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PRECEDING ENCOURAGEMENTS CORROBORATED.

received from some of the congregation, who undertook to distribute them for me.

I took tea with two of the Friends, and, in the evening, supped with others of their party. After supper, being assembled for worship, a chapter of the Bible was read, and a solemn silence ensued, in which I felt such a sympathy as inclined me to believe, that we were eating of that spiritual repast provided by the great Shepherd. One of the "Friends" spoke at some length, and closed by an exhortation addressed to me, which terminated thus:- "I have this text for thee, trust in the Lord, and do good, and so shalt thou live in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed."

This afforded me very considerable gratification, and could not fail to give me an assurance that the apparent insufficiency of my funds for the support of my family, should be supplied in the Lord's own way; for, as she knew nothing of my circumstances, I considered her encouraging communication to be a corroboration of those so lately sent to me by individuals of two other denominations; viz., by the Methodist sister of Clay, in Norfolk,* and the Presbyterian brother in the steam-boat.+ Thus was I strengthened to disregard all outward difficulties, and throw my burden on the Lord.

SEVENTH MONTH, 31st.-I made an early call on the Methodist minister, who was very glad to see me, and kindly offered me a letter of introduction to his brother minister, the superintendent of the circuit of Walls, which is a large district, having its capital, wherein my friend's correspondent resided, called by the same name. On explaining to him that I hoped to lecture at Scalloway this evening, at Rewich

RECEIVES A SUITABLE INTRODUCTION.

111

to-morrow evening, and proceed that same night to the town of Walls, there to remain over the Sabbath, he asked me : "Will you give our congregation a lecture on that day?"

If permitted, I should be very thankful, but as my manner of discussing the subject of defensive war being unlawful to a Christian, was unknown, I could not expect such a favour on the Sabbath.'

"I believe you declare the gospel; and, therefore, the lecture is worthy of any pulpit at any time. If you will undertake the task at Walls on the Sabbath, I will recommend him to give you the opportunity."

I, of course, gladly accepted his offer; and, having received the letter of introduction, as well as this minister's written record, in my book of autographs, approving of the subject of my lecture, I took leave.

My friend J. M- seemed so interested in my work, that he proposed to accompany me as far as Scalloway, which was about 8 miles distant; this I gladly accepted, and we prepared to leave the town as soon as possible.

CHAPTER VIII.

FROM SEVENTH MONTH 31ST, TO EIGHTH MONTII 1ST, 1835.

Author commences his land journey, 112;— Missionary movements, 113;-Women at hard labour, 114;-Shetland Scenery, 115;-The garden of a Shetland laird, 116; -Providence provides author with a suitable helper, 117; -Vainly makes places for conduct of his helper, 118;— Prayer, 118;-Author's helper plans the escape, 119;The House of God, 120;-Author's journey over mountains by night, 121;-Safe arrival and good supper, 123.

SEVENTH MONTH, 31st.-Having decided on leaving my clothes, cloaks, and travelling equipment, also my bills, books, and tracts, in Lerwick. I packed such things only as were absolutely necessary for the journey, in a small portmanteau, to avoid encumbrance, in case any rapid movement should be required. A lad whom I hired as carrier for the occasion accompanied us, whilst I, with my new acquaintance and voluntary guide, J. M, left the capital of Shetland, and advanced in "light marching order," from this, the Eastern point of the main land, to walk about 32 miles, expecting to combat with the enemy, by a lecture against all war, whether offensive or defensive, at each town on the route, till I should arrive at Bustavoc, in a district called Sandness, which is on the extreme point of the Western coast, there to take a boat, and cross a channel of nearly 14 miles in width, which separates it from the island of Papa Stour. It was interesting to observe that one party of the Society of Friends, Silvanus F, Mary F——, and their “helps,"

MISSIONARY MOVEMENTS-AUTHOR'S LAND JOURNEY. 113

were directed towards the North; the other, Sarah Sand 3 "helps," towards the South; whilst I went from East to West. J. M- - was much struck with the singular coincidence of circumstances, which thus, by a simultaneous movement scattered the labourers who, yesterday, made such a bustle in the town; and, not less so, with the disinterested zeal which these missionaries exhibited, who, without seeking for fee or reward, laboured in the word with fervour, distributed tracts with anxiety, and (as some poor one informed us) gave alms with affection. It seemed as if they rather desired to pay their hearers, than to receive a recompense for undertaking the work which appeared to be required at their hands. In remarking this, my companion added that "it was a new era in Shetland."

Intending to lecture this evening at Scolloway, we advanced by a very rough road, which was so full of rolling stones and shelving rocks, as to be painful even to foot passengers. It led to the residence of the individual who kept the only vehicle in the island; and who, indeed, evinced a fondness for state, by unnecessarily enduring the violent bone shaking which must have attended the use of it. After walking about one and a half mile on this road, we commenced our pathless course over hills and dales; for in this direction, there was no road, so that the stranger required the aid of a guide or a compass, to direct him.

On our way I observed several parties of the poor inhabitants interspersed upon the face of the lands; some cutting turf, others packing it in heaps, whilst others, principally females, were carrying home to Lerwick astonishing loads of it in large baskets or kishes which, secured by a wide belt passing across the chest, rested on the back. It was painful to see women so treated; yet, when I observed that

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114

WOMEN AT HARD LABOUR.

they appeared contented with their lot, I learned that after all, man is but a creature of circumstances. We were frequently interrupted, whilst ascending the hills, by the fissures which had been excavated from time to time by digging out turf; these joined in several places, and emptied into a common channel which carried off such portion of the water, as could not be retained in the uneven parts of the bottom. Many of them were six or seven feet deep, and from four to ten feet wide, so that, as it was seldom possible to leap over them, we were obliged to walk along the sides of such as laid in our way, until the bottom appeared hard enough to bear our weight. This was not easy to discover; for the water impregnated with peat continually oozed from the banks, and in some places formed deep brown pools, but in others, was absorbed by masses of pulverised turf, which looked well to the eye, yet, when trod upon, were likely to engulf the passenger, and tax him with the loss of a boot or a shoe.

Having descended the slippery sides of these peat covered hills, we occasionally arrived at a valley, in which large basins of the mountain peat water settled, so that we were often as much at a loss, as if in the midst of an Irish bog. Whilst thus perplexed, I frequently thought of the females of the Society of Friends, who had lately passed over these hills on Shetland ponies which, in my opinion, are better dispensed with by those who are unacquainted with the country. But it is astonishing what even the weakest of us can do, when a real sense of duty is the impelling power.

Although frequently separated by local difficulties, we, nevertheless, had occasional opportunities of engaging in cheerful conversation, either about the signs of the times, or the habits and manners of the people whose labours were