44 MEMOIR OF PENNANT. 



some places the birds lodge in deep recesses ; the 

 fowler will alight there, disengage himself from the 

 rope, fix it to a stone, and at his leisure collect the 

 booty, fasten it to his girdle, and resume his peril- 

 ous seat. At times he will again spring from the 

 rock, and in that attitude, with a fowling net placed 

 at the end of a staff, catch the old birds which are 

 flying to and from their retreats. When he hath 

 finished his dreadful employ, he gives a signal to 

 his friends above, who pull him up and share the 

 hard-earned profit. The feathers are preserved for 

 exportation ; the flesh is partly eaten fresh ; but 

 the greater portion dried for winter's provision. 



" The fowling from below has its share of danger 

 too. The party goes on the expedition in a boat ; 

 and when it has attained the base of the precipice, 

 one of the most daring, having fastened a rope 

 about his waist, and furnished himself with a long 

 pole with an iron hook at one end, either climbs or 

 is thrust up by his companions, who place a pole 

 under his breech, to the next footing-spot he can 

 reach. He by means of the rope, brings up one 

 of the boat's crew ; the rest are drawn up in the 

 same manner, and each is furnished with his rope 

 and fowling-staff. They then continue their pro- 

 gress upwards in the same manner, till they arrive 

 at the region of birds, and wander about the face of 

 the cliff in search of them. They then act in pairs ; 

 one fastens himself to the end of his associate's rope, 

 and in places where birds have nestled beneath Ids 



