OCCUPATION OF THE PEOPLE. 193 



and then you see a decidedly Scandinavian face. Seott 

 describes them as known by 



" The tall form, blue eye, proportion fair, 

 The limbs athletic, and the long light hair ; ** 



and this type you not unfrequently find. 



I was much struck by the exceeding gentleness of the 

 working classes. A brawny, bearded man, who has not 

 a particle of cowardice or sneaking in his composition, 

 speaks to you with all the softness of a woman. Swear- 

 ing is a vice from which, so far as I could judge, they are 

 singularly free. Their language is Scotch, with some 

 unusual words, and a slightly peculiar accent, which no 

 doubt are the remains of the Norse. In talking to each 

 other, the common people use the familiar and kindly 

 " thou " instead of " you," and their bearing towards 

 each other is gentle and pleasing. 



I was one day crossing a frith in a pretty rough sea. 

 The smack was being steered by one of the passengers, 

 as the whole crew were required for other duties. He 

 had a difficult task, but he managed it well, and one of 

 the men said in banter: "Robbie, I'm thinking when 

 thou was a young man [Robbie was not above forty] 

 thou could steer a boat a little." 



" Weel," he replied, " my han' has been oot o't for 

 some time ; but when I was a younger man and in the 

 way o't, if onybody had said that I kent naething aboot 

 it I uwd hoe leofdt at him." 



In many other parts of Scotland the " wud has lookit 

 at him " would probably have taken an uglier form. 



o 



