CHAPTER XVI. 



BACK IN A SAILING VESSEL TOILS AND DISAPPOINT- 

 MENTS DANGER FROM BERGS AND LONGING FOR 



STEAM UNFAIR" FISHING NATIVE TRADITIONS HANDED 

 DOWN. 



IN 1863, I was once more mate of the barque Emma, 

 now sold to Messrs. Gilroy, of Dundee, in command 

 of Captain J. Nichol. We shipped our crew of fifty-two men 

 in this port. A dense fog set in on leaving. We brought 

 up off Broughty Ferry for two days. The wind changed to 

 the southward, and with a fine breeze we weighed anchor 

 and proceeded to sea. 



We had not got many miles away when the wind backed 

 to the eastward, and blew strong with thick blinding sleet 

 and rain. As we were near the land, and on a lee shore, we 

 were obliged to carry a press of canvas to make her weather 

 Kinnard's Head, which we accomplished, owing to her being 

 a fine, handy ship. 



When we arrived in the Pentland Firth the weather 

 cleared, and we soon sailed through it, passing Cape Wrath, 

 the Butt of Lewis (this night loth March, 1863 

 was the first time a light was shown on this point, in com- 

 memoration of the marriage of the Prince of Wales), and the 

 island of St. Kilda, and began to prepare for the voyage. 



So many things have to be made and repaired that it 

 requires the crew to be constantly employed during the 

 whole passage out. Everything went on prosperously until 

 one very dark night, when the watch was furling the main- 

 sail a man fell overboard from the mainyard and was 



