TO ORKNEY AND SHETLAND. 61 



two other small towns, viz., St. Margaret's Hope 

 and Long Hope, where travellers may procure 

 very comfortable lodgings. The inhabitants of 

 Orkney get their living in a similar manner to the 

 Shetlanders, and the prices of provisions are much 

 the same. I made Stromness my head quarters, in 

 consequence of nearly all the birds that frequent 

 the Orkneys inhabiting within the distance of ten 

 or twelve miles. 



After I had arrived at Stromness and obtained 

 lodgings, I inquired the price of boat-hire and 

 men's wages, which I was informed were much 

 higher than in Shetland, and also that there would 

 be a difficulty in getting a boat at any time I 

 might require it. I therefore perceived it would 

 be necessary to buy a boat ; and as I had my son 

 with me, who was about twelve years of age, I 

 thought we should be able to undertake many 

 short excursions alone, I having by this time ac- 

 quired tolerable skill in the management of a boat. 

 Accordingly I bought one that had formerly be- 

 longed to the preventive service, consequently 

 pretty well known to the country people, and a very 

 fine sea boat; I got her repaired, and painted each 

 side a different colour, for when I was in Shetland 

 I fancied the birds knew the boat I used from every 

 other. By the time she was ready for sea, the pur- 

 chase of the boat, sails, &c, cost me about eight 



