TO ORKNEY AND SHETLAND. 43 



nately got hold of the rocks with both hands, but 

 was obliged to remain for a few seconds lying at 

 full length, with the gun under my breast, desti- 

 tute of the power of getting any higher and the 

 sea washing up to my neck at every swell, before 

 I could obtain a slight hold for my feet ; and not 

 without great difficulty and using great caution, I 

 at length got upon dry ground. Another gun was 

 thrown to me from the boat, as the one I had with 

 me had, like myself, received a good ducking. 

 After wandering about the island some time with- 

 out finding anything worth shooting, or to reward 

 me for the trouble I had taken in getting upon it, 

 I returned to the boat, which I was fortunate 

 enough to get on board of without a repetition of 

 the immersion. I soon found that Stenness was 

 not a suitable place for shooting, or at least that 

 it was not the season when the birds are most 

 plentiful there. The next day was spent in boat- 

 ing, and collecting information from the fisher- 

 men as to where the greatest number of birds were 

 to be found. I bought of one of the fishermen 

 several very fine pieces of native coral, and left 

 him a box, with directions if he should get any 

 more to send it after me. Stenness is merely a 

 temporary place of residence for the fishermen 

 who come here from different parts to fish. The 

 season commences on the 12th of May and ter- 



