to the Blasket Islands, S^c. 3 



current. Late in the afternoon we picked up my climber, 

 who had come down in his canoe, but, unfortunately, he 

 brought no wind with him, and when it began to be dark we 

 decided to lower the small boat and row to Inishvickillane, a 

 distance of five or six miles, although there was a heavy swell 

 on. We passed numbers of sea-fowl swimming around us and 

 heard the cries of the Manx Shearwaters as they flew past, 

 and finally we landed on the little beach, the only landing- 

 place on the island, and gi'oped our way in the dark along 

 the winding path which has been made up the Silurian cliffs. 



We had whistled loudly, hoping to arouse the family to 

 come to our help ; but they were afraid to come out in the 

 dark for fear of the fairies, and the wild cry of the Oyster- 

 catchers was the only reply. On reaching the cabin we were 

 greeted by two rather savage dogs ; but they recognized my 

 voice, and I soon received a warm welcome from the inmates, 

 who immediately lighted their only candle, a rush drawn 

 through the oily body of a Stormy Petrel. I spent the next 

 day on Inishvickillane and had a successful morning's birds'- 

 nesting, though it turned out wet in the afternoon, which of 

 course I devoted to blowing my eggs. 



The rain cleared away in the night, and the next morning 

 a brilliant sun was shining on a calm sea, so we rose early to 

 avail ourselves of a smooth passage to Inishnabro. It 

 is rather ticklish work sailing on the broad Atlantic in an 

 Irish canoe, which is only a framework of wood covered over 

 with tarred canvas. Even in calm weather there is a con- 

 siderable swell on the ocean, and the landing-place is a bare 

 rock. My climber was safe on the rock in an instant, but a 

 wave broke over me as I caught the rock and wetted me to the 

 skin. We spent a delightful day amongst the birds which 

 swarm on the island, taking a Peregrine's nest and several 

 eggs of the Stormy Petrel. During our row home we passed 

 several large seals, but they kept at some distance from the 

 canoe. On the following day we again visited Inishnabro, 

 and on the next made a longer voyage to Inishtoorskert^ 

 both visits being as full of interest as possiiile. 



After devoting a day to visiting the lighthouse on luish- 



b2 



