ETIQUETTE. 27 



The Western Isles form a liappv liunting-ground 

 for a number of Jew pedlars, and one of these 

 fomid his way to St, Kilda on the steamer which 

 came to take us off. No sooner had this man opened 

 his bundle of gaudj wares than he was surrounded 

 by an excited crowd of women and children, who 

 l^egan to handle and examine everything he had. 

 I saw the minister's servant-girl seize a brilliantlv- 

 coloured petticoat, and rushing up to her reverend 

 master thrust it in his face with childish glee and 

 beg him to 1juy it for her. I mention this as 

 evidence of the innocent simplicitv of these remote 

 people. 



One of the civilities demanded bv the etiquette 

 of the })lace is that you shall shake hands with 

 everybody you come in contact with night and 

 morning. The iirst thing they ask you in the 

 morning is whether you have had a good sleep. 

 If an answer in the affirmative be given they are 

 satisfied, but if, on the contrary, you have not 

 enjoyed a good night's rest, they folhnv up their 

 solicitation after your welfare by inquiring whether 

 you have eaten a good breakfast. Should this be 

 the fact, they think you have no serious reason for 

 complaint ; l)ut should the contrary be the case, 

 they are alarmed, and show a great deal of natural 

 sympathy. 



Although extremely pious and well-behaved, they 

 are deeply interested in the great life and death 

 struggles of the outer world ; and one of the first 

 Cj^uestions they ask, upon being visited Ijy strangers, 

 is whether the Queen is at war with any otlier 

 country, and, if so, who is getting the best of the 

 conflict. Nothing delights them more (men and 

 women alike) than to hear that the enemy is being 

 smitten hip and thigh. 



