208 SHETLAND. 



and looking over its shoulder. The sheeprock, connected 

 with the island by a ridge not many feet above the sea level, 

 is like a hugh sphinx with the features blurred by too much 

 washing, and another is like an old Rhine castle in ruins. 



No sooner is it plain that we are making for the shore 

 than groups of women and children are seen on the 

 hillocks, and almost immediately a boat is making for us, 

 while another crew are seen rushing down to launch a 

 second. Dividing our forces, we are rowed ashore in the 

 two boats, and find a considerable number awaiting our 

 arrival. The island is nearly three miles long and one 

 and a half broad. Its highest point is about 700 feet. 

 The population is 280 about 100 less than it was a year 

 or two ago, but still too great. The bane of the islanders 

 is their unwillingness to remove. 



Another drawback to their prosperity is the want of a 

 proper harbour, so as to enable them to carry on fishing 

 on a more extensive scale. Their only fishing is along 

 the shores for saithe. The more remunerative deep-sea 

 fishing is, I understand, not prosecuted to any large 

 extent. 



Foula, the etymology of which is said to be Fughloe or 

 bird island, is now our destination, lying between fifteen 

 and twenty miles west of Shetland, and upwards of fifty 

 from Fair Isle. It is not quite so large as Fair Isle, but is 

 much more picturesque. Viewed from the east it presents 

 a serrated appearance, having five large hills and two or 

 three stacks, all leaning in the same direction like the 

 teeth of a saw. The highest of them is about 1,400 feet. 



