TO ORKNEY AND SHETLAND. 41 



and soon arrived at the fishing-station, a most 

 miserable place, composed of a few straggling 

 fishermen's huts. The weather was boisterous, 

 and consequently the fishermen were at home; 

 some attending to the fish undergoing the process 

 of salting and drying, others preparing their lines. 

 Many boats were drawn up on the beach, giving 

 it a cheerless appearance. As soon as our caval- 

 cade arrived, all work instantly ceased, that they 

 might have an opportunity of scrutinising the 

 strangers, or asking questions with an impertinent 

 curiosity peculiar to the Shetland peasantry. The 

 examination did not terminate until we removed 

 ourselves from their observation. The first thing 

 necessary was to procure lodgings for the men, 

 which after some time I accomplished in one of 

 the best-looking huts in the place, hung inside and 

 out with fish; the smell of some, in a state of 

 putrefaction, being by no means an agreeable ac- 

 companiment : however, by this time I was well 

 habituated to the living as well as dead nuisances 

 infesting a Shetland hut. I returned in the even- 

 ing to Mr. Sheen's at Tanwick, and after spending 

 a pleasant evening and enjoying a comfortable 

 night's rest, which through the kindness of that 

 gentleman I was spared from passing in the hut 

 at Stenness, I breakfasted, joined my compa- 



