334 SCENE IN A CUEEK'S OFFICE. 



lecture upon his ignorance and folly, and to declaim, with some 

 ■vigour, against the many absurd superstitions of the fisher-folk. 

 The lecture, however, has not been of much use, for I have 

 ascertained that the " freit " in question is stiU as rife as ever, 

 and that there is scarcely an individual among the communi- 

 ties of white-fishers on the Banfishire coast, who, if he can 

 avoid it, will have any transaction with any one bearing the 

 obnoxious name of " Eoss." 



I should now like to give my readers a specimen of the patois 

 or dialect spoken by the Moray Firth fisher-folk, although it is 

 somewhat difficult to do it effectively on paper, as the mode of 

 speUing does not always represent the sound ; but I wUl try, 

 taking a little dialogue between the fishermen and the curer 

 about a herring-fishing engagement, as the best mode of giving 

 an idea of the language and pronunciation of the Buckie 

 bodies : — 



Scene — A Oarer's office. Present — The Cueee cmd the 

 three "Shavies." 



Curer — ^WeU, Shavie, ye've had a pretty good fishing this 

 year. 



Shavie senior — Ou ay, it's been geyan gweed. 



Shame tertius — Pat did ye say, man 1 gweed — it's nae been 

 better than last. 



Ourer — Well, laddie, what was wrong with last year's 

 fishing 1 



Bowed Shame — ^Well awat, man, it was naething till brag 

 o', an' fat's mair, I lost my beets at it ; ye'U be gaun tiU gie's 

 a new pair neist fishin' ? 



Shame senior — Ay, that was whan he fc-nockit his fc-nee again 

 the boat-shore and brak his cweet. 



Curer — Well, but, lads, what about next fishing ? 



Shavie senior — Ou, is't neist fishin' ye're wantin' tiU speak o' ? 



Curer — Yes ; will you engage ? 



Shavie junior — Fat are ye gaun till offer ? 



Curer — Same as last. 



Bowed Shavie — Fat d'ye say, man 1 



Curer — Fourteen shillings a cran and fifteen pound bounty. 



Shamie senior — Na na, Maister Cowie ; that winna dee ava, 

 man. 



Bowed Shame — ^We can get mair nor that at FitehUls. 



