Page:Unparalleled sufferings and surprising adventures of Philip Quarle.pdf/12

 broiled a slice of his fish, and in the ashes roasted them, which eat something like chesnuts done in the same manner.

This new found out eatable much rejoicing him, he returned his hearty thanks to kind Providence, that he had put him in a way to provide himself with bread, and that of a most delicious kind. As soon, therefore, as he had dined, he went out on purpose to dig a good quantity; but as he was going to the place where he had taken notice they grew pretty thick, he sees a tortoise, of about a foot over, crawling before him: heaven be praised! said he, here is what will supply me both with victuals, and utensils to dress it in; he ran, therefore, and turned it on its back, to keep it from getting away, whilst he went to fetch his hatchet, that he might cut the bottom shell from the top, in order to make a kettle of the deepest, and a dish of the flat part.

Being tired of cod-fish, he dresses the tortoise, an animal seldom eaten but upon extremity, the flesh thereof often giving the flux; nevertheless he ventured upon it, and liked it extremely, some part of it eating very much like veal; which at that time was a very great novelty to him, having eaten no fresh meat for a long time before.

Happening to eat of the part of the tortoise which is the most nourishing, and less hurtful, he was in no wise discomposed; but, having boiled it all, be laid by the remainder to eat how and then between his fish.

Being provided with a boiling utensil, he often had a change, by means of those admirable roots so luckily discovered; some of which he roasted for bread, others he boiled with salt cod: this in a great measure mitigated his misfortune, and softened