Here is a small isle, called Dorholm, perforated by a vast arch, seventy feet in height, under which boats fish, having light from an opening at the top.
Next to this is the holm and isle of Stenness, so much celebrated for the great number of kittiweaks which resort to it; the young of which being esteemed delicious food, are taken in great abundance.
To the north of Stenness is the Maiden Skerry, a rock so called from its having never been trodden on by man. The lofty rock called the Ocean Skerry, stands about two miles from this, and serves as a good landmark for ships wanting a harbour in their passage from the north.
Not far from this rock is the island of Papa, having a natural cave of three entrances, through which the tide ebbs and flows. It has several apartments, and is wide enough to admit a large boat with the oars at full length on each side. This gloomy cavern grows gradually wider towards the centre, which nature has ornamented with a beautiful arch. Beyond this, the boat is directed by a small gleam of light from an aperture in the top.
The island of Bressay lies to the east of Mainland, and is about four miles long, and two broad.
Adjoining to this Island, and on the south-east side of it, lies the small but fertile Island of Noss, the south headland of which is not less than four hundred and eighty feet in perpendicular height. Opposite to this, and distant ninety-six feet from the island, stands another perpendicular rock or holm, of the same height, quite level at the top, and producing excellent pasture for sheep.
To transport them there, however, might well have been thought impossible; but human ingenuity requires only the exhibition of difficulties in order to overcome them. An islander climbed up the rock, and having fastened some ropes to stakes he drove into the soil on the top, threw them across the intervening chasm to the headland, where they were in like manner fastened. A cradle or basket was then drawn along these ropes, and sheep are thus transported to, and from the holm; and the eggs or young of the sea-fowl, which there breed in vast numbers, fall an easy prey to the skill and industry of man.
The adventurous islander who first ascended the holm, and showed the possibility of joining it to the island, from an excess of bravery, met with an untimely end. Disdaining to pass over in the cradle, and trusting that the same expertness which had conducted him to the summit of the rock would enable him to descend to its base,—he fell, and was dashed to pieces.
“Quem si non tenuit, magnis tamen excidit ausis.”