Morning journal and courier., 1890-07-05
neat looking houses, largely composed of

WOOQ
It will not take the visitor long time to
explore the lower town, where the chief bus
mess housss are established. and to take note |
of the distillery, where the only well OF
water is situated. The upper iowa, built on
the top of the rock, Is reached by means OF
three hundred and seventy-6ve ster5, or y
this gives too great fatigue the visitor can
half pence. The coins are the pfennig, ten
of which make a gss:ehen, sqd ten eIosshen
make one mark or shilling.
Once on the rock we gee the cottages of
the poorer people, who are chiefly fishermen.
Before each cottage ere strings of heddock,
cod, ling and other fish hung up in severed
roWs to dry, having previously bean dipped
In brine. The fab ere ple:si in ba.1e,s for
consumption in the winter, for Heligolaad
depends entirely on Germany for meat,
which the poor cannot afford, and at the
present time coal is two pouats Per ton.
There are but few tress on the island, aad
these are vel ? small, and jest now the haw-
thorn, laburnum and lilac are in bloom; but
these are only noticeable because of thei-
rarity. The inhabitants depend for water
upon the rainfall, thus before each cottage =
a tank to catch the precious boon from
above, as it flows from the roofs OF the
houses into the Tanks. There is govern
ment reservoir which is used only in time OF
dearth. The inhabitants are sober and
well behaved people, and crime Is, therefore,
yery rare. and the offenses which come be-
fore the magistrate are of a most trivial
character. Let it be noted that there ia no
LAWYER in Heligoland, and that each person
pleads his own case. The people are not
testotalers, though strictly moderate. They
can purchase drink everywhere, and their
usual plan is to sip small quantity of
schnspps, to be followed Immediately by
draught of lager beer as they eat their bread
and The eririta innnOrfad from
Holland and Germany and sold for one gros-
chen per glass. The islanders are distinct
race, with pleasing cast of countenance,
Drowned with exposure, and with wiry
frames. The language is mixture of Ger
man, Danish and French; and very many OF
the people can converse in English, which ia
taught in the school. Several of the inhabi-
tants have never been from Heligoland.
They marry and intermarry, yet there is but
one 1unatio on the island. The young peo-
pie never walk arm in arm until they are be.
| trothed. This ia mcst solemn act publicly
| announced. Owing to the fewness of the
| houses and the want Of space to build new
| on the decease of householder they begin
housekeeping on their own account. The
marriage having been arranged for the ususl
| day-Sunday afternoon, between the hours
of three and four-prepsration are made to
furnish the house on the previous Thursday
This Is called the bedding day. Then the
BRIDES female friends assist her to taxa the
bed and bedding, which the bride must con.
tribute, to her future home. with the othel
furniture and wedding presents. The ns'
tives have settled the vexed question of wo
mems rights, for the women have to bear thu
chief of the carrying burden. After tn
wedding the bridal party perambulate tn
whole of the town, when they repair to TIL
dance house and spend the evening in dan
cling.
It must be noticed, however, that thei
Sabbath begins at ak p. m. on Saturday
when the church bel@ is tolled, and ends OIL
Sunday at the same hour. Formerly NJ
vessel could leave port between these hours
Marriage cancels every other engagement, g
} that there can be no breach of promls
brought against man when once he is mar
ried.
The inhabitants have strange custom o.
New Years eve. They then perambulat
the streets with broken pots and pans, whic
they place before their friends doors, an
the man who has the largest heap before hi
cottage is considered the most popular.
The people rarely lock their doors, Blu
when they do they leave the key where
: can be reached by any one seeking adnji
sion.
The fisher girls bait the hooks and carr
them in large wooden basket filed wit
, sand to the fishermen on the beach. This
by no means light burden; yet they may b
seen cheerfuliy chatting with their eonpar
ions as they march onward with wools
l shawls over their heads. The streets hes
English names, as Leopold, Berlin, Church
= Augusta. Thames, Short, O'Brisn, Prince {
Q Wales, Princess str Get, etc.; but the native
have their own names for them.
Q Heligoland has small prison, or look al
: but they rarely lock any one up, as they d
9 not care to board the prisoner. There
d also small cottage hospital ready for use
r necessary, but patients are few and far b.
tween. There is also poor house. He
# poor people live rent free. The plan edop
J. cd is for parents and children to 90 befo
!, the magistrate, when the former resign ar
= little property they may possess to the
Q children, who in their turn promise to Ar
them In food. When the husband dies Il
]; wife takes his property. and at her decease
y Is equally divided between tho children.
g There are no horses or donksys on Helig
50 land, for they would be useless there; b
y there are eight COWS and about thirty She
q tethered and MIXED, the milk being consi
80 cred superior to that of cows.