214 SHETLAND. 



shelving rock, but did not take care to secure his boat, 

 which drifted away, as there was a considerable ground 

 swell. He remained a prisoner for two days, when, the sea 

 having calmed down, he plunged in and swam to a point, 

 from which he climbed to the top of the rock, and escaped. 



The effects of a generally tempestuous sea are every- 

 where apparent. Near the peninsula of Northmavine is a 

 lofty rock called the Dorholm, through which the sea has 

 aten a wonderful arch, 140 feet in height, and above 500 

 feet wide. Not far from this is another magnificent rock, 

 called the Drenge, or Drongs, so fantastically cleft and 

 shattered by the action of the sea as to present, from 

 certain points of view, the appearance of a small fleet of 

 vessels in full sail. 



There is perhaps no community that gives such 

 indications of industry among the female population as 

 Shetland. The knitting needles and the worsted are 

 continually in their hands, and seem to form part and 

 parcel of the woman herself. If you take a walk towards 

 Tingwall, you will meet or pass dozens of women going 

 for or returning with peats from the hill, all busy 

 knitting one a stocking, another a stout shawl or cravat. 

 The finer articles scarfs, veils, and lace shawls, which 

 are often exquisitely fine cannot be worked in this 

 off-hand way, and are reserved for leisure hours at home. 



The poorer classes generally wear, not shoes, but 

 " rivlins" a kind of sandal made of untanned cow-hide, 

 or sometimes sealskin, with the hair outside, and lashed 

 to the foot with thongs. 



