The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-11-10
The [seland of Birds.

luently visited by the tourist as it
deserves to be. Situated at a distance
of fifteen miles from the nearest part
Vi the mainland of Shetland, its
cloudlike form, which seems to float
on the horizon, is visible from every
nil top of any Importance in the
archipelago.
The eye of the observer of the pic.
turesque, as it glides along the dis
tant prospect. is caught by the fine
bold peaks of Foula, and returns
again and again from its general sur
vey to gaze fondly on that island as
the finest feature of the scene. Nor
is it only at distance that it looks
grand.
The cliffs on the west side, which
are beaten by waves which have
rolled without a check all the way
from Greenland, are the loftieSt in
the British Isles. The highest hill is
thesneuK, which has an altitude of
over thirteen hundred feet above the
sea-. Another peak, almost as high.
isdce from summit tO.base. These
crags are the homes of innumerahle
sea fowl, the norie or sea parrot and
the kitiwake being most abundant.
On the east side the rocks are COM
paratiyely low, but not uninterest
ing. On the north there are some
remarkable stacks, or isolated rocks,
one of them being pierced by lofty
Gothic aichWav, and another sur
mounted by a ruin. The hollow
center of the island affords peat, and
the grassy slopes at the back of the
cliffs afford good pasturage for cattle
and sheep and number of hand
some ponies.
The population numbers 270. and,
with the exception of three families,
is engaged in crofting and fishing.
The FoulaeSe are masters of many
trades. They make their own turn
ing lathes and spinning wheels. Some
can repair clocks and watches all
can make and cobble shoes. A few
are weavers and taiors, as we'll as
dyers. Every man is mason. The
women clip, and, am afraid, some
times roo or pluck the sheep. They
spin the wool and knit excellent
stockings and sailors frocks or jer-
seys. | believe if Foulaman were
to be placed naked on a desert coast
with nothing in his possession but a
clasp knife he would not only con-
trive to find food for his support, but
in short time would, by his unaid
ed efforts, be provided with clothes,
with a house having a clock on the
walls and with a boat and fishing
tackle.
Wan they go to sea they never
Use helanguage that is employed on
shore, but a jargon sacred to the oc-
casion. A woman they call "cloven
foode" or "hemelte," a parson is an
"upstander," and the church is a
"bone house," and so on.
To use a land word in boat is GER
tain to frighten away the fish. A
copper coin is nailed on every keel to
prevent the "brigdy" (Which is the
Danish name for the basking shark
from sucking the boat to the bottom.
A worsted thread having nine knots
on it is tied around joint when it is
sprained.
Sick cows are cured by drawing a
tom cat by the tail over their backs.
If a minister or a person with flat
feet crosses the path of a man going
out fishing no fish will be got. To
acciiently wet the feet when stepping
into the boat is a favorable sign. A
cat should never be mentioned when
man is batting his line.
A rusty nail from coffin will cure
the toothache if used as toothpick
and sip of water from an old knee
pan is sovereign remedy for some
disorders. To catch a halibut for
bait the fishermen put nine pieces OF
peat into kettle above the fire before
proceeding to sea.
A hen should be set when the tide
is flowing, and an egg should be
placed among the seed corn before it
is sown. When a sheep is being
slaughtered indoors no woman should
pass between it and the fire. Stacks
FslIould be built and the ground dug
according to the apparent course OF
the sun. Boats always take a turn
sunward before going to sea.-Lon.
don World.
The Great Eastern, as she silently