HOUSEKEEPING. 95 



For some years past an excellent steamboat, com- 

 manded by a jewel of a captain, has performed this duty, 

 but at the time of which I am writing the " Packets " 

 were merely small sloops, with very little accommodation 

 for passengers. Yet by said packet one had to travel, 

 if one did not desire to remain in the insular metropolis, 

 where voyagers from the " adjacent islands of Great 

 Britain and Ireland " had been deposited by the Scotch 

 trading vessels carrying Her Majesty's mails. 



Bread and meat were brought by the packets ; but 

 what sort of bread and meat was it likely to be after 

 tossing about on the sea for two days — possibly ten if 

 the winds chose to be capricious ? Such supplies could 

 not be counted upon, and never were. They were 

 merely used as additional luxuries. 



Shetlanders learn to put their hand to any trade, 

 and most of the men can sever a sheep's jugular 

 scientifically. Also the servants know how to wring 

 a fowl's neck in the most dexterous manner, and can 

 " pluck " the unfortunate biped as cleverly as any 

 professor who performs the same sort of operation upon 

 his pupils. 



During the summer and autumn " a mutton " was 

 always to be had if a little tact and foresight were 

 exercised. A judicious message sent to Eobbie 0' 

 Virse, or Maunce o' Taft, that Tribby " knew well they 

 would not let her want for fresh meat while they had 

 a ' crater ' on the hill," never failed to bring Eobbie or 

 Maunce bending under the weight of a line, fat lamb. 

 A " makin' 0' tea " for the gude wife, bestowed with 



