Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-06

are all very much alike In external ap-
pearance. except that Thorshavn, the capt.
tai. Is larger and more compactiy built
than the others The little houses are built
OF stone. or, as in Thorshavn. often of
wood. and for the most part are covered
with sod roofs, on which is growing a=lux-
ur:ant crop of grass, which the heat from
the interior of the huts causes to grow
longer and ranker than in the field. The
narrow lanes between the houses rise up
hill or down dale, or turn sharp angles at
their own sweet will, for there no troll
ley cars or wheeled vehicles of any kind on
the islands to be considered, and foot paths
alone are necessary.
From the upper window of every house
hangs string of haddock or bake drying IN
the scanty sunshine, and. often. beside the
smaller fish hang chunks of whales blub-
Der. black and rancid. but affordng a va
riety Of diet not to be despised in the long
winters, when food Is monoton0uS and
sometimes scarce.
A Trap for Whales.
The sight Of the whales blubber, black
ening in the sun, reminds us that these
islands are famous for their whale fisheries.
and sometimes a score of these big sea
mammals are driven into a narrow ford
and. finding themselves In a cul de sac,
from which they cannot escape, are
slaughtered by the fishermen. at their
leisure.
The Faroese are hardy. thrifty race.
who live where others would starve. and
thrive where others would go to the poor
house.
Their villages seem neat and well kept
and they make the most of their slender
resources. rescuing from the cold soil of
the bleak mountain sides little patches for
their gardens, where they can raise let
tuce, cabbages and few small potatoes
Very few vegetables and no fruits will
ripen. however, In this cold and foggy cor
ner of the world. where it rains or SHOWS
nearly two-thirds of the time, and the small
wealth of the islanders must be drawn
largely from the sea.
The dress of the men is picturesque and
quaint. Their heads are crowned with a
cap of striped cotton cloth made like the
toque of the Canadian voyageur, and their
legs are incased in knee breeches and long
gray stockings. the breeches being but
toned down at the knee with gilt or silver
buttons, after the manner of our fathers
A rough Jacket covering a wooden shirt
completes the everyday outfit of the men,
while the women have copied modern fash
ions to such an extent that you could not
tell them by their dress from the Scottish
peasants or the fishwives of Billingsgate-
moreS the pity.
These islands owe allegiance to Denmark
speak Danish patois and use Danish
stamps. but are really quite independent in
all Internal affairs, and look upon Denmark
with no love or favor, but upon the Farce
Islands as one of the great geographical
divisions of the earth's surface. In this
they are not much further wrong than the
rest of us, who have as much underesti-
mated them and scarcely knew of their ex-
istence.
In summer time these islands lie Aithin
the circle of nearly perpetual light, for the
sun does not set until 10. and rises again
soon after midnight, while the space be-
tween is spanned by a twilight that very
tolerably serves the place of sunlight.
The lonely lighthouses along the shore
are not lighted at all for two months in
summer. but serve unlighted beacons to
the sailor, who can see them a midnight
as well as noon.
klaksvig, on one of the most northerly
Islands, is the last port of call on the way
to Iceland. and is the most beautiful har-
Dor Of all, for it lies at the very end of
deep and narrow ford, with towering,
pyramidal peaks on either side, springing
up clear from the waters edge.
The steve6OreS of the Laura are a very
leisurely folk, often taking a full twelve
hours to discharge their cargo at these
little island ports, and giving us ample
time for a ramble on shore.
But at length the last barrel of American
petroleum and the last sack OF American
-four has been lowered into the lighter
alongside. the Lauras whistle blows its
imperative Shrek for all aboard, the
anchors are hoisted to the bows. and the
little ship points its nose to the northwest
and steams straight away four hundred
miles to Iceland.