11,757. Do you support yourself entirely by knitting?-Yes; I cannot work at anything else. I knit fine shawls and veils. I have knitted for the last six months to Mr. Moncrieff with his worsted, and I have been paid in goods. Before that I knitted with my own worsted, and I sold my work to any merchant in Lerwick, generally to Mr. Sinclair. I never asked any money from him, because we knew that it was the rule that we would not get it. I wanted it for many purposes; but I would not have got it even though I had asked it.
11,758. But you could not get on without some money, I suppose?- No. I sent some shawls and veils south for money with which to pay my rent.
11,759. Did you get enough money from them for all that you wanted?-I was often at a loss for money, and then I had to sell tea and other things which I had got in Lerwick for my hosiery. I sold tea and soft goods to any neighbour who was kind enough to take them.
11,760. Such as Mrs. Tait?-No, I never sold any to Mrs. Tait.
11,761. Did you sell your things often in that way?-Yes, very often.
11,762. Every month?-I don't think I did it every month.
11,763. Did you do it two or three times every year?-Yes; oftener than that.
11,764. How much goods did you sell in that way?-If I sold a shawl for about 18s. I would get 18s. worth of goods, and of that a good deal was tea-perhaps one pound or a pound and a half.
11,765. Would you sell all that tea?-Yes.
11,766. And something else besides?-I don't recollect of selling anything else except the tea.