ROCK-FOWLING IN THE SHETLAND ISLKS. 355 



unaccountable phenomenon. The Holm, which is little more than 

 five hundred feet in length by one hundred and seventy in breadth, 

 rises abruptly from the sea in the form of a perpendicular cliff, one 

 hundred and sixty feet in height. The chasm, which intervenes 

 between it and the no less precipitous banks of Noss cannot be looked 

 upon, or contemplated, without horror. 



The wood cut is a small sketch of the Holm of Noss, with cradle 

 and rock-fowlers engaged in the pursuit of fowling 1 . The stupendous 

 height of the rocks renders it impossible to show the figures very 

 clearly ; the cut will therefore give the reader only a very indistinct 

 notion of the scene. From the cradle to the water the height is one 

 hundred and sixty-two feet, and the depth of the water is twenty- 

 seven feet eight inches, as measured by Dr. Scott, of Lerwick. 



Dr. Hibbert* states that the original temptation to reach this 

 Holme was caused by the innumerable birds which visited it during 

 the season of incubation, when the grass became literally whitened 

 with their eggs. The writer also gives an interesting narrative of 

 the manner in which the perilous feat was accomplished, but whether 

 a traditional statement or otherwise it does not appear ; though it is 

 evidently well authenticated. It appears that upwards of two cen- 

 turies ago an adventurous fowler was induced, for the tempting re- 

 ward of a cow, to ascend the Holme from its base a hardy and 

 almost incredible undertaking, which lie accomplished; and having 

 reached the top, two stakes were thrown across to him from the 

 island, with tools for fixing them in the rock at the projection nearest 

 the opposite precipice. Having firmly fixed the stakes, the object of 

 the perilous adventure was accomplished ; and the fowler was en- 

 treated to avail himself of the communication of ropes for the pur- 

 pose of returning across the gulf. This he refused to do, preferring 

 to descend by the way that he had climbed ; and in the rash attempt 

 he fell, and perished. Strange to say, it does not appear that the 

 unfortunate man waited to complete the undertaking by twisting a 

 rope round the stakes ; nor is it stated that such was thrown across 

 to him for that purpose. 



The manner in which the islanders availed themselves of this ill- 

 fated hero's success, and completed the hempen tram-way across the 

 chasm, was by first conducting a small double cord across it, attach- 

 ing a stone at one end and throwing it over ; then, by means of a 



* Vi<lc Hibbert's " Description of the Shetland Isles," page 285 : A.D. 1822. 



