Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-12-14

the course is changed, and your steamer
| crosses the ninty miles wide mouth of the
| great Moray Firth, headed for Wick, the
northeastermost Scottish port. Aber-
| deem, Peterhead and Wick are, outside
of Shetland, the most important fishing
ports of Scotland, and in smiling from the
former to the latter, fully 1000 craft
may be counted in pleasant weather.
At Wick were the gigantic breakwster,
on which nearly $500. 900 were ex-
pended, is in ruins. Landing passengers
and freight
IS DANGEROUS BUSINESS
IN winter. Lighters are employed, and
the huge ones for freight are known as
"bull boats.'' Wick was formerly the
herringopolis OF the world. Even now
its population of 5000 souls is doubled
during the fishing season, and as the
distinct and individual smells of our own
odorous Gloucester and PASSPORT. of
lreland's Galway, of England's New
haven, seems to have concentered here
in palpable pail of puneent pollution,
penetrating every Granny of Wicks'
long and crooked single street and bank
ing into insufferable stenches in her dark
side alleys, wynds and closes.
From Wick northward the coast grows
bolder in outline and Is given added pic
turesqueness Dy the huge ancient towers
ana modern castles, here and there built
upon the very edge of headland and
precipire. Among these are the castles
OF Sinclair and Girnigoe, the seat of the
Sinciairs, founded by the thames of
Ca!thness, the latter a very strong and
ancient fortalice; Castle Finglas In Sim
clair's bay, Castle Keiss and the lone
r.tfr nf ha1l
hour after passing Keiss your steamer 10
abreast, the northeastermost point of
the Scottish mainland. This Is noble
Duncsnby Head. II is two miles in cir
conference, lofty emerald cone set on
sea base of fearful rocks, gsshed with
numberless gloe or stream entering
chasms, and reaching threatningly into
the sea huge ''stacks' or columuar
rocks, fashioned by the ocean s bestings
into all manner OF weird and fantastic
shapes. A glimpse of the little inn near
the former site Of ancient "John
o 'Groet' s House, is caught around to
the west of Duncansby Head. Beyond
the narrow strait stands the little cuitl-
waited island OF Stroma, over which the
sea swept in the great storm of 1862
This passed, you cross the wild waters of
Peutland Firth, and a two hours sail
brings you TO anchor in the harbor of
Kirkwall.
This quaint old city, whose ancient
name was Kirkjuvagr or :church-
bay Is built on either side Of long,
narrow. winding street, at the foo: of an
overshadowing hill. Its one great object
Of interest is the Cathedral of St. Mag
nus, founded by Rognv valid, Jarl of Ork-
ney, about $50 years ago. Near 1t are
ruins of former noted buildings. the
Bishops and Earl's palaces. In the
latter can still be seen the fireplace end
outlines of the great banqustine hail.
where, IN the pirate, Scott places
the scene of the interview between
"Jack Buncs" and "Cieveland. :" But
you could hardly be induced to tarry
long in the orknsys, unless fascinated
by /
ITS PICTISH ANTIQUITIES.
On no other equal area In Northern
Europe, possibly excepting Carnac, in
Brittany, can such numbers and variety
be found. Within an hours walk of
Kirkwall are excellent examples of
chambered mounds and elrde-houses or
earth excavations, stOne-roofed. From
nine to fifteen miles west of Kirkwall In
the vicinity of Stenness and Stromness,
\ vast number of extraordinary Pagan
relics are found. The CrkShsug, or