niK OANNKT. 607 



additional supply of feathers : of these the tpuiiitity whirli the iiiitioii must furnish is 

 240 stone, each familj'' contributing what it can to the general stock, which is laid up 

 for tlio proprietor, or rather his tenant, in the slated storeliouse near the shore. In 

 their proceedings the}' thus literally realise a supposed poetical conversion : — 



' And though the vocky-crcstcd summits frown, 

 These rocks by custom turn to beds of down.' 



We wore certainly at first surprised that there should have been BO few of the middle- 

 aged and stouter class of men to witness if not to welcome our arrival. But this was 

 soon accounted for by the fact, that, about ten days previous, a princijDal portion of the 

 male population had proceeded to the neighbouring island of Borrera, and a steep rock 

 near it, to collect ; and the boat (they have only one) had gone off with a crew that 

 morning to bring these adventurers homo. They arrived while we were still in the 

 island, — nineteen stout men and lads, the crew included, — and we had an ojjpor- 

 timity of inspecting tlieir harvest. The large boat was half-filled with huge bundles of 

 feathers, and besides these v>'ere a* great number of smaller bundles of dark red rather 

 repulsive-looking fleshy things, whioh wo found to consist of the hind-legs and backs of 

 birds, chiefly young solans." 



lie adds to this statement: — " We have already mentioned the 240 stone of feathers 

 as a general contribution, and the twenty-three pecks of barley payable by each of the 

 families (about a score in number), which have allotments of arable land, — the two 

 combined forming the rent of the island, or at least its principal portion. For this they 

 have their houses and plots of ground, the right of course of catching the birds, plucking 

 and storing their feathers, and eating their eggs and flesh, — and the further privilege of 

 grazing (each family) ten sheep upon the hill-pastures, and ths right of cutting or 

 rather pairing turf. Two or thr<2e small horses still exist upon the island (originally 

 imported to carrj- turf), but they are found to be of no use, and therefore no charge is 

 nrade for their pasture, and we believe the people would willingly part with them to any 

 person who would carry them away. So whoever desires a cheap horse, we recommend 

 him to proceed forthwith to St. Kilda. 



"Tlie great product of St. Kilda is feathers, collected, as we have said, by the general 

 population, every working man doing what he can to fill the boat during each excursion 

 to the rocks or neighbouring islands, until the requisite supply has been obtained and 

 stored away. In this way old age and sickness are of no disadvantage to the individual 

 beyond the physical suflerings which they may entail; for his house, grazing, and fuel 

 privileges belong to him as a member of the community, and the feathers are cdftlected by 

 the able-bodied, who also distribute a duo proportion of the general stock of solan goose 

 flesh, fulmars, and other delicacies, to the feeble or inefficient. Of course your widow 

 woman and others who have no husbands to work for the general benefit, are expected 

 when in health to do what they can to contribute in some measure to their own 

 support, by snaring puifins and otlier poultry at their convenience ; but no one who is 

 reallj^ unable to worlc need fear want, as he is sure of his share from the general stock. 

 Wliat a blessed change would it be for the poor of other places (wealthy, liberal, and 

 enlightened), if a similar system were pursued ! So let our philanthropists think of these 

 things. 



' Bat, oh, o'er afl, forget not Kilda's race. 



On whose bleak rocks, which brave the wasting tides, 



Fair Nature's daughter. Virtue, yet abides. 



Go, just as they, their blameless manners trace ! , 



Then to mine ear transmit some gentle song. 



Of those whose lives are yet sincere and plain. 



Their bounded walks the rugged clifls along, 



And all their prospect Init the winti-y main. 



