Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 012.djvu/120

 Their ordinary way of dividing their Land, is one Halfpeny to every Family. The Rocks also are divided, such and such on every Halfpeny. And there is a kind of Officer left by the Master of the Island, who governs in his absence, and so regulates, that the best Climbers and the worst are mixed together, that so none of the Land be unlaboured; that is, that all the Shelves of the highest Rocks be searched for Eggs.

The way of their Climbing, when they kill their Fowls, is thus; They go two and two with a long Rope, not made of Hemp, but of Cow-Hides salted, and the Thongs cut round about, and plaited six or nine fold. Each end of the Rope is tyed about each one of their Middle, and he that is foremost goes till he comes to a safe standing, the other standing firm all that time to keep him up, in case his foot should have slip'd: When the foremost is come to a safe standing; then the other goes, either below or above him, where his business is; and so they watch time about; seldom any of them being lost, when this is observed.

The aforesaid Officer, when any couple is to be Married, brings them to one of their Chappels, and administers an Oath to them; so they are married.

Their Children, when they come to the Age of 15 or 16. or thereabout, come with the Master of the Isle to the Hereisch Island, and are there Baptized.

An ordinary way of killing the Fowls in the Mist is this, Some of these Fellows lie beside the Door of rhethe [sic] little Houses they have in their Islands, flat upon their banks, and open their Breasts. Which, when the Fowls perceive, they sit upon them, and are presently catch'd, and their necks broke. One Fellow has kill'd hundreds of Fowls in one night, after this manner.

Sometimes they set Grins on the very top of the highest Rocks, and make them strong for great Fowls. One being setting of these Grins, as he was walking along his great Toe was catc'd in one of them, which made him stumble and fall down: yet the Grin being fast and strong, kept him hung with his head downward, till those that missed him came in the morning, and found him so fallen.