muscular and destitute widow, with an inordinate ate supply of
young children, in the bleakest part of the civilized world.
There was not the slightest necessity for the greater portion of
the labour performed by the old lady: but she seemed to work from
some irresistible impulse; her limbs continually swaying to and
fro, as if there were some indefatigable engine concealed within
her body which kept her in perpetual motion.

Never suppose that she was a termagant or a shrew for all this;
she had the kindliest heart in the world, and acted towards me in
particular in a truly maternal manner, occasionally putting some
little morsel of choice food into my hand, some outlandish kind
of savage sweetmeat or pastry, like a doting mother petting a
sickly urchin with tarts and sugar plums. Warm indeed are my
remembrances of the dear, good, affectionate old Tinor!

Besides the individuals I have mentioned, there belonged to the
household three young men, dissipated, good-for-nothing,
roystering blades of savages, who were either employed in
prosecuting love affairs with the maidens of the tribe, or grew
boozy on 'arva' and tobacco in the company of congenial spirits,
the scapegraces of the valley.

Among the permanent inmates of the house were likewise several
lovely damsels, who instead of thrumming pianos and reading
novels, like more enlightened young ladies, substituted for these
employments the manufacture of a fine species of tappa; but for
the greater portion of the time were skipping from house to
house, gadding and gossiping with their acquaintances.