LERWICK. 201 



On taking a walk through the town, you find that your 

 first impression as to its irregularity was pretty correct. 

 If one could fancy all the houses in a town of upwards of 

 3,000 inhabitants engaged in dancing a Scotch reel, and 

 that just as they were going through the reel the music 

 had ceased and the houses had suddenly taken root, he 

 would form a pretty accurate impression of the plan of 

 Lerwick. The houses, examined individually, improve 

 on a nearer acquaintance. 



Besides comfortable lodgings there is boundless hos- 

 pitality. Any man with a decent coat on his back, and 

 a fair appearance of respectability, can count not only on 

 hearty, but, if necessary, prolonged entertainment at a 

 Shetland fireside. 



i 



Shetland contains about a hundred islands ; of these 

 nearly thirty are inhabited, and the population is upwards 

 of 30,000. The climate is very variable, and there is great 

 liability to sudden and sometimes violent storms. Of this 

 two Crimean officers had good proof a year or two ago. 

 They paid a visit to Shetland for the purpose of shooting 

 and fishing, and called on a friend of mine with letters of 

 introduction. They had supplied themselves with patent 

 pots and pans for cooking, and a portable tent, under 

 cover of which they meant to rough it during their sojourn. 

 My friend, who knows Shetland well, told them that none 

 but the sappers and miners had tried the experiment, and 

 that they had great difficulty even with their substantial 

 honse-like tent. 



" Oh," said one of them, who lisped very much, 



