A VISIT TO ST KILDA. 153 



common. The sea was alive with birds, especially 

 Guillemots, Razorbills, and Puffins, all very tame, 

 seldom diving until our boat was almost upon 

 them. Now and then a party of Cormorants or 

 Shags flew silently and swiftly by ; whilst at intervals 

 we could hear distinctly the gaggle of the Wild 

 Geese that were breeding on Harris and Uist. 

 Slowly drifting with the tide, we finally cast anchor 

 off the island of Obb, and there took on board a 

 supply of fresh water. We were under w^eigh again 

 at four, and as soon as the island of Pabbay was 

 passed we picked up a stiff and welcome breeze, 

 which sent us into the open Atlantic ; and we were 

 soon speedily bowling along a course W.N.W., 

 with all sails set for St. Kilda, some fifty miles 

 ahead. We had an unusually rough passage, the 

 seas running very high, and occasionally sweeping 

 the deck from stem to stern. Just as dusk was 

 falling the island of Borreay was sighted from the 

 rigging, and the excitement of " land ahead " — far- 

 famed St. Kilda at last — was more than enough to 

 make us forget the discomforts of the protracted 

 voyage and the buffetings of wind and waves. W e 

 met with very few birds en route. About twenty 

 miles from the islands a few Shearwaters paid us a 

 visit, flying just above the surface of the big waves 



