ST. HILDA AND ITS BIRDS. 3^1 



usually the most important events of a day's expedition, 

 and they often occupy a good deal of time. A notable 

 point, and one not unfrequently attended with danger, is 

 the rapid manner in which the swell often rises, so that, 

 it may be, though the landing has been carried out without 

 difficulty, the process of re-embarking is effected only with 

 the greatest trouble, and may even be quite impossible. 

 In the latter case the natives, with ropes round their 

 waists, have to take to the water, and be hauled through 

 the surf to the boat, a contingency of some rarity, but 

 which nevertheless occasionally happens. When approach- 

 ing the rocks, if there is any sea on, the natives generally 

 bring the boat broadside on, and whilst some of the 

 number keep the boat off with oars and boat-hooks, one 

 of the crew takes the first opportunity which presents 

 itself of leaping on shore. The men never land without 

 having a rope securely fastened round their waists, so that 

 in case of a slip into the sea, they may be dragged back 

 into the boat, for strange as it may seem, not one of the 

 islanders can swim, nor is there any tradition amongst 

 them that a native-born St. Kildan ever acquired the art 

 of swimming. An accident in landing, however, very 

 rarely happens. Before landing, also, the boots are 

 invariably removed ; some of the natives climb the rocks 

 in their bare feet, but more commonly they wear a pair 

 of woollen socks ; and I found it very necessary to imitate 

 the example of the natives in this respect, for the woollen 

 socks enabled one to walk with ease and safety in places 

 where the wearing of boots would have been highly 

 dangerous. 



On the morning of our arrival at St. Kilda, as soon as 

 the departure of the steamer enabled a boat to be obtained, 

 we took advantage of the calm weather prevailing to visit 

 Boreray — a two hours' row from Village Bay. There are 



