gb0551ms-36-19-97

Transcription

[Page] 97
[Continued from page 96]

voyage was of the pleasantest. As the
sea was calm we were landed in a little
creek on the S. [South] coast whence we had an
easy scramble to the top of the cliffs.
The island forms an irregular acute angled
triangle some 2 miles in length by 1 in breadth.
A line from North to South divides it into
two unequal parts two thirds to the E. [East]
being cultivated while the third to the West:
:ern cliffs is arid moorland on which
short stunted heather struggles to live. There
are no fences and the sheep and cattle
are all tethered. The crops seemed good,
and the houses of the crofters are com:
:fortable and clean. The population
numbers some 200 but is diminishing,
as the younger people are emigrating
to the colonies and no new blood comes
to Stroma. From too much intermarriage
there is a good deal of consumption
among the inhabitants. Racially they
appear to be of pure Scandinavian stock.
As sailors they cannot be excelled
and more than once I have been
told that the loss of a Stroma man at
sea is almost unknown. They have

[Continued on page 98]