NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 239 



them of health and long life, did not custom and 

 a country-habit plead a prescription, both as to 

 physick and diet : Insomuch, that neither gass 

 nor blass, nor any nauseating suffocating fumes, 

 nor hardly death it self can snatch them from 

 Scotland ; where some natives have lived to a 

 prodigious age. 



TheopJi. But to the country of Fife, I fear 

 you'l forget it. 



Am. No, no, doubt it not, nor would I have 

 you startle the mariner, who, because destitute 

 of a card to pilot us over by, is compell'd to 

 make use of a compass of straw. 



Theoph. A very ingenious invention ; pray tell 

 us the manner on't. 



Am. Don't push too hard upon me ; and I'll 

 tell you this new way of navigation. When 

 cloudy mists arise that darken the face of the 

 firmament, and threaten danger without any dis- 

 turbance, you shall then see the seamen stuff the 

 stern with straw, as now they do with little 

 trusses, which they successively expose one at a 

 time ; and so supply it time after time from the 

 stem of the vessel, till at length they arrive at 

 the desired shoar, as now we do ; And thus have 

 I past and repast from Dundee. Nor is there 

 any difficulty nor danger to any man more than 

 hazarding his carcase in timber. Now welcome 





