Page:The crater; or, Vulcan's peak.djvu/341

 OR, VULCAN S PEAK. 101 rough calculation, however, the group extended east and west sixty-three miles, and north and south about fifty, the Reef being a very little west and a very little south of its centre. Of this surface it was thought something like three-fourths was dry land, or naked rock. This would give rather more than a million and a half of acres of land; but, of this great extent of territory, not more than two- thirds could be rendered available for the purposes of hus bandry, for want of soil, or the elements of soil. There were places where the deposit of mud seemed to be of vast depth, while in others it did not exceed a few inches. The same was true of the sands, though the last was rarely of as great depth as the mud, or alluvium. A month was consumed in making the allotments, and in putting the different proprietors in possession of their respective estates. Then, indeed, were the results of the property-system made directly apparent. No sooner was an individual put in possession of his deed, and told that the lot it represented was absolutely his own, to dp what he pleased with it, than he went to work with energy and filled with hopes, to turn his new domains to account. It is true that education and intelligence, if they will only acquit themselves of their tasks with disinterested probity, may enlighten and instruct the ignorant how to turn their means to account; but, all experience proves _that_gch individual usually takesttie best care of his own interests, and that the system is wisest which grants to him the am plest opportunity so to do. To work nil went, the men forming themselves into gangs, and aiding each other. The want of horses and neat cattle was much felt, more especially as Beaton s ex perience set every one at the sand, as the first step in a profitable husbandry : wheelbarrows, however, were made use of instead of carts, and it was found that a dozen pair of hands could do a good deal with that utensil, in the course of a day. All sorts of contrivances were resorted to in order to transport the sand, but the governor esta blished a regular system, by which the lighter should de liver one load at each farm, in succession. By the end of a month it was found that a good deal had been done, the 9*