TO ORKNEY AND SHETLAND. 11 



having an excellent knowledge of its many virtues, 

 they retain it with an iron grasp, until stern ne- 

 cessity compels them to relinquish it, which they 

 do with great reluctance. 



The Shetlanders in general are not addicted to 

 drinking ardent spirits, but are extravagant in the 

 luxuries of tea and tobacco. The English language 

 is commonly spoken by the people, but with the 

 accent peculiar to the North of Britain ; they have 

 introduced into it a great many words from the 

 Norwegian, Danish, and Dutch languages, and this 

 medley uttered by a native of the country is ex- 

 ceedingly unpleasant to the ear and very difficult 

 to understand : the fashionables of Lerwick speak 

 very good English and are great politicians. The 

 lower orders, to a stranger coming from the South, 

 are very inquisitive. I wish I could add that their 

 curiosity was prompted by laudable motives; on the 

 contrary, they have seldom the acquisition of useful 

 knowledge in view. The men in general are stout 

 and robust, and able to bear great fatigue ; they are 

 excellent rowers, which is not to be wondered at, 

 as they are accustomed to it from their infancy 3 

 but it requires much persuasion and many pro- 

 mises before you can get them to exert themselves : 

 they are indolent in their disposition and dirty in 

 their habits. The women, on the other hand, are 



