, 1890-12-18
Traits of the Shetlanders and
Orcadians.
A MOST PLEASANT CLIMATE
Grand Scenery of tho Far North
The Pictish Antiquities Of
the Orkneys.
rspecIal corrcspondcpce of Tho REVIEW. /

AltnOuSfl tneSe Iur-nWay isluhus w
long to Scotland, and though mer-
camille interests and iniernarriage
for 400 years show a marked Scot
tish, and especially Highland Scot
tish. influence and similarity OF
customs and manners, the Shet-
anders refuse to consider them
selves, or be called "Scotch." They
have always been "Shetlanders. ]"
Those from the mainla land are
"Scotch." Thus il has always stood,
and stands to-day with resolute
obstinacy. Both the Shetland
islands, and the Orkneys lying be-
tween the Shetlnnds and Scotland,
originally belonged to the old
scandinavian kingdom of Norway
and Denmark. In point of fact they
still do. That is, they were never
formally transferred to Scotland.
when, In 148S, James III. Of
Scotland took for his bride
Margaret, daughter of Christian l.
of Denmark, both groups Of
islands were merely assigned in
'wadset," or as pledge for Mar
garet's dowry. This form Of mort
gage has never been redeemed, nor
has 1t ever been foreclosed, unless
time may be said to have done 80;
and II at any time the $4,000 people
OF the Orkneys, who derive their
name, Orcadians, from the islands
ancient name, the Roman Orcades,
and the 1000 souls Of Shetland,
Ietland (aEcient Morse, Halt
land, or high.iand), should at any
time desire TO renew their allegiance
either to Denmark or to Norway
and Sweden, nothing existing In
International comfy could justly
opposs their doing so. There are
filty-six islands, islets and holms In
the Orkney group, twenty-nine of
which are inhabited; and the shet-
land group comprise 100 islands and
islets, of which twenty-eight are
peopled.
SCANDINAVIAN CUSTOMS PREVAIL.
In remote parts of both the Ork-
neys and Shetlands much of the dia-
lect of the natives is so impregnated
with Scandinavian words and
idioms as to be very difficult for
even Highland Scotchmen, between
whom and these folk there are
strong afllulties In speech and GUS
toms, to understand. At the time
these islands were pledged to James
III. for the payment of Margarets
dowry, 1t was distinctly provided
that Morse government should be
continued and that the claw of st.
OlaP'-that good saint who Is not
dead but only sleeping, and biding
his time to return with all power
and greatness for Norway--should
prevail. A relic of this ancient sys-
tenn Is found in the "peerie lalrds,"
or little lords, vino still hold and
may transfer their lands by word of
mouth, no written document being
required. These are to-day the only
absolute freeholders of land in both
island groups.
The region about Harray, on the
northeast shore of the Lioch of STEM
ness, in the Orkneys, and the town.
ship of Fladdabister, about ten miles
south of the city of Lerwick in the
Shetland mainland, are still peopled
by these 'peerie lairds." They are
wondrous boasters over their pure
Morse decent, and are poor, proud
and insolent. The Distinguishing
industry has, within n few years,
given both the Orkneys and Shet-
lands unusual prosperity, and as the
total catch of all fish on the Shet-
land coast now equals one-third of
the entire annual catch for Scotland,
1t would seem that the Scotch were
destined to reap rs great rewards
from this source US formerly did the
Dutch. Previous to the British i'm
position of salt duties in 17l2,
the fisheries of Shetland were
in the hands of the Dutch,
who, 1t is said, derived an an
nual profit Of $1,000, 600 from the
same, or the enormous profit during
their entire control of 81 900, O00, 900!
More than 1000 'busses" or fishing
vessels miget have been seen In Ler-
wick harbor at one time; while
few miles from Lerwick, toward
Scalloway, the ancient capital of
Shetland, Is still seen the "Hol-
lander's Knowe," or hillock, where
in the old times when the Dutch
fishers aud merchants were in the
ascendant, was held great annual
fair, where the simple islanders bar
tered their fish and woolens for to-
bacco, spirits and other luxuries
from Amsterdam. Other
INDUSTRIES OF THE ISLANDS
are very noted hosiery and various
knit fabrics of marvellous pattern
and delicacy of texture; sheep rails
ing, regarding which most interest.
ing tales are told of the carrying of
sheep for summer grazing to almost
inaccessible and uninhabited islands;
and the native cattle have been i'm
proved by cross with the southern
Shorthorns and the Scottish polled
A angus In the Orkneys there are of
late years many extensive and ex-
cellently cultivated farms; and dur
ing 1886 over 10000, 900 eggs were
exported. The salubrity Of the eli
mate In both these island groups Is
remarkable.
Though SO far north that in the
longest day OF the year the sun
rises ut two minutes past 8, setting
Mt twenty minut,s past o, news.
paper can be read at midnight and
the lark begins singing at l O'Clock
In the morning, and in the shortest