WATER FOWL. 385 



cliffs, whereof many are two hundred fathoms 

 high. But there are men apt by nature, and fit 

 for the work, who take them usually in two man- 

 ners ; they either climb from below into these 

 high promontories, that are as steep as a wall, or 

 they let themselves down with a rope from above. 

 When they climb from below, they have a pole 

 five or six ells long, with an iron hook at the end, 

 which they that are below in the boat, or on the 

 cliff, fasten to the man's girdle, helping him up 

 thus to the highest place where he can get footing; 

 afterwards they also help up another man ; and 

 thus several climb up as high as possibly they can ; 

 and where they find difficulty, they help each 

 other up, by thrusting one another up with their 

 poles. When the first hath taken footing, he 

 draws the other up to him, by the rope fastened 

 to his waist ; and so they proceed, till they come 

 to the place where the birds build. They there 

 go about as well as they can, in those dangerous 

 places ; the one holding the rope at one end, and 

 fixing himself to the rock, the other going at the 

 other end from place to place. If it should happen 

 that he chanceth to fall, the other that stands firm 

 keeps him up, and helps him up again. But if he 

 passeth safe, he likewise fastens himself till the 

 other has passed the same dangerous place also. 

 Thus they go about the cliffs after birds as they 

 please. It often happeneth, however, the more 

 is the pity, that when one doth not stand fast 

 enough, or is not sufficiently strong to hold up the 

 other in his fall, that they both fall down and are 

 killed. In this manner some do perish every year.'* 

 ' VOL iv. B b 



