158 BERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



piece cut off at the point, to let out the snuff, 

 where they fix a leather plug. This is still called 

 a snuff-mill in Scotland, for they formerly used 

 a machine attached to it, like a nutmeg-grater, 

 which made the snuff, as often as a pinch was 

 required ; and my companion says that this is 

 the custom also amongst the shepherds of the 

 Alps. 



" Their houses are constructed without mortar, 

 for there is no lime on the island ; the stone walls, 

 which are raised only three or four feet from the 

 ground, are double, and the interval is filled with 

 earth. In the walls there are several recesses, 

 each covered by a flag ; and in these holes, like 

 ovens, the people sleep. The windows and chim- 

 neys are simple openings in the roof; from which 

 also hang their implements of husbandry, as well 

 as of bird-catching, with their ropes, and fishing- 

 rods, &c. and many long bladders, containing the 

 oil of the fulmar, to supply their lamps, and also 

 to use as a medicine. Every person has a dog, 

 a small rough species of the Highland terrier, 

 which scrambles along the cliffs, and creeps into 

 the holes of the Ailsa cocks, who live in the 

 ground, like rabbits. 



" As to music, for which St. Kilda was famous, 

 I am sorry to say that neither bagpipe nor violin 

 were in the island when I was there ; the airs, it 

 is said, are very plaintive, like the generality of 

 Highland music. 



