosper,   
   and milk and skins be plenty    
   in the future.   
   In the evening the hunters returned to Granite House nearly tired out.   
   Nevertheless the next day they went back to look at the corral. The prisoners   
   had tried hard to break down the palisade, but, not succeeding, they had soon   
   become quiet.   
   Nothing of any importance happened during February. The routine of daily work   
   continued, and while improving the condition of the existing roads, a third,   
   starting from the enclosure, and directed towards the southern coast, was   
   begun. This unknown    
   portion of Lincoln Island was one mass of forest, such as covered Serpentine   
   Peninsula, giving shelter to the beasts from whose presence Spilett proposed   
   to rid their domain.   
   Before the winter returned careful attention was given to the cultivation of   
   the wild plants which had been transplanted to the plateau, and Herbert seldom   
   returned from an excursion without bringing back some useful vegetable. One   
   day it was a kind of    
   succory, from the seed of which an excellent oil can be pressed; another time,   
   it was the common sorrel, whose anti-scorbutic properties were not to be   
   neglected; and again, it was some of those valuable tubercles which have   
   always been cultivated in    
   South America, those potatoes, of which more than two hundred species are   
   known at present. The kitchen garden, already well enclosed, well watered, and   
   well defended against the birds, was divided into small beds of lettuce,   
   sorrel, radish, charlock,    
   and other crucifers; and as the soil upon the plateau was of wonderful   
   richness, abundant crops might be anticipated.   
   Neither were various drinks wanting, and unless requiring wine, the most   
   fastidious could not have complained. To the Oswego tea, made from the   
   mountain mint, and the fermented liquor made from the roots of the   
   dragon-tree, Smith added a genuine beer;    
   this was made from the young shoots of the “abies nigra,” which, after having   
   been boiled and fermented, yielded that agreeable and particularly healthful   
   drink, known to Americans as “spring beer,” that is, spruce beer.   
   Toward the close of summer the poultry yard received a fine pair of bustards   
   belonging to the species “houbara,” remarkable for a sort of short cloak of   
   feathers and a membranous pouch extending on either side of the upper   
   mandible; also some fine cocks,    
   with black skin, comb, and wattles, like those of Mozambique, which strutted   
   about the lake shore.   
   Thus the zeal of these intelligent and brave men made every thing prosper.   
   Providence, doubtless, assisted them; but, faithful to the precept, they first   
   helped themselves, and Heaven helped them accordingly.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)