, 1879-04-12
Shetland Wcman.

ShGtisiEfG w UC.HsHs
Not far outside the town Of LarwicE
on the Shetland Island, there is great.
black, muddy tract Of land called peat
hog, al about is utter desolation.
There are no huts even 10 be seen. The
town Is concealed by 4 rounded hill: and
when, through some opening between the
bare upheayals, one catches 4 sight OF the
North sea, il, too, sc ms deserted By man
kind. The peat, Of mixture of roots and
peculiar hlacl, soil, is dug there in great
quantities: and ali about the place are
great piles Of it, dried and ready to be
burned lii the fire-places of the Ler~icll
people. Peat takes the place Of wood.
and in every poor mans hut in Shetland
it viii be found burning brightly, and
giving out thin blue smoke. To pre-
pare peat for the market, a great zeal Of
labor is performed. First come the dig
gcTs-men women and children Enter
mg upon the deep, miry bog, they cut
the soil up into cakes about foot long
and few inches thick and these they
place IN high places to dry. After a few
weeks they come again, and carry the
cured fUe! away 10 the town. II is while
carrying these loads that the She;landers
pres.rt pecUiiar spectacle. The men
are often very old, infcm, ana poorly
clothed; and tia women are dressed in
short skirtel, home-sP2a gowns, beyond
which may he seen very rad and very
broad feet. On their heads they usually
have white caps, nicely iroQod. with =
tiuted ruffie around the edge Passing
across the breast and over either shoulder
are two strong straps, and these support
IN immense Has;.ct hanging against the
baca. Thus equipped, the brave, stoj:5
women, their baskets piled 'i.h peat,
tramp iii 81 Lcrwici:, tao miles away, 10
sell their loads for Il few pennies each-
They make many trips a day, always
smiling, chatting and apparently cpn-
tented. Often lon. hne may be seen
carefully stepping a'pnc over the rough
roads, stopping now and then TO rest.
. The homes %. these poor peat women are,
many Of iheIn, simply novels When
they wish to hu.!d = home. they 90 out
INTO some fields, usually Gar away froln
utiies hats, and there they dig trench
.,L,,. =, .o,,,,., ,.;.., IS mound i',,n.
III. +ha, Li,;;J I'll +, > T.;.hf of ,L.pt
eight feet, and alI the c-eyic $ with mud
''l-'' - 'I ,'i-t a. - -
lay on layer after layer Of straw, mud
and stones. Bat what homes they seem
- us There is no fire place, only =
hole in tho ground, with Il hole in the roof
IL -. -, g., In E,st
"-,'''n's' s',o - avn. ,T T Ina'. -
60 -. -' I'll -,
Il, -, ,,',,,t..t,,,
III III J.. 80, ,man a%e. ci;3ra,, j,.,
a,I LIr, n,rai ;'',, n..,.,,,,.,,.ts sr,,,ira tho
- =. ,;.,,.;.i.. H. b1us.
g -. ~, h. ,,o.l..-,t,r,. worI of may
l-,, - s H.. ~, ,.'.,,ias and =
,.n.,b - -, r,,r,,,,,a1,.I Lv = waU
rrs+b.r.. = s,.n.+lin..a = pa,t woman 81
/ ctS,I,,,,l !, c,r.i;p:is.ly DOM tlrr We
: - ,,'.t Va. ,o.;..I IN have 10 Doubt
( ',..-rl ,.r Sh.-l.a,i. hcs..ev. C the fue,
Ian, s'.,.,.3...; .;...-ii ana a.!i-at. "!
/ rl.,r comes fr,-a tbs. f4r northern.
. ;-,.,.Is. E.v. -! the while the ras",
. hare! !,.--..i v4....., !, earring lie. acagy
Ln~d.a os re:,t l,er hands are never i,:lt.
! Sic !; iui..irs, kr,.t,i,.: a.ay - f:ss a
/ h..;. r;..,!,:, G8.rgs Viii allow. In her'
p,c'st IS the lt.i os yagn, aII u; her
( needles Il, l,f.,. aaG forth she we've,
/ r.i.-;., IS such fi.:eaes5 tl.at the roya.
! Ladies of England wear them; and sac
traveller visits the island w,th"ut loading
! h; tru:.h with sla5ls, ,aj,tens, stocking