Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-25
The Shetland Islands.

AS IN Oh kney, in Shetland, no trees are to
Oe seen: Ine eye may wander where it will,
and md no shade from the summer heat, no
WaySlde refuge from the stormy blast. Long
lines OF fluctuations, here rough and abrupt
there waving and continuous, cleave the sky:
great tracks of barren and unculti yated land
on all sides. In this, Shetland is very differ
ent from Orkney. There you have semi cult
walton not smiling plains and rich cOrn-ields,
but plains and fields that would be smiling
and rich il they could, and attempt it. In
Shetland very little cultivation is visible. Con-
Sequently, solemn gloom and certain gran
deur is apparent: the idea and aspect of in
tense solitude are much heightened; feeling
OF the utmost repOSe, though joined to a Slight
suspicion OF mOnOtOny. Long stretches of
m0orland with rich blooms that blend wonder
fully with the blue sky and the white floating
clouds. Hills and hOllOws undulate around
all covered with the rich purple gOrse that
shelters the Scanty amount of game that here
forms the sole delight and resource of the
sportsman. You may wander over many and
many mile of hill and dale, and plunge
through the gOrSe, and now and then get
Swamped in mOrasS, and sometimes for YOUR
reward come home at night with your bag full,
and sometimes return empty-handed. And
you may roam from early morning to the fast
gathering shades, when the birds have gone to
rOOSt and are too cunningly neSted to be seen
or disturbed, and by chance never meet soul
Mile after mile of solitary mOorland, and no
one to exchange word with; no sound to
own gun, or the shrill clang Of gull winging
its flight across the island, watching your
every motion with its keen little eyes, and
keeping wisely and well out of shot. Or sud
denly raven starts across your path with a
hOarSe crOak, and spreading his strong black
wings, looks magnificent creature as he tries
to escape. But you are ready for any surprise,
and before he is out OF range, down he comes,
and turning over and over falls with dull
thud upon the earth. that knocks the remain
ing life and breath out of him, and terminates
his wild career. But it must be bad days
sport that permits you to drop upon the fine
fellow; sad want OF shot at something, or
perhaps the necessity Of diScharging barrel ::
for gulls and ravens are, scarcely legitimate
prey, unless wanted for such purposes as mount
ing or winglng. All this heathery mOOrland in
autumn turns to a rich brown in the process of
fading, and in every direction the tints of a de-
Ginning year meet the eye. In your walks you
notice, from the brow of hill, how harmOni-
Ously this purple or brown heather blends with
the Sea-fOr there the sea is. You cannot at
any time, get very far away from it in these
Islands; if you are turning your back upon it
in one direction it is only to meet it in an
other there it ever is, calm and placid and of
exquisite tints, or restless and raging, accord
ing TO its mood. And its mood on one side or
the other Is, more often than not, angry and
disturbed; so that the waves beat themselves
against the rocks with noise of thunder, and
whirl and Seethe around the SkerrieS and rush
into the caverns as if they would shake their
very foundations. Woe betide the craft that
at such times ventures too near shore. But on
braeing, breezy day, with plenty of sun to
gid the sky and water and tip the gOrse with
gold, from these hills how clear and sweet the
air. Around you nothing but solitude, nothing
but earth and sea and sky; "le grand air." as
BILE expression Who can render "le grand
mcnarque" into its equivalent, its perfect
meaning? And here in Shetland all this
wealth of nature and cOloring seems to have
whole earth, sea, and air are yours, to breathe
and reyel in with full sense of keen enjoy
ment. Every nerve i'll the body responds to
the appeal; drinks in the almost intoxicating,
almost fragrant breeze. Each day the brain
and the sine%s seem to gain fresh tone and
strength, to return home like a giant refresh