44 THE ORNITHOLOGIST'S GUIDE 



minates on the 12th of August. About forty boats 

 arrive here annually; each boat's crew, which 

 in general amounts to six in number, have a 

 hut, in which they live during the season, com- 

 posed of loose stones indiscriminately thrown to- 

 gether, neither wind- nor water-tight ; the roof is 

 covered with turf and moss, through which in wet 

 weather the water finds an easy passage. I spent 

 the evening with Mr. Sheen, and then returned to 

 Aceter, where the men with the luggage had gone 

 before me. The next day being Sunday, I attended 

 the church at lis wick, and I found it equally as 

 well filled, taking into consideration the part of the 

 country, as that at Lerwick : some of the congrega- 

 tion had to walk a distance of ten miles, and others 

 came a still greater distance in open boats. To 

 their infinite credit, the Shetlanders are scrupu- 

 lously attentive to the observance of the Sabbath^ 

 and nothing but difficulties which they cannot sur- 

 mount prevents them from discharging this duty. 

 During the time of service they deport themselves 

 with a humility becoming a Christian, and which 

 might serve for an example to their southern neigh- 

 bours. On these occasions it is pleasing to see 

 the people so neatly dressed. The women, as is 

 the custom throughout the North of Britain, inva- 

 riably pull off their shoes and stockings during the 

 journey, and put them on again previous to enter- 



