t pocula laeti
Fermento atque acidis imitantur vitea sorbis.
Talis hyperboreo septem subjecta trioni
Gens effraena virum Riphaeo tunditur Euro
Et pecudum fulvis velantur corpora setis."

The increase of civilization, wealth, and intercourse with other
nations, has however effected a great change in the mode of life among
this remote people. Cottages, made generally of logs, are substituted
for these ruder mansions, especially in the neighbourhood of the
sea-ports; and a traveller occasionally meets with much that reminds him
of fairer climes, and a state of society less primitive.

"On reaching Sherrom, a cottage was pointed out to us as the
habitation of the Toyune, the outward appearance of which was
too engaging not to excite anticipations of good cheer within.
As it was a low building, I put my head into one of the windows
that was open, and was quite surprised to see so neat and
clean a dwelling in that country. The name of the owner, who
was Toyune of Sherrom, was Conon Merlin. He and his wife were
absent fishing, but we were not less hospitably received by his
daughter and daughter-in-law, two clean dressed pretty young
women, who welcomed us with their smiles, and made us imagine,
that, instead of Kamtchatka, we had got into the land of
enchantment. Every thing about them seemed in unison with their
appearance. The tables and stools were of poplar white as snow;
no vermin was to be seen on the walls, which were hewn smooth
and whitened; and the whole presented a picture of neatness,
cleanliness, and comfort, such as we had not yet seen in
Kamtchatka. In fifteen minutes after our arrival, a refreshing
cup of tea was prepared, with fresh butter, cream, and milk;
and their being served up in so neat a manner, made them taste
more delicious than usual. Our hostess being a well-behaved
young woman, we requested her to do the honours of the table,
which she performed with the utmost cheerfulness and
politeness, just as if she had been bred in a city. In the
evening the old Toyune and his wife returned from fishing, and
seemed quite overjoyed to see us, as such guests, they said,
were not common; and they certainly took uncommon pains to
treat and to please us. The old man appeared between sixty and
seventy years of age, with a long white beard and moustachios,