ISLE OF THE HUNGRY

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1016, 5 July 1930, Page 10

ISLE OF THE HUNGRY

GOVERNMENT MAY TAKE ACTION St. Hilda, the louley island lying out in the Atlantic, off the whence periodic calls for aid are received by the mainland, may be evacuated by Government order. Despite their privations, the inhabitants have stubbornly refused to leave their home, and it is in consequence of this that powers may be sought from the Government to force them H change their abode. They are a hardy folk these island ers. and the question that arises is whether they should be allowed to jeopardise their lives any longer. Au official of the Scottish Office m London stated recently that the advisability of evacuating St. Hilda had been under notice for some time. “It is practically unlit for habit atiou,” he said. “For some years the islanders have been living a hand-to-mouth existence, and are always grateful for the supplies of food sent from Glasgow. “It was suggested to them some time ago that they should evacuate the island and return to Scotland, but, as they seemed none too enthusiastic about the matter, the idea was drooped. Mr. T. Quirk, master ot the trawler, Harry Melling, which has just visited St. Hilda, reports that the inhabitants are in a desperate state. They are living on meal and wate»\ for the potato crop had been an absolute failure owing to the frost. The population is now only 32. The emigration of the natives of St. Hilda, or their gradual transplanting, clearly foreseen for years, and now soon to take place of stern necessity, will bring to an end the peculiar life of an isolated people, whose existence became more and more difficult as the time went on.

Year by year they planted fewer potatoes, sowed less and less corn. Wet seasons and stormy weather did serious damage to their crops, and the dwindling population was becoming disheartened. The population, whi'ffi in 1901 was 77, is now down to 32. Accordingly, when the time for ful marcatcliing conies round there are not sufficient able-bodied men to carry on the industry upon which the natives depend for much of their food in the depth of winter. When in the early years of this cen tury, for example, food became somewhat reduced after the New Year, recourse was hail to the neighbouring rocky island of Soay, and supplies of mutton got from the small wild sheep peculiar to its craggy heights. But now there are are not sufficient men to form crews for this hazardous form of earning a livelihood, and there is no mention of visits to Soay. The amount of weaving done of late years has also been going down, as might have been expected. No doubt competition throughout the West Highlands has run the industry of weaving and dyeing here, as elsewhere, very hard. Among ways peculiar among the natives of this distant group of islands might be mentioned the following; When the season for laying down their crops drew near, a meeting which they called “An Parliamaid” (the Parliament) was held every year, and frequently the matter (the date of commencing) was not settled in one day, and adjournment took place to a second and third day. 1 was going to write “sederunt,” but the term would not be at all appropriate, as the members did not sit while on duty. As in other High Courts, until recently, women were not eligible; but all the dogs in the community seemed to claim the privilege of taking part, and took full advantage of their rights. And what a yelping these faithful friends, full of excitement and more earnest than their masters did cause when they reached the height of their vocal powers is not easily imagined This ceremonial occurred also at the time of fixing the commencement of reaping, the date of beginning a raid on the Soay sheep, and the fulmar hunts. A sight somewhat out of the ordinary to be seen in St. Hilda at one time was the husband at home on a spring day making a new gown for his wife, while she was in the field busy planting the potatoes. In returning from church, the men in single file pass out first, the women and children following in similar order