The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-06-25

prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety.y Washington d. c.
Shetland ponies are sure to b.
thought by most persons the principa
product of the Shetland islands, sucl
is the power Of name. AS matter
of fact the Shetlands and their sister
isles, the Orkneys, just to the south
are the seats Of great fishing indus
try; and ponies and cattle are merely
raised as side issue, just as shawls
and stockings are knitted.
There is much of mystery about
these northern outposts Of Great
Britain. Relics Of an ancient race
presumably Picts-that inhabited the
islands are numerous, but practically
Romans called the Shetlands ultima
Thule" roughly "the end of the EARTH"
but recorded nothing worth while
about the people of this ultimate spot.
Briton and Scot seem to have been
equally In ignorance of their near
neighbors to the north during the early
centuries
What became Of these supposedly
Pictish inhabitants Is a mystery, for
when the Vikings swarmed down to
the islands before the Tenth century
they found no one to challenge them.
So they took possession and set up an
Independent regime under Scandi-
navian earls In 1898 these rulers be-
came subject to the king of Norway,
and the islands therefore became Nor
wegian possessions. Not until 146S
did the isles pass to the Scottish
crown.
Kirkwall, the largest town of the
Orkneys, the base of the American
navy's mine-sweeping squadron which
operated in the North sea in 1919, is
quaint place, and in ordinary times
Is quiet enough. A very narrow lane,
called Bridge street, leads back from
the steamship landing. It Is paved
with flagstones, and when team
passes the pedestrians have to stand
close to the walls or enter the door
ways.
Facing a broad plaza stands the
Cathedral Of St Magnus, distinctly |
the "show-place" of the Orkneys. 1t
is not remarkable so much for Its
length and breadth and height as for
its fine state Of preservation, despite
Its age. 1t was founded in 1876.
Where Hakon Died.
Across the street from the cathedral
are the remains Of the bishops pal
ace, a building with a large hall and
a great round tower. The latter was
built in 1910, but the hall is much
older, for here Hakon the last of the
great sea-kings Of Norway, died in
1868. This event occurred just after
the battle of Largs, on the coast of
Scotland, which, though mere SIR
mish, was fateful because 1t gave To
Scotland her first claim to the islands.
two centuries later in their
Hakon, sick and weary.
came to Kirkwall hoping to be re-
stored to health by st. Magnus; but |
he saint did not intervene and {
1akons body was temporarily In.
erred In the choir Of the cathedral.
Stromness, the second town In Inn {
,ortance, lies on the opposite side OF I
he island from Kirkwall and Is dis S
incfly more picturesque. 1t stands
N the slope Of hill, overlooking a '
eautiful harbor, and its single street b
visits and turns through 1t for about r
mile.
Stromness was the home of John
low, the famous pirate, whose career Il
uggested to Sir Walter Scott the t
haracter of Cleveland In 1.-THE Pirate" b
Iere also lived Bessie Mile, an old p
ag who sold 'favoring winds" to the II
FARMERS and from whom Scott devel- p
ped the idea of Norma Of the Fitful s
lead. From the hill back Of Strom- d
ess one may have fine view of the
sland of Hoy, the highest land in the n
rkneys. n
Ring Of Stenness. W
A most interesting feature Of the b
lands is their huge stones appar- a
1tly used in religious services like Il
lose found In Britain at Stonehenge a
operating the Locks Of Stenness and is
array Is a narrow neck of land, r,
nown as the Bridge of Brogar, at the b.
,uthern entrance to which Is huge In
one, IS feet high. popularity deslg- ii
tied as the Watch Stone," or "Sen- o
nel' h RAld at the right are the OF