ETIQUETTE. 27 



The Western Isles form a happy hunting-ground 

 for a number of Jew pedlars, and one of these 

 found his way to St. Kilda on the steamer which 

 came to take us off. No sooner had this man opened 

 his bundle of gaudy wares than he was surrounded 

 by an excited crowd of women and children, who 

 began to handle and examine every tiling he had. 

 I saw the minister's servant-girl seize a brilliantly- 

 coloured petticoat, and rushing up to her reverend 

 master thrust it in his face with childish glee and 

 beg him to buy it for her. I mention this as 

 evidence of the innocent simplicity of these remote 

 people. 



One of the civilities demanded by the etiquette 

 of the place is that you shall shake hands with 

 everybody you come in contact with night and 

 morning. The first thing they ask you in the 

 morning is whether you have had a good sleep. 

 If an answer in the affirmative be given they are 

 satisfied, but if, on the contrary, you have not 

 enjoyed a good night's rest, they follow up their 

 solicitation after your welfare by inquiring whether 

 you have eaten a good breakfast. Should this be 

 the fact, they think you have no serious reason for 

 complaint ; but should the contrary be the case, 

 they are alarmed, and show a great deal of natural 

 sympathy. 



Although extremely pious and well-behaved, they 

 are deeply interested in the great life and death 

 struggles of the outer world; and one of the first 

 questions they ask, upon being visited by strangers, 

 is whether the Queen is at war with any other 

 country, and, if so, who is getting the best of the 

 conflict. Nothing delights them more (men and 

 women alike) than to hear that the enemy is being 

 smitten hip and thigh. 



