From the Life of DR.. Clark.

Descent Of Birdcatchers oper the Precipices Of 81


Erdd.
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AS soon as we had reached the town,
preparations were made for ascending the
hills to see a party of Islanders descend the
precipices TOR the cider down, aud for eggs
and BIRDS Five of these twisted round their
bodies diagonally, from the left shoulder to
to the hip, the rope made use Of for these
occasions. One Of these ropes forms the por-
ton of St. ki'sia heii ess; it is always a cur
rent coin of the highest value, life itself de-
pending On the possession OF it. Equipped
with these ropes, strong party, with their
dogs, assembled the hills.


At length we reached the brink of such
tremendous precipice, that, accustomed as
have been, to regard such sights with in
difference, / dal,. d not venture to the edge Of
it alone Two Of the people held my arms,
and | looked over INTO what might be Il
world Of rolling mists, and col.tcnding clouds.
/ AS they broke, or dispersed, the ocean was
disclosed below hut at so great depth,
that its roaring surges were unheard ut this
stupendous height. The brink was wet and
slippery, and the rocks perpendicular to
their base; but what was my astonishmcnt
to see these intrepid :rronauts, as they might
truly be called, sitting on the edge and the
younger ones creeping over after the eggs
and aisic corks.


| NV attention was now entirely engrossed
bv the adventurers, who were preparing
for their dangerous fight :--several ropes of
hide and hair we're tied together to extend
the depth of his descent. a rope OF hide at
one extremity, was fastened like girdle
round his waist, the other end he let down
the precipcc to considerable depth, when
giving the middle OF the rope to a single
m an who stood near him, lie began to de-
scend, always holding by one part of the
rope as he let himself down by the other.
and supported from falling only by the man
above, who hnt, no part of the rope fasten-
ed to him, but held i, merely in his hands,
and sometimes supported him by one hard
alone, looking at the same time over the
precipice, without any stay for his feet. and
conversing with the young man as he de-
scendcd. In very short time he returned
with a young fulmar in his hand, and then
again descended 70 the depth Of sixty faith
otns. Here he seized four fIllmars, with
two in each hand, continued to holl the rope
as he assembled, striking his foot against the
rock to throw himself out from the face OF
the precipice and returned with bound
few out again, capering and shouting, and
,laving more tricks than / had courage tc
see; for expected his love Of fame, in dis
PLAYING those gambols to a stranger, woult
either be the means of pulling the mar over
who held him, or dashing his brains ont
from the violence of which he returned from
these springs, if the rope did not slip from
his comrades hand, and send him headlons
to eternity.