INTRODUCTION. XXXV 



vraic or sea-weed harvest is looked forward to with 

 the greatest anxiety. '' In Jersey/' writes the au- 

 thor of a work descriptive of that island, '' the time 

 of gathering" this manure is fixed by the legislature, 

 and is restricted to twice in the year, except when 

 boisterous weather may have detached portions from 

 the surrounding rocks and driven it on the coast, 

 and even the gathering of tins is controlled by 

 authority. The time of general vraicking^ is fixed 

 to commence some time about the middle of March, 

 and towards the end of July : it lasts about ten 

 days. It is a scene of great interest to the island- 

 ers, and one of amusing bustle to the stranger. 

 Parties of eight or ten persons usually associate 

 and agree to assist each other. They provide them- 

 selves with a short scythe, not unlike an English 

 reap-hook, and a thick covering for the leg, to pro- 

 tect it from accidents. The provender for the day 

 usually consists of cakes made for the occasion, 

 called ^^ vraicking cakes,'' and a keg of cider. Thus 

 accoutred and provided, they proceed to the coasts 

 with carts, and thence to the rocks which are ac- 



