ISLES OF SCOTLAND. SOI 



They are reckoned to be forty-six in number, besides about thirty 

 holms and forty skerries. The principal of them is, as in the Ork- 

 neys, called the Mainland, which island is about 57 miles in length, 

 and 10 or 12 in breadth ; but is so broken by creeks and inlets, that 

 scarcely any part of it is distant more than two miles from the sea. 

 These inlets form at least 20 harbours, six of which are very spacious 

 and commodious. The town of Lerwick, the only town of these 

 islands, stands on the eastern side of Mainland , opposite the harbour 

 called Brassa-sound, which is capable of containing above 2000 ships 

 commodiously and safely. This town contains about 300 families. 

 Skalloway, on the western side, which was once a town of some im- 

 portance, is now dwindled into a very inconsiderable village, though 

 the ruins of a castle are still to be seen there, and it is the seat of a 

 presbytery. The other islands of this group present nothing which 

 merits particular notice. Yell, situate to the north-east of Mainland, 

 is 16 miles long, and five or six broad. It contains eight considerable 

 harbours. Unst, at the northern extremity of this group, is eight 

 miles long, and four broad, and has two excellent harbours. 



The coasts of all these islands are in general rugged and precipit- 

 ous, presenting in many places scenes truly grand and magnificent, 

 and their interior is a rugged and bleak scene of barren rocks, with 

 here and there a few scanty portions of cultivated ground. They are 

 at present destitute of trees, though there is reason to believe they 

 were not in former times. The air is keen and salubrious, and many 

 of the natives live to a very great age. From their northern situa- 

 tion they enjoy, during two months in the middle of summer, almost 

 perpetual day ; there being sufficient light at midnight, in the months 

 of June and July, for any person to see to read when the sky is clear. 

 In the opposite season of the year the duration of the night is cor- 

 respondent. Though there is little frost or snow, fogs, rain, storms, 

 and a tempestuous sea, prevent the Shetlanders from having any 

 communication, during the seven or eight winter months, either 

 with the neighbouring islands or other countries. A remarkable 

 instance of this is, that a Scottish fisherman was imprisoned in May, 

 for publishing the account of the prince and princess of Orange be- 

 ing raised to the throne of England the preceding November ;. and he 

 would probably have been hanged, had not the news been confirmed 

 by the arrival of a ship. 



The number of inhabitants in the Shetland islands was computed, 

 in 1798, at 20,186. Their chief food consists of fish, and various 

 kinds of sea-fowl which cover the rocks, and in taking which they 

 display extraordinary address and courage. Agriculture here is in 

 a very low state, oats and bere being the only grain sown. The cat- 

 tle are rather larger than those in the Orkneys. These islands are 

 famous for a very small breed of horses, which are extremely active, 

 strong, and hardy ; and are frequently employed to draw the carriages 

 of the wealthy and curious of the capital, especially the ladies, on ac- 

 count of their diminutive size and beauty. The trade of the Shet- 

 land Isles consists principally in the export of fish, chiefly herrings* 

 cod, ling, and torsk or tusk. The Dutch, in time of peace, carry on 

 a great fishery in the neighbourhood of these islands; three thousand 

 busses, or fishing vessels, having been known to be employed by them 

 in one season in the herring-fishery, besides those fitted out from 

 Hamburg, Bremen, and other northern parts. 



The natives of these islands differ little in their character and habits 



