A FLIGHT TO ST. KILDA
19
danger of starvation;
although, of course, the oatmeal and potatoes were very
acceptable. The whole story, however, is characteristic
of the nature of the St. Kildians. I remember once
complimenting a Highlander on the fact that Celts
generally did not indulge in gambling as Lowlanders do,
to which he replied — “No, we're just greedy!”
and this failing of theirs reaches its climax. I think,
in Hirt.
The people of St.
Kilda, I believe, originally came from Harris, and their
common surnames are Gillies, Macdonald, Fergusson,
M’Kinnon and such like, with not a Smith, or a Brown, or
a Jones among them. While as to Christian names, you
have merely to shout out Angus! when a small boat
comes alongside the steamer, to have at least
half-a-dozen faces turned in your direction. People
have asked me whether they burned peat on St. Kilda. but
I am obliged to confess that although there is peat on |