ICO TOUR IN THE WESTERN ISLES. 



of St Kilda, or Hirta - - the most remote, and, I 

 think, most singular of all the British Islands. We 

 put off a boat with several of our party, ordering 

 them to hail the natives, and to send out a country 

 bark, well-manned, to carry us over the neighbouring 

 surf. They got slowly to shore, and landed with 

 difficulty on a very rocky coast, with a heavy rolling 

 sea. "We afterwards found, by their not making 

 signal and some other circumstances, that we were 

 taken for a French privateer, and avoided as such, 

 all the inhabitants preparing their all for a flight to 

 the mountains. We in the vessel stood round, and 

 had a full coasting view of this most singular spot 

 and its adjoining rocks and islets. A more awful 

 scenery you cannot imagine. The grandeur of the 

 scenery was heightened by the fineness of the day, 

 and still more by the idea that a single puff of wind 

 might prove fatal to us, by raising the whole fury 

 of the Western Ocean. At last came two boats, one 

 belonging to the place and ours besides, but both 

 manned by the savayes. This alarmed us: we thought 

 tli at our party must be lost or taken, and the arm- 

 chcst was instantly opened ; but the boats approach- 

 ing, we found the natives quite pacific, and several 

 came on board among others their priest, without 

 whom nothing would induce them to venture near us. 

 The worthy man partook of our cabin cheer, and we 

 prepared to go ashore with some provender. We 

 found him and his compatriots in a state of ignorance 

 truly singular : they had heard of the Avar with 



