15RENT GOOSE. 
3 
of a boat that had already taken the ground, I inquired of one of the hands who was watching the punt if 
they had noticed many Geese near the entrance to the firth. There was little in the way of foAvl, I w^as 
told, to tempt one so far, hut about the sand-hanks there were numbers of fine seals. The curiosity of the 
whole of the crew appeared to be aroused by my reply that fowl alone were the objects of which I w^as in search, 
and two or three more turned out to view the stranger. “ Eh, mon, hut one’s a grand heastie,” added another ; 
“ he’s woorth a poond.” “An’ ye pay for yer ain poother an’ hail ? ”* was the next query from a solemn- 
looking old Highlander in a fantastic blue bonnet. On my stating that such was the case, they all turned in 
again, the last remarking, as he disappeared, “ Eh, hut ye’re nae puir mon.” The canny Highlanders could 
scarcely believe it possible that the “ heastie woorth a poond ” would not he preferred to a few Geese. 
After a residence of a year or two on the coasts of the northern and eastern firths, I learned that seals 
were held in great estimation by the natives on account of the oil, which they firmly believed to possess 
miraculous powers for curing all manner of diseases. In order to satisfy a few poor old bodies who 
had expressed a wish for a small quantity of this healing, strengthening, and sight-giving remedy, I shot 
several seals (in those days by no means difficult to obtain), and cutting up the blubber into chunks, extracted 
the oil by boiling. The quality of the oil given away was reported to be far superior to any previously obtained 
in the neighbourhood, and the news spread far and wide. Very shortly empty bottles arrived, frequently from 
a distance, accompanied, in many instances, by a half-crown, with a humble request that the bottle might be 
filled. After a time a roaring trade might have been carried on, when the natives ascertained that the full 
bottle together with the half-crown were invariably returned. 
* Shot is known among many of the natives of this district as “ hail.' 
