Proud,
indeed, did I feel as I watched this animal, which naturalists and
travellers have declared to be beyond the power of man to tame, guided
hither and thither by my youngest son.
Additions to our poultry yard reminded me of the necessity of
providing some substantial shelter for our animals before the rainy
season came on; three broods of chickens had been successfully hatched,
and the little creatures, forty in all, were my wife's pride and
delight.
We began by making a roof over the vaulted roots of our tree, forming
the framework of bamboo canes which we laid close together and bound
tightly down; others we fixed below as supports. The interstices were
filled up with clay and moss; and coating the whole over with a mixture
of tar and lime-water, we obtained a firm balcony, and a capital roof
impervious to the severest fall of rain. I ran a light rail round the
balcony to give it a more ornamental appearance, and below divided the
building into several compartments. Stables, poultry yard, hay and
provision lofts, dairy, kitchen, larder and dining-hall were united
under one roof.
Our winter-quarters were now completed, and we had but to store them
with food. Day after day we worked, bringing in provisions of every
description.
As we were one evening returning from gathering potatoes, it struck me
that we should take in a store of acorns; and sending the two younger
boys home with their mother and the cart, I took a large canvas bag,
and with Fritz and Ernest, the former mounted on his onager, and the
latter carrying his little favourite, Knips, made a detour towards the
Acorn Wood.
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