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A FLIGHT TO ST. KILDA
16
the people subsist on
sea-fowl and their eggs, the former being salted for
winter consumpt. With us, this would be considered
rather unsavoury food, but with them it is considered
toothsome. In addition, they have their sheep and
cattle, with the small crops of watery potatoes and oats
they grow. The weather is almost constantly moist,
insomuch that Mr Ross, the minister, who had taken a
camera with him, could not use it the whole fortnight he
was there, with the exception of the day our steamer
arrived, when he was too busy to bring it out. The
people all seem fat and healthy, however, and rags are
unknown.
Some years ago, the
infant mortality was great owing to a species of lockjaw
that set in about the eighth day after birth. It was
not known at the time what was the cause of it; but it
was so universal and so deadly, that no clothes were
prepared for the children till it was seen whether they
would survive the crisis. Mr Ross told me,
however, that the cause of the plague has been
discovered, and that no infants now die of the old
disease. For many years, also, it was observed that
when a strange vessel like ours touched at the island,
most of the inhabitants were seized with a cough which
they called "the boat cold"; but this inconvenient
weakness seems now to have been got rid of, although, to
allay their fears, it is considered wise for strangers
to sneeze in private !
The worst feature of
the little community, to my mind, is their lack of
independence. They seem to think it is the business
of the people of this country to attend to their
wants; and their wants are not few. Nets, lines, boats,
a safe harbour, regular mails, and a great many things
beside. Mr Young of Kelly visited the island in his
yacht Nyanza about twenty years ago, and although
he gave a good deal, he could not satisfy them. “We are
only tourists.” “True; but perhaps you can do
something.” A nine-ton boat was suggested to take them
across to Harris, but this would require a safe harbour,
so the idea had to be abandoned. Highlanders usually
are too proud and dignified to make requests of this
kind; but not so the St. Kildians. "It is hoped that
you may be able, when you return, to do something for
the poor people of this island." |
