THE SKUA CULL. 311 



Immense danger of the fowlers. 



should pull him up ; or else he worketh himself 

 up, climbing along the rope, with his girdle full 

 of birds. It is also usual, where there are not 

 folks enough to hold the great rope, for the 

 fowler to drive a post sloping into the earth, and 

 to make a rope fast thereto, by which he lets 

 himself down without any body's help, to work 

 in the manner aforesaid. Some rocks are so 

 formed that the persons can go into their cavities 

 by land. 



" These manners are more terrible and dan- 

 gerous to see than to describe; especially if 

 one considers the steepness and height of the 

 rocks, it seeming impossible for a man to ap- 

 proach them, much less to climb or descend. In 

 some places, the fowlers are seen climbing where 

 they can only fasten the ends of their toes and 

 fingers; not shunning such places, though there 

 be an hundred fathom between them and the 

 sea. It is dear meat for these poor people, for 

 which they must venture their lives; and many, 

 after long venturing, do at last perish therein. 



" When the fowl is brought home, a part 

 thereof is eaten fresh ; another part, when there 

 is much taken, being hung up for winter provi- 

 sion. The feathers are gathered to make mer- 

 chandize of, for other expences. The inhabi- 

 tants get a great many of these fowls, as God 

 giveth his blessing and fit weather. When it is 

 dark and hazy they take the most; for then the 

 birds stay in the rocks: but in clear weather, 



