( 928 ) 
S04 lies near Hirta, on the South- weft. In this, except 
Fowls, there is only remarkable a Creek , where great Se4lf 
haunt. The people are fo mad, that they go in their Boat, 
about four of them, in that narrow palfage, to kill tbcfe 
Seals with Poles : having fcarce room for their Oarj, and every 
where feeming to clofe up the mouth thereof If the Wind 
changeth during their being there, it is not poffiblc to fave 
Man or Boar. 
There arc feveral Rocks, rifingout of the Sea, amoDgft 
thefe Iflands, which the People of HirPa call Stacks; fome 
ten, twenty, twenty four Fathoms above water , without any 
Grafs upon them. On the round tops of the Rpcks .a gr^at 
number qf Fowls breed, and in 3ll theClifFsr u * -ali yp^irniiiL:: 
Amongft the reft there is one called StackaDo^fts '; wppfv 
the top whereof bteedcth fuch an abundance of FovlSj that 
though ic fecms inacceffible , yet the men of Hirta have ven- 
tured to go thither. After they have landed with much diffi- 
culty , a man having room but for one. of his feet, hemuft 
climb up twelve or ftxteen Fathoms higb> Then he comes to 4 
place , where having but room for his left foot and left hand, 
muft leap from thence to fuch another place before him ; which, 
if he hit right, the reft of the afcent is eafie: and wiiha fmall 
Cord, which he carries with him, he hales up a Rope, where- 
by all the reft come up. But if be miffetb that Footftep ^rfas 
oftentimes they do) h^ falls into the S^a , and the Couipanjf 
takes him in by the fmalt Cord, and fits ftill until he be a Htdc 
refrefhed, and then he tries it again i for every one there is 
not able for that fport. 
Hirta Ifland is two Miles in length, accounted JR^/-/^vsr/- 
Ld»d. In it there are Ten Families, The Men feldom grow 
old ^ and feldom was it ever knowit, that any man died in bis 
Bed there , but was either drowned or broke his neck. The 
Men are ftrong, big, and well skinned; Their Food is only 
young Fowls and Eggs ; their Drink Whey and Water. Much 
given fo keeping of Holy-days ; having a number of Jittlc 
Chappels, where fumetimes they watch whok Nigbts, making 
merry together with their Offeriatgs. .1 iH tib » 
The moft Service of their Women is to barrow' their Land; 
which they muftdo, when their Husbands are climbiQ&fiQr 
Fowls for them. ' :;o:k 
Their 
