4 FIELD AND TERN, 



for peace and quietness/' but the rest spurn his pen 

 and paper, and the project is ultimately quashed. 

 His announcement of the Fair Isle makes him 

 rather more popular, and a few of us peep feebly 

 through, the port-holes at those lonely fishers. They 

 have no regular post, but the tacksmen bring them 

 meal and take away fish; and so their life wears on. 

 The captain chaffs them by putting on extra steam ; 

 and the game stern-chase which they row for the 

 sake of the newspapers, which he opens and sends to 

 them over the waves like flying-fish, would not dis- 

 please Bob Chambers.*" 



A more protracted interval between his cabin mis- 

 sions is at last explained by the fact that our friend, 

 in default of other excitement, has developed a ten- 

 dency to sit on the bowsprit. In vain do the sailors 

 warn him that he will become a prey to the lobsters ; 

 and of course a " difficulty" ensues with the mate, 

 who follows up his "first warning" by collaring him. 

 He argues the point vigorously with that officer, and 

 fails to make any impression. The tea-party is any- 



* A friend has furnished us with the following sketch of the Fair Islanders : 

 "Between two and three years ago, the Fair Isle was found to be over- 

 populated, as the sustenance derived from the cultivated land was limited, 

 and the fishing had for several years proved a failure. By means of a public 

 subscription, a number of families were taken off the island, fitted out and 

 sent to Glasgow, whence they were forwarded to Canada at the expense of 

 the Emigration Commissioners. When these families passed South in the 

 steamer, I made it a point to notice their development and character. I 

 found the men both young and old stout- and able-bodied, and apparently 

 very intelligent ; the women the same in every respect ; and the children 

 stout and healthy. They spoke very good English, and did not seem at all 

 shy or put about when spoken to. In the summer time, I have seen several 

 of the Fan: Isle people at Kirkwall, which they reached in small boats, only 

 fit to carry four men. On every occasion they quite answered the fore- 

 going description. When they find their way South, they make first-rate 

 sailors, and I have known them reach the position of commanders of large 

 foreign vessels." 



