Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 4 1886.djvu/19

Rh as: "I wiss (wish) this ane may gyang (go) as lang safe oot and in, an catch as mony fish as the aul' ane."

It is accounted unlucky to go for a new boat, and come back without her. J. Watt, of Crovie, went to Pennan for a new boat. She was not finished, and he had to return empty-handed. He went for her some time after, and brought her home on Saturday. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, he proceeded to the fishing, and everything went right. But there was something that had to be remedied about the sail. The boat had to be taken to Macduff for this purpose. On Friday the journey was undertaken. When off Gamrie Mohr, a high headland, a gust of wind came down, and sank the boat. One man was drowned. The boat was afterwards recovered, but she had to be sold, as the crew would not go to sea in her. She proved a good sea-worthy craft. The gusts off this headland go by the name of the "flans o' Mohr," and are accounted more dangerous than the gusts or "flans" off the other headlands. (Flan, a gust of wind from above.)

When the new boat was brought home (Portessie), the fisher folks assembled beside the boat. One of them "flang here in ower the boat, sang oot the boat's name, and three cheers wiz geen (given)." Then followed the "boat fehst" (feast)—bread, cheese, whiskey, or porter, or a dinner of broth, beef, &c., accompanied with quantities of whiskey. At this feast attended often all the men of the village, if small, and each set of men sat together. In each of the large fishing boats there are eight men besides the skipper. Each man has his own seat in rowing, and always keeps it. Counting from the stem, the first man on the left is called "the aivran hank," or "hanksman," whilst his companion on the right is called "the farran hank," or "hanksman." The second two go by the names of "the aivran mid-ship" and "the farran mid-ship." The third pair has the names of "the aivran slip" and "the farran slip"; and the fourth, those of "the aivran boo" and "the farran boo." The master is "the skipper." At the feast all the skippers sat together, all the "aivran hanksmen," or "aivran hanks," sat together, and so on with the others. The drinking was often carried far into the night, and even into the morning. A common toast was, "I wis you may burn 'er."