ISLAND OF ST. KILDA

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 114, 11 February 1928, Page 24

ISLAND OF ST. KILDA

If we take a large map of the British Islands and look out on the west side, beyond the Outer Hebrides, we see a tiny dot marked Island of St. Kilda. It is so .inaccessible, so remote, and so little known, even to dwellers on the west coast of Scotland, that on many maps it is not even marked. Yet, out there, alone in the great Atlantic Ocean, there is a fertile island which, if properly cultivated, would support a population of about 100 people with very little help from the outside world. At present there are about "0 people on it; yet they live in a primitive state and at times are in a state of semi--starvation (writes Dr. Oliver G. Pike, F.Z.S., F.R.P.S., in the Edinburgh "Weekly. Scotsman”). If the island was only more accessible thousands of visitors would go to it, for, as regards bird life, there are few places in the world to equal it. The great cliffs which rise to a height of 1300 ft. are covered with millions of birds of several species, as are also the smaller adjacent islands. The main island is about ten miles in circumference, but this gives rather an exaggerated idea of its size, for there are many points that jut out into the sea, and many inlets. There are two smaller islands about four miles from the main island, and these are simply bare rocks with no vegetation upon them, and another island close to St. Kilda itself. But although this island teems to be a little world of its own, unconnected with civilisation, the natives have a clever way of communicating with the mainland. It is known as the St. Kilda Mail, and it surely is the strangest mail in this world. If a native wishes to send a letter he places it in a small tin puts this in a roughlycut piece of wood in the shape of a little boqt, covers it with tar, and fastens it securely to a bladder. This is thrown into tlie sea while a northwest wind is blowing, and, strange to say, most of these letters reach their destination. On the box ti’iere is carved, "Please open,” and inside there is, a request that the finder will post the letter which is enclosed. - These letters are picked up on the west side of Scotland, or even on the Continent of Europe, but nearly all are successful in reaching the person to whom they are addressed. ' I once received one of these remarkable letters just a fortnight after if was consigned to the mercy of the waves. It was picked up on the Island of Barra, in the Outer Hebrides, by a shepherd who could not read, but he showed it to his master, and he quickly posted it on to me. The chief food supply of the natives is found on the island itself. It consists of sea birds. Many species are found there, but the one used mainly as food is the fulman petrel. This bird builds its nest on grassy slopes or ledges on the steepest cliffs. Only one egp is laid, and in the month of August the young bird becomes very plump, and it is these youngsters that are collected in thousands. Each family has a portion of the cliffs allotted to them, and about the 12th of August the whole population goes forth with ropes and poles to collect their year’s food supply. • The men are the very finest climbers I have ever seen. I do not suppose it would be possible to find their equal. On the wildest and steepest cliffs they seem ahsilutely fearless. 1 have seen them perform feats which, if they could be repeated on the music hall stage, would bring the performers a fortune.