Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-09-16
BOY EGG HUNTERS.

Greenland boys are great egg col
lectors. AS soon as the gulls and
other birds that nest in the far north
appear in the spring the work begins.
No boy who has not practised good
deal ut climbing the rough mountain
sides and creeping over the glaciers is
allowed to venture on the perilous
task. But Mt fifteen, and even before,
n Greenland boy is as strong of limb,
MS fearless OF heart aud as cool OF head
as any steeple. climber.
EARLY some morning he takes bag
made of sealskin and with lunch of
dried fish or blubber he starts ont for
day in the mountains. Up, up, he
climbs along the dizzy edge of some.
deep inlet of the sea until no comes
to the rocky ridges where the gulls
mako their homes. An ordinary
American boy-and some OF them are
pretty good climbers, too-would not
dream that the steep mount n sides
could possibly be crossed, but the
Groonland boy knows just where to
step, just how to hold his stout staff,
and he will walk quite coolly along
jagged ridge hundreds of feet above
the water, where one little misstep, q
loose stone or bit of crumbling ice
would hurl him down to his death.
But it is only ON these wild ledgcs
that he can find tho nests
he seeks. Here every crevce is
filed with eggs, laid almost without
protection on the rock. AS he ap-
proac:les the gul!s go chaitering out
md circling round his head. He must
not look at them lest he become
dizzy. When he reaches o nest he
places the big blue and white eggs in
his bag, and thus he proceeds until ne
has load. Happy is he if he sees a
falcon rising in the mir among the
gulls, for falcons eggs are very val
liable. But its nest is hard to find,
and often whole day is expended by
tho brave hunter before he reaches
the spot where the eggs are laid. And
if his bag is already filled with eggs
he slips his new find into his roomy
sleeves.
It mny we'll be believed that the
task of getting back with the load is
doubly dangerous, but the egg-hunter
thinks nothing of it, and when he
reaches home in the evening he
spreads out his treasure. All of the
rare eggs-and sometimes there are
several in the lot are sold to dealer,
who supplies the museums and collec-
tors of Europe. The common gull'a
eggs are carefully examined and the
fresh ones nre sold to the missionaries
or to the traders.
Occasionally there are accidents.
An explorer tells of stout boy who
ventured too far out on rocky ledge
in order to reach a falcons nest, and,
losing his footing, fell. Fortunately,
however, he caught the edge of the
ledge with his hands and c.upg, crying
for help. At last his father heard him,
but it was n long time before they
could give him any help. They were
compelled to climb to the top of tho
cliff and the young egg hunters
brother was let down at the end of
long rope brought from the village.
1t was perilous descent, but the
plucky little fellow was determined
to save his brothers life. On reach
ing the almost exhausted boy he
fastened loop of rope around his
body, and the two were pulled up
together by the men at the top.
Later the brave hunter allowed him.
self to be let down to the falcons
nest, where he succeeded in getting
the much priced eggs. Chicago Rec
ord.
West Australia's gold output h&