32 ST. KILDA. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



although no probable explanation could be assigned, 

 may perhaps be a sufficient reason for noticing it here ; 

 although it will not afford an additional argument in 

 favour of its credibility. It is asserted that on the arrival 

 of a stranger, all the inhabitants, (in the common phrase- 

 ology,) catch a cold; an event so ludicrous as scarcely 

 to admit of a serious examination. The question was 

 put by us to the inhabitants, who unanimously agreed 

 in the story ; the minister's wife, then regent of the 

 island, repelling the notion of a doubt with as much 

 indignation as she would that of the truth of her cate- 

 chism. I need scarcely say that a cross examination of 

 the evidence produced no instance of the fact itself, al- 

 though abundant examples of a belief in it. Credible 

 witnesses have never been wanting in support of witch- 

 craft and demoniacal influence. The greater facility 

 which the mass of mankind finds in believing than 

 examining, together with the natural love of the mar- 

 vellous, will probably continue to persuade the natives 

 of St. Kilda of the truth of this catarrhal visitation, 

 although every year's experience should contradict it as 

 effectually as my visit. Believers of a higher class who 

 have given their assent to this tale, either from unwil- 

 lingness to doubt a positive assertion, or from some 

 latent regard for extraordinary and occult phenomena 

 which they would fain conceal even from themselves, 

 have attributed it to the east wind, which they have 

 supposed necessary for the landing of a boat. This theory 

 is unfortunate, since no wind renders landing so impracti- 

 cable, as it blows right into the bay and raises a surge 

 on the rocks. But enough of this. 



To have circumnavigated the Western isles without 

 even mentioning the second sight, would be unpardon- 

 able. No inhabitant of St. Kilda pretended to have been 

 forewarned of our arrival. In fact it has undergone the 

 fate of witchcraft ; ceasing to be believed, it has ceased 

 to exist. It is indifferent whether the propagators of an 



