TO ORKNEY AND SHETLAND. 27 



which nevertheless was quite boggy ; others con- 

 nected by a small stream, giving the whole a wild 

 and romantic appearance. About half way between 

 Catfirth and Osnafirth, on the side of the hill, is a 

 small cavern or grotto ; it is called by the Shet- 

 landers the half-way house, and is the only place 

 during the journey in which you can get shelter 

 from the weather : those who have refreshments 

 with them stop here for the double purpose of 

 eating and of resting themselves, and on such occa- 

 sions it makes a very comfortable dining-room. The 

 path to it is rugged on account of the stones which 

 have fallen from the sides of the rocks, but the 

 cavern itself is smooth, and not so damp as might 

 be expected from its situation. We halted here 

 and took some refreshment, during which the 

 Shetlanders, as usual, entertained us with some 

 superstitious story relative to the place, As soon 

 as the articles of food had disappeared, — not how- 

 ever by being returned into the repositories from 

 which they had been taken, — I gave the word to 

 march, which we did in extended line. The re- 

 mainder of the country to our journey's end was 

 the same in appearance, bleak and bold. I ob- 

 served a few of the Common Curlew on the sides 

 of the hill, and according to our guide's account it 

 breeds here : occasionally a Golden Plover or two 

 c 2 



