The History of St. Kilda (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1764 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAP. VII. Bore ray and Soay described. An Account of the Land Animals there, and in the principal JJland. A T the distance of two leagues from " Hirta, and directly north from it, lies another isle called Boreray, which is more than an English mile in circumference. It is surrounded with perpendicular rocks of prodigious height, two landing places only excepted. One of these rocks is almost as high as the famous Conagra. I stood on the top of this pile, half giddy, and supported by two of the natives. The prospect we had before us, and the attitude in which we surveyed it, clouded my eyes with a sort of darkness. To behold a boundless ocean in all the wildness of its grandeur, and to stand at the the some time on the brink of an immense precipice, against which mountainlike billows exert their whole strength and fury, must strike any new observer with admiration, astonishment, and some kind of solicitous awe. My people had not the resolution to advance far enough to examine this amazing object. Their terror was to St. Kildians a very diverting scene. Our walk from the boat to the top of the rock, was far from being long, but so steep was the ascent that we found ourselves under the necessity of resting three different times. In our return we were conducted by a decrepid, half blind creature, who with a considerable burden on his back, strutted before us with a very solemn port, proud of his superior agility, and laughing most heartily at the awkward motions of the grangers. It is impossible to travel here, or through the adjacent rocks, without putting off ones shoes; these being justly accounted great incumbrances, -are left behind in the boat. The people cover their feet with sockets made of cloth, and sewed with feathers. It is...