The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-05-21
PRIMITIVE LIVING.

Ne ."... . ~ #
The furniture is IN odd tumble OF an
cicnt oak, cloudy DELPHI. olden ironand
pewter with Gaelic 5nmethers.' There
are square hunks in, which an entire
family might repose, hammocks from
rotten nets, and ruder beds OF lines and
barrel:staves. Creels and tubs arc
many and various. Chests black and
huge are ranged along the walls. : And
here are stools and chairs constructed
OF drift-wood and tree.limbs, and seats
OF square-hewn stone.
Most Of the able bodied men engage
ln'the early summer in mackerel fish.
ing of the southwest coast OF Ireland.
they are no moro than at homo from
this, when they depart. for the north
east Scottish coast heffIfsc & fisheries,
II there be IntprherfiiS fshihg:m the
sea-lochs near their western island
homes, it is prosecuted in small open
boats Of from IS to % feet keel, at much
bodily risk and tortuous seventies OF
wind and weather. In these boats all
the fire. they have for cooking and
warmth is kept in huge iron pots and
in sleeping they tumble down any.
where in their clothing and oil.skins
and cover themselves with rags and
sails,
The wives and daughters OF these
crofter.fishers are, from the conditions
OF their husbands toll, less tishwiyes in
fact, dress and custom, than those in
any other fishing community in Scot
land. Some OF them engage during the
summer season in the east-coast curing
work. But all till the little croft patch
Of ground; spin and "waulk'. or "fulln
the noted handmade woolens OF Skye
and Harris; and in their ceildhs or Cos
siping parties knit, knit, knit, with the
same rapidity and as ceaslessly rs they
wag their nimble Gaelic tongues.
The lives of the east coast fisher folk
are far less hard and sunless. Their
houses are fairly good. They contain
two andsometimes three and four rooms.
As is also true OF the Newhaven folk, at
least II room Of the house is neatly
furnished, and is always: bright i
humble picture Of tidy-handcd housed
wiiery. On the Banlfshire aud Aoer-
deenshire coasts they are intensely re.
ligious, and are extraordinary disputants
on knotty theological questions. They
love dearly to harry and worry their
ministers, "outside O. kirk! with wise
and serious arguments. Theirold.drink.
ing customs are dying out. Thrift, SO.
briefly andiexcellensweekly newspapers
arc workingagenuino revolution among
them. It.
The herring fishing industry has
within q few years given both the Ork.
neys and Shctlands unusual prosperity,
as their total catch OF all fish is now
equaling one,third Of the entire catch
for all Scotland. Cod und ling fishing
is eNtensively prosecuted, many OF the
Shetland smacks going as far as the
Farce islands and TO Iceland. All the
fishers Of these islands are c%rofters and
seem to be prospers and comfortable.
Croft holdings comprise from three to
ten acres OF arabic land, with hill past.
ure, called. s:attald, in common.rs
At each croft home will DO found a
few sheep tho tleeccs OF which arc
never shorn, but "rued," that is pulled;
great tiocks Of geese; often n COW; and
always the stumpy,a su~re-footed little
"Sheltio" or Shetland pony. These
with tho Shetland women arc the
boasts Of burden. Tho latter will stop
of nimbly with seventy or eighty
pounds weight OF peat, kelp or fish in
their "kashies'. or %creels.s These fisher
c%roftors OF the Islands asa people are
most frank,I engaging and courteous,
though underneath all&therei Is 4 grave
c%anniness and reserve far exceeding
that of'the mainland Scotch.
sU%PERsTlTIoUs.
Next to Highland crafters all these
fisher folk are the most suporstitious
people Of Scotland. Their customs and
folklore which hnvo been the natural
outgrowth OF their vocation have been
practically ~changeless for half q thou.
sand years; and their portents and
omens are countless.
In Skyei if q woman crosses the water
where tishingi is in progress, and among
the Newhaven' men il tho namo OF
"Broungern-that OF m old Newhaven
reprobute who was the im%personation
of bad luck and 'ouce lived among them
be mentioned, fishing will be at once
discontinued. Skye and Harris fisher.
men have been known to beat their
wiyes drealfullv not iron, INV III fooliny