THE HEAD OF THE HOUSE. 17 



east side of Unst. It runs inland from two to three 

 miles, with an average width of less than one mile. 

 Eight across its opening, and considerably overlapping 

 the rocky points of Skeotaing on the south, and 

 Swinaness on the north, stretches the narrow island of 

 Balta, forming a magnificent natural breakwater, and 

 completely protecting the bay from the swell of the 

 North Sea. The sound between Swinaness and the 

 north end of Balta is narrow and not a safe entrance 

 for vessels, except when wind and tide are fair. The 

 south sound, on the other hand, is a mile broad, the 

 water deep, and throughout entirely free from sunken 

 rocks, so that it forms a safe and deep access to the 

 bay (or Yoe, as it is called), where the anchorage is 

 excellent. 



The shores of Baltasound are low, and the land- 

 slopes gently backward to the foot of surrounding 

 hills. 



Near the head of the Voe, on the north side, and 

 only a few hundred yards from the water's edge, stands 

 what was our father's home, Halligarth, containing not 

 a great many rooms, but somehow always capable of 

 extraordinary expansion when the wandering stranger 

 required accommodation. Here our father lived for 

 well nigh fifty years, and here at the age of eighty- 

 four he died. His life in this remote locality was a 

 most useful one, and that, after all, is the noblest dis- 

 tinction a man can earn. Of his profession he had a 

 very profound and thorough knowledge, always keep- 

 ing well abreast of the progress of the day in medical 



B 



