St. Landry democrat., 1889-04-20
TIE ISLAND or BIRDS.
PecniiaEities of a Little fslo Of Which
Litsie Is Generally Known,

Li,sie Is Generally known.
The Island of Birds-for such. It has
been oonSectured, is the meaning Of the
word "boala' .is not so frequently yis-
tied by the tourist a. it deserves to he.
Situated at a distance of fifteen miles
from the nearest part of the mainland Of
Shetland, its cloudlike form, which,
seems to float On the horizon, is visible
FROM every bill! top Of any importance in
the archipelago.
The eye OF tae observer Of the pictur.
esque, as i, glides along the distant pros
pect, is caught by the fine boid peaks Of
Fouia, and returns again and again from
its general survey to gaze fondly on that
bland as The finest feature Of the scene.
Nor Is 1t only at a distance that it LOOKS
grand.
The cliffs on the west side. which are
beaten by waves which have rolled with
out g check all the way from Greenland.
are the loftiest in the British Isles. The
highest hill is the S:1cuk, which has an
altitude Of over thirteen hundred feet
above the sea-. Another peak, almost as
high, coItronts the ocean ;s a stupeldous
presipice from summit to base. These
crags are the homes Of i~nnuInerabic sea
fowl. the norie or sea parrot and tho
kittiwake being most abundant.
On the cast side the rocks are COMPARE
lively low. but not unlnteresting. On
the north there are soulc remarkable
stacks, or isolated rocks. one Of them
being pierced by 4 lofty Gothic archway.
and another sur,nounted by a ruin. The
f,StfIxpy C.,S,kor xf fIa tcI,oI oH,,1. ~o,k
and the grassy slopes at the back Of the
cliffs afford good nasturage for cattle and
sheep and a number of handsome ponies.
The population numbers $40. and, with
tile exception of three families. is engaged
in crofting and fishing. The Foulaese
arc masters Of many trades. They make
their W turning lathes and spinning
wheels. Some a repair clocks and
watches: all can make and cobble shoes.
A few are weavers and tailors, as well as
dyers. Every man is a mason. The wo-
men clip, and, ] am afraid, sometimes
roo or pluck the sheep. They spin the
wool and knit excellent stockings ard
sailors frocks or jerseys. ! believe if a
touiaman were to be placed naked on Il
desert coast with nothing in Ills possess
ion but q clasp knife he would not only
con,rive to find food for his support. but
III q short time would, by his unaided ef-
forts. be provided with clothes, with o
house having q clock on the walls and
with q boat and fishing tackle.
When they go TO sea they never use
the language that is%-rnployed on shore,
but a jargon sacred to the occasion. A |
woman they call ..cloven foode'' or
''flemelte, a parson is an 4.tINtander,
and the church is a ..bone house. = and
so on.
To use a land word in q boat is certain
to brighten away the fish. A copper coin
is nailed on every keel to prevent the
''brigdy' (which is the Danish name for
the hasAing shark, from sucking the boat
the bottom. A worsted thread having
nine knots on it is tied around a joint
when it is sprained.
Sick cows arc cured by drawing a
tom cat BY the tail over their backs. II
q minister o. a person with fat feet
the path of a man going out fish
ing rc fish will TIE got. TO accidentally
the feet when stepping into the boat
Is q favorable sign. A cat should never
W lHedtiolieh "fieli a. iHah Is Ddtifis His
line.
A rusty NJ. from a coffin will cure
he tootllache If used as o toothpick, and
/ sip of water from an old kneepan is a
sovereign remedy for some disorders. To
;atch q l,alibut for bait the fishermen put
1ine pieces Of peat into q Kettle above the
Ire before proceeding to sen.
A hen sisoaid be set when tho tide is
and All egg should he placeJ
the seed corn before it is sown.
When a sheep is being slaughtered in
leors no WOMAN should pass between it
md the fire. Stacks should be built and
he ground dug according TO the apparent
ourae of the sun. Beats always take q
urn sslnward before going to sea.-Lon-
World.