, 1890-12-11

thatch and the action oC the peat
smoke IL forming into tiny glohules
ready for dropping, and whatever
they fall upon IL indclibly stained.
AN IRON CHAIN
hanging from the roof supports tho
huge round iron pot IN which tho
potatoes, the porrldge and the kali
brose are cooked, while the universe
teapot and bannock-pan or gi:sle
stand endless guard beside the fire.
One room usually comprises the In
terror, although a bedroom with its
roof slanting down to the very
ground, will occasionally be found.
The furniture Is an odd tumble OF
ancient oak aud later-day things In
varnish, cloudy delphi and radiant
china, olden Iron aud pewter and
cheap timed utensils, Gaelic wood
EN- "methersr and Brumagem things
which shine. There are square hunks
for beds in which u whole family
can repuse, genuine antiques here
and there such AS may often be
found in the lowly homes OF
Brittany; trundlc-beds which are
hidden beneath larger ones by day,
and do service anywhere at night;
and here ana there the seafaring in
stinct has caused the rigging OF
hammocks from rotten nets, OF
more ingenious ones still from lines
and barrel-staves. Creels and tubs
are many and various. Chests black
and huge are ranged along the walls.
And there are chairs constructed
from drift-wood or tree-liInbs, and
seats of squarc-hewn stone.
The food of these people in general
use Is "loaf-breadn from Glasgow,
which is unfortunately supplantinp
the more healthful oat- cake and
porridge. potatoes, fish and tea.
The few oats they raise are not made
into meal. These are reserved fol
the cattle; and there are few In
stances where they are not COM
PEELED to purchase city manufact
ured Oatmeal for food and seed.oat:
for each years seeding. The dress
of the men and women Is almost ex.
clusively Of home-spun material, the
Harris Csland) tweeds being fam ous
for warmth aud durability. The
odor of their garments, from
impregnat!on with peat-snloke, Is
at first very disagreeable to
strangers. Both men and women
are fond of colored materials, especi-
ally In handkerchiefs, neckties and
scaris, and, on OCCASION, some Won
derful combinations result. / have
seen q blue gown, a red tartan
shawl and u huge white bonnet dis.
played by u most modest and retir-
ing young woman. But intercom.
munication with Glasgow, which Is
the London of these folk, Is gradu
ally modifying these peculiarities ol
dress.
THEIR OUTDOOR ADJUSTMENTS
are meager. This is most noticeable
at the schools where the children
indulge in few games, displaying In
these far less enthusiasm aud skill
than with the fsher-children of the
east coast. "Shinty," or as they
call 1t in Skye, "clubs," is the pre-.
vailing youths game. and the only
other one of note is putting the
stone" -...-
1t is difficult to understand where
and how "courting" is accom-
plished. My friend lived nearly
1--WE years in Skye, and he asserts
that in that time he never saw q
couple walking together for pleas.
ure who were known to be lovers.
Two instances of their uiatter-of.
fact ways, where affairs of the heart
are concerned, came under his per-
sonal notice. A young man pro.
posed for the hand of a neighbor's
young daughter. The crofter father
decided that the elder should be
first married, and the young cour-
tier obediently took her away, ap-
parcntly perfectly contented. An
other young crofter proposed three
times during one winter be-
tore securing a bride. In
asking the fathers consent
the lover is accompanied by
a "best man. who sees that a
sufficient dowry is given with the
bride-a COW, "a ''sheltie" or one OF
more sheep, as the standing of the
BRIDES father warrants. The Low.
er's ''best man" had been too timid
to ask for this, and until one was
procured, at the third proposal, with
the bravery to ask the bridegroom &
traditional dues, the sage crofter
father did not feel like trusting his
daughters fortunes where pros.
pective son-in-law showed such i'm
providence regarding his own!
A QUAINT CUSTOM.
There is one prevailing custom
among them where labor and pleas.
ure are very winsomely blended
and this may provide all necessary
preliminaries to crofter matings. II
Is called "waulking the CLOTH" that
Ia, "fulling" the cloth. The expires.
sion doubtless has its derivation, as
do many other Scottish provincial
words and idioms, from the old
German. Waukmuller Is old Ger.
man for fuller, and "waukerp OF
"waulk- miller has the same signifi.
cation in Scotch. ''Fulling'' OF
shrinking the fine homespun wool.
ems Is IA common occupation of the
women during the winter evenings.
In this operation of 'waulking the
cloth" half dozen women, usually
grown lassies, sit on each side of a
long, wide deal table. The damp
ened cloth is held firmly between
them, and each side in turn strike
the cloth sharply upon the
table. They do this with a
very pretty swaying motion,
white he leader slings and the re-
mainder give hearty chorus.
While this is in progress the young
men begin to arrive singly and in
groups. Someone has brought u