E K N E Y 



CHAPTER II. 



OCCUPATION OF THE PEOPLE. 



islanders are brave and hardy. During the season 

 of egg-gathering they may be seen at one time 

 climbing a precipice to rob the nests, at another swing- 

 ing from the face of a rock with nothing between them 

 and almost certain death but a rope round their waists. 



They thus naturally acquire the habit of talking of 

 danger and even of death in a way that seems to indicate 

 indifference to both. Probably few, however, reach the 

 degree of coolness exhibited by an old man who went out 

 one day with his son to gather eggs. The son descended 

 the face of a high rock with one end of a rope round his 

 waist, the other being fastened to a stake above, while 

 the old man remained In his boat at the base, in case of 

 accident. The precaution was not unnecessary, for the 



