few days after the wreck, we were
agreeably surprised by visitors that, though unexpected, were extremely
welcome. I had noticed strange birds wandering about in various parts
of the island. On their coming under the notice of my companion, they
were immediately recognised as fowls and ducks, that had no doubt
escaped from the ship.

We might now, therefore, constitute ourselves a little colony, of which
Mrs Reichardt and myself were the immediate governors, the settlers
being a mingled community of calves, sheep, pigs, and poultry, that
lived on excellent terms with each other; the quadrupeds having
permission to roam where they pleased, and the bipeds being kept within
a certain distance of the government house.

The old hut had suffered so much from the storm that I determined on
building another in a better position, and had recourse to the framework
of the house I had taken from the wreck. I had some difficulty in
putting the several parts together, but at last succeeded, and a small,
but most commodious dwelling was the result. Near it I laid out a new
garden, wherein I planted all the orange-trees we had reared, as well as
many of the seeds and roots we had brought from the wreck. A little
beyond I inclosed a paddock, wherein I planted the twigs we had found in
pots, which proved to be fruit-trees.

When I had done this, I thought of my agricultural implements, and very
much desired to make use of a handy plough that was amongst them, when I
learned the advantages that might arise from it. At first I yoked
myself to the plough, and Mrs Reichardt held it: this proved such hard
and awkward work, that I kept projecting all sorts of plans for
lessening the labour--the best was that of yoking our calves, and making
them pull instead of myself. This was more easily thought of than done.
The animals did not prove very apt pupils, but in course of time, with
a good deal of patience, and some manoeuvring, I succeeded in making
them perform the work they were expected to do.

Thus, in building, gardening, planting, and farming, the time flew by
quickly, and in the course of the next year the aspect of the place had
become quite changed. The guano that enriched the soil made every kind
of vegetation thrive with an almost marvellous rapidity and luxuriance.
We had a comfortable house, up which a vine was creeping in one place,
and a young pear-tree in another. We were supplied with the choicest
oranges, and had