APPENDIX. 



No. I. 



JL he following extract from Dr. Edmonston's 

 work on the Shetland Isles, gives a curious ac- 

 count of the popular superstitions still prevalent 

 among their inhabitants. " On no subject are 

 they more superstitious than in what relates to 

 fishing. Some of the more skilful prophets can 

 foretell, from the knots in the bottom-boards of 

 a boat, whether it will be lucky to fish or not ; 

 and whether it will be overset under sail, or be 

 otherwise cast away ; and boats have been reject- 

 ed and torn up in consequence of such a prophecy. 

 When they go to the fishing, they carefully avoid 

 meeting any person, unless it be one who has 

 long enjoyed the reputation of being lucky ; nor, 



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