“ Out of this they found means to form an utensil which might serve for a lamp; and they proposed to keep it constantly burning, with the fat of the animals they should kill. This was certainly the most rational scheme they could have thought of, for to be without a light, in a climate where, during winter, darkness reigns for several months together, would have added much to their other calamities. Having therefore fashioned a kind of lamp, they filled it with rein-deer's fat, and stuck in it some twisted linen, shaped into a wick. ”

“ Repairs of this kind cost the unhappy men the less trouble, for all Russian peasants are known to be good carpenters: they build their own houses, and are very expert in handling the axe. The intense cold, which makes those climates habitable to so few species of animals, renders them equally unfit for the production of vegetables. No species of tree, or even shrub, is found on any of the islands of Spitzbergen; a circumstance of the most alarming nature to our sailors. Without fire it was impossible to resist the rigour of the climate ”

“ A large pebble supplied the place of an anvil, and a couple of rein-deer’s horns made the tongs. By the means of such tools, they made two heads of spears; and after polishing and sharpening them on stones, they tied them as fast as possible with thongs made of rein-deer skins, to sticks about the thickness of a man’s arm, which they got from some branches of trees that had been cast on shore. This equipped with spears, they resolved to attack a white bear; and, and after a most dangerous encounter, they killed the formidable creature, and thereby made a new supply of provisions. ”

“ These were thrown ashore by the waves at a time when the want of powder gave our men reason to apprehend that they must fall a prey to hunger, as they had nearly consummed those rein-deer they had killed. This lucky circumstance was attended with another equally fortunate: they found, on the shore, the root of a fire-tree, which nearly approached the figure of a bow.
As necessity has ever been the mother of invention, so they soon fashioned this root to a good bow, by the help of a knife; but still they wanted a string and arrows. ”

“ But, as he continually saw into the secrets of men, he discovered so much wickedness and dissimulation, that he could no longer place confidence in any man, The more redoubted and powerful he grew, the less he was beloved ”

“ Having thus maturely considered the nature of their undertaking, they provided themselves with a musket, a powder-horn, containing 12 charges of powder, with as many balls, an axe, a small kettle a bag with about 20 pounds of flour, a knife, a tinderbox and tinder, a bladder filled with tobacco, and every man his wooden pipe. Thus accoutered, these four sailors quickly arrived on the island, little suspecting the misfortunes that would befal them. They began with exploring the country; and soon discovered the hut they were in search of, about an English mile and a half from the shore. ”

“ Their ingenuity in this respect, was crowned with-success far beyond their expectaion; for, during the time of their continuance upon the island, they, with these arrows, killed no lese than two hundred and fifty rein-deer, besides a great number of blue and white foxes. The flesh of these animals served them also for food and their skins for clothing, and other necessary preservatives against the intense coldness of a climate so near the pole.
They killed, however, only ten white bears in all, and that not without the utmost danger; for these animals, being prodigiously strong, defending ”

“ Not knowing how to procure these at present, they resolved upon making a couple of lances, to defend themselves against the white bears, by far the most ferocious of their kind, whose attacks they had great reason to dread. Finding they could neither make the heads of their lances, nor of their arrows, without the help of a hammer, they contrived to form the large iron hook mentioned above into one, by heating it, and widening a hole it happened to have about its middle, with the help of one of their largest nails. ”

“ He visited all the courts, where he found the ladies insincere, fond of admirers, and so enamoured with their own persons, that their hearts were not capable of entertaining any true love for a husband. ”

“ I will not take money : if you would have my fish, you must order me a 100 lashes of the strapaddo upon my naked back ; if not I shall go and apply elsewhere.' ' Rather than lose your fish,' says his highness, ' let the fellow have his humour.'—' Here! (he cried to one of his grooms) discharge this honest man's demand ; but don't lay on over hard ; don't hurt the poor Devil very much.' The fisherman then stripped, and the groom prepared to put his lord's orders in execution. ”

“ Excepting the uneasiness which generally accompanies an involuntary solitude, these people, having this by their ingenuity so far overcome their wants, might have had reason to be contented with what Providence had done for them in their distressful situation. ”

“ He knew every thing, and no man could conceive how he came by his intelligence; for he would often, retire into his closet, and pretend to be shut up there the whole day, with strict orders not to be disturbed ”

“ In this disconsolate condition, he resolved to search through the wide world, till he found a woman complete in beauty snd all good qualities, willing to be his wife; one who would love him, and study to make him happy. ”