CHAP, x.] BUCKHAVEN. 439 



rows or streets ; as the fisher-folks themselves say, their 

 houses are " a' heids and thraws," that is, set down here and 

 there without regard to architectural arrangement. The origin 

 of Buckhaven is rather obscure : it is supposed to have been 

 founded by the crew of a Brabant vessel, wrecked on that 

 portion of the Fife coast in the reign of Philip II. The 

 population are, like most of their class, a peculiar people, liv- 

 ing entirely among themselves ; and any stranger settling 

 among them is viewed with such suspicion that years will 

 often elapse before he is adopted as one of the community. 

 One of the old Scottish chap-books is devoted to a satire of 

 the Buckhaven people. These old chap-books are now rare, 

 and to obtain them involves a considerable amount of trouble. 

 Thirty years ago the chapmen were still carrying them about 

 in their packs ; now it is pleasing to think they have been 

 superseded by the admirable cheap periodicals which are so. 

 numerous and so easy to purchase. The title of the chapr 

 book referred to above is, The History of Buckhaven in Fife- 

 shire, containing the Witty and Entertaining Exploits of Wise 

 Willie and Witty Eppie, the Ale-wife, with a description of 

 their College, Coats of Arms, etc. It would be a strong breach 

 of etiquette to mention the title of this book to any of the 

 Buckhaven people ; it is difficult to understand how they 

 should feel so sore on the point, as the pamphlet in question 

 is a collection of very vulgar witicisms tinged with such a 

 dash of obscenity as prevents their being quoted here. The 

 industrious fishermen of Buckhaven are moral, sober, and 

 comparatively wealthy. Indeed, many of the Scottish fisher- 

 folk are what are called " warm" people ; and there are not 

 in our fishing villages such violent alternations of poverty and 

 prosperity as are to be found in places devoted entirely to 

 manufacturing industry. There is usually on the average of 

 the year a steady income, the people seldom suffering from " a 

 hunger and a burst," like weavers or other handicraftsmen, 



