356 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



long- pole or fishing'-rod, the cord was slig'litly elevated^ so as to he 

 drawn round tlie stakes : a thicker rope was then attached to the 

 cord; and upon the latter heing- drawn in, the other was, in its turn, 

 brought round the post. This operation was repeated until a strong- 

 and firm cordage formed the medium of transport from the island to 

 the rock. The tramway so far constructed, an oblong box or cradle 

 was contrived, at the extremities of which two holes were made, 

 through which the ropes of the tramway were drawn ; and thus the 

 cradle was safely slung. The first passenger across the chasm then 

 seated himself in the cradle ', when, there being a slight descent towards 

 the Holme, he glided easily across, regulating the celerity of his con- 

 veyance by means of lateral cords. The return trip was not so easily 

 accomplished ; it being on an ascent, assistance was required from 

 those on the island, who drew him up by means of a rope attached to 

 the cradle.* 



At the time when Dr. Hibbert wrote (1822) the Holme was used 

 as a pasture for twelve sheep, which were conveyed across the chasm 

 one at a time, the cradle being just large enough to accommodate 

 a man and one sheep at each transit. 



For the purposes of fowling, the cradle is slung twice in the year : 

 once in the egging season, and again in the fowling season. The pro- 

 ceedings of crossing the chasm are still conducted in the same man- 

 ner as that which has always been practised since the line of commu- 

 nication was first made. 



In the Island of Foula, the bird-man makes fast his rope to a 

 small stake or a dagger, driven into the ground. He sometimes 

 incurs the rash folly of trusting his life to a fishing-cord, which is 

 twisted around the stake or dagger 5 and, with no other assistance, 

 he descends from the top of the precipice, and collects his spoils. He 

 then ascends, by aid only of the fishing-cord. 



* Vide Hibbert's " Description of the Shetland Isles ;" also Gorton's " Topo- 

 graphical Dictionary," vol. iii. 



