to NATURAL HISTORYofitrO RTF A Y. 



bird-pole in his hand : fix men at top hold the rope, letting it 

 fink by degrees, but lay a piece of timber on the edge of the 

 rock, for it to Hide on, that it fhould not be torn to pieces on 

 the fharp edge of the ftones : they have another line fattened round 

 the man's waift, which he pulls, to give figns when he would be 

 pulPd up, or let lower, or held ftill, that he may remain on the 

 place he is come to. This way the man is in great danger from 

 the ftones loofening by the rope, and fo falling ; which he cannot 

 keep off : for this reaibn, he generally has on a failor's blue furr d 

 cap, which is thick, and well lined, and in fome meafure faves 

 the blows the ftones may give, if they are not too large ; other- 

 wife it often cofts him his life. Thus they often expofe them- 

 felves to the mod imminent danger, merely to get a fubfiftence 

 for their poor families, trufting in God's mercy and protection j to 

 which the greateft part of them ferioufly recommend themfelves 

 before they undertake the dangerous work. There are feme 

 indeed who fay there is no great danger in it, excepting that when 

 they have not learnt the practice, or are not accuftomed to it, the 

 rope runs round about with them till their heads are turn'd, and 

 they can do nothing to fave themfelves. It is in itfelf trouble- 

 feme, and requires dexterity ; yet thofe that have learnt it make 

 play of it 5 for they know eaftly how to fwing themfelves on the 

 line ; they know how to put their feet againft the rock, and 

 throw themfelves feveral fathom out, and pum themfelves in 

 again to what place they will ; and when the Birds fit, they know 

 artfully how to keep themfelves faft on the line in the air, and 

 to hold the pole in their hands, and with it to catch numbers 

 flying out and coming in ; and where there are holes in the rocks, 

 and where the rocks project over like a cover, in which places the 

 Birds gather. Here they will continue (and this is the greateft 

 art) to throw themfelves out, and quickly to fling themfelves 

 in again, under the cover, to the Birds, and there to fix their 

 feet. When one of them gets into thefe holes he loofens himfelf 

 from the rope, which he fattens to a ftone, to prevent its falling 

 out of his reach, and then he climbs about, and catches the Birds 

 either with his hands, or with the pie, in the fame manner as 

 was faid before ; and when he has kill'd as many as he thinks 

 enough, he ties them together, and faftens them to the fmall 

 line, and by a pull gives a fign for thofe above to draw them up. 

 In this manner he works all day ; and when he wants t:o go up, 

 he gives a fign to be drawn up, or elfe he works himfelf up, 

 with his belt full of Birds. 



When* 



