13,413. Is there any other article with regard to the price and quality of which you can speak?-I have not dealt in Grutness for some time, because I generally had money, and I bought my goods elsewhere, where might get them cheaper. I got most of them from Mr. Henderson, and some I got from Lerwick.
13,414. Do you sometimes buy from Hay & Co.'s, shop at Dunrossness?-Yes,
13,415. Are some things cheaper there than at Grutness?-Some things are and other things are much about the same.
13,416. What things are cheaper?-Tea and sugar, and such things as these.
13,417. Is Hay & Co.'s shop nearer to you than Grutness?-Yes.
13,418. Is it nearer to most of the people than Grutness?-Yes. Grutness is rather out of the way.
13,419. Do you know anything about a meeting that was held at Grutness, some time ago?-I know there was a meeting of fishermen held at the schoolhouse but I was not there. After the meeting several of the men came to my house on their way home, and spoke about what had taken place. They were generally dissatisfied with the way in which the meeting had been conducted.
13,420. What was the occasion of the meeting?-It was in order that they might lay their grievances before the commissioner at Lerwick. I believe one of the men actually went there.
13,421. Did you understand that the others were unwilling or afraid to go?-I understood, from what they said, that they were unwilling, for fear of offending their masters. They told me that at the time.
13,422. What did they say?-They accused some of their number of cowardice. Some were frightened for one thing, and some for another.