OSLA'S WEDDING. 313 



wheeled vehicles — scarcely even a cart — anywhere. 

 The only interinsular communication was by small 

 open boat, when occasion required. The hardy, stout- 

 hearted islanders — descendants of the grand old Norse 

 vikings — plied their dangerous avocation of fishermen 

 in their tiny undecked six-oared boats during the 

 three months of summer, and drew from ocean's 

 depths their precarious but on the whole not in- 

 sufficient subsistence. There was scarcely any trade, 

 properly so called ; almost the only exports were dried 

 salt fish, oil, kelp, a little butter, and the coarser 

 kinds of hosiery ; and the imports were, salt, wood for 

 boat-building, a few cargoes of coal, a very moderate 

 quantity of meal in bad seasons, and groceries. Very 

 few ships of any kind were, therefore, ever seen 

 amongst the islands. Occasionally, a storm-tossed 

 bark or brig, short of provisions, would seek shelter 

 and replenishing of her exhausted stores in some 

 land locked voe ; or a Dutch fishing-buss slip in, to 

 disburden herself of a few hundred pounds of tobacco 

 and a few kegs of gin, without leave or fear of His 

 Majesty's Custom-house authorities. 



Now-a-days, regular communication is kept up be- 

 tween Leith and Lerwick by large powerful steamers, 

 thrice a week in summer, and twice a week in winter ; 

 and between Lerwick and the north isles of Shetland 

 by a good-sized steamer twice a week in summer, and 

 once in winter ; and telegraph wires connect the 

 south with Lerwick, and reach as far north as 

 Haroldswick, in Unst. There are now excellent 



