358 THE WILD-FOWLEH. 



persons) for the piirsose of fowling. Eacli party has at least one 

 fowling'-rope, which should be about thirty fathoms in length. 



A fowling-rope is an indispensable requisite for the operation ; and 

 was formerly considered the most valuable implement a man of sub- 

 stance could be possessed of in the island. It was looked upon 

 almost in the character of an heir-loom, and descendable throug-h the 

 family from g'eneration to g-eneration. It formed the first subject of 

 bequest in the will of a St. Kildian ; and, on intestacy, fell to the 

 share of the eldest son. In default of male issue, on falling* to a 

 daughter's portion, it was reckoned equal in value to two of the best 

 cows in the island. 



This fowling'-rope, upon which so hig-li a value is set, is not made 

 without considerable labour and expense — the material employed 

 being- raw cow-hide, salted and dressed for the purpose, and, 

 when so prepared, the hide is cut into thong-s of equal length, 

 three of which on being closely woven or twisted together form a 

 three-fold rope of great strength, capable of sustaining considerable 

 weig'ht, and sufficiently durable to last throug-h two g-enerations. In 

 this manner, with a succession of trios of the cow-hide thongs, the 

 fowling'-rope is made of the length required. The whole is then 

 coated with sheep-skins (dressed in the same manner as the cow- 

 hides), in order to preserve it from injury, to which it is constantly 

 exposed on coming- in contact with the sharp edges of the rocks. 

 Trusting- to the strength of a rope of this kind, and the care and 

 skill of those who have the command of it, the practised fowlers of 

 St. Kilda stalk about from rock to rock, and over precipices terrifying- 

 to behold, performing- their feats of daring- with g-race as well as 

 intrepidity. They go down into the most impenetrable clefts and 

 shelves of the rocks with apparent ease and delight ; and they sig-nal 

 to their companions above, by means of a string tied to the rope 

 within reach of the fowler's hand. 



The operations of rock-fowling are chiefly performed in the night 

 time ; but the egging is done by daylight. The method in which 

 the fowler captures his birds by night is very ingenious : it is as 

 follows : — He clothes himself in garments as nearly resembling the 

 colour of tlie rocks as possible ; but upon his breast he wears a broad 

 piece of white linen ; when, having descended, by aid of the bird- 

 rope, to some shelf on the rock where he has obtained a footing, he 

 places himself in a position with his back to the rock near the 

 roosts of the birds, where he remains perfectly still ; the birds, mis- 



