AITHSTING—VEMINTRY—THE OLD
LAIRD OF FOGBIGARTH.
SHETLAND is a country of
islands, but it is also one of peninsulas, and the isthmus between Aith
and the Yoe of Bixter connects the great western peninsula with the rest
of the Mainland. This large tract of country, with its tributary
islands, forms the wide ministries of Sandsting and Aithsting, and
Walls, Sand-ness, Papa, and Foula. A narrow strip, however, of Sandsting
and Aithsting lies on the eastern side of the isthmus, and is separated
from Weisdale by the ridge of a high hill.
Aithsting, like several
other parishes in Shetland, evidently derived its name from its ting or
open-air parliament. This court, as the name implies, was held at Aith,
from which we shall endeavour to commence our examination of the
district. The northern parts of Aithsting, although wild and rugged,
display much romantic beauty. It is astonishing to observe the constant
variety of scenes here produced, without the aid of trees or of the
works of man. The hills gnarled, as it were, by the storms of many
winters, assume an endless diversity of savage forms, while
quaint-looking voes or lakes, winding round their bases, present a
smooth, blue surface, which strangely contrasts with the sombre hues of
the rugged country all round.
In the island of Vemintry,
not more than three miles long, as Dr Hibbert justly remarks, "all the
varieties of a Shetland landscape are exhibited—the fissured cliff, the
barren crag or knoll, on which few tufts of vegetation hang, the low
fertile grassy patch, or the still and dark mountain lake, the rocky go
deeply indenting the coast, the bold promontory jutting far out into the
sea, or the long winding voe.” Being much intersected by arms of the
sea, the island is as irregular in outline as in surface. On the summit
of its highest hill are the ruins of an ancient watch-tower. Every
prominent hill-top appears to have been provided with such an erection,
on which the Norsemen lighted signal fires on the approach of invaders.
Vemintry affords excellent pasturage, to which purpose it is now
entirely devoted, the farmer who rents it having, a few years ago,
removed his residence to the point of the mainland opposite. Uyea Sound
separates the island from the Mainland It is a beautiful stretch of
water, two miles long, expanding, here and there, into wide pools, and,
in other places, almost obstructed by projecting points of land. All
Aithsting is a good pastoral country. Save the main line from Lerwick to
Walls, which passes along its southern border, it is unprovided with
roads, a disadvantage partially compensated for by the long winding voes,
which penetrate it in so many directions. A sail through the Voe of
Unifirth, or that of Clousta, is most interesting. The Bay of West
Burrafirth is unsafe for vessels, being open, exposed, and rocky. It
again derives its name from a burgh, whose ruins stand on a holm in its
midst.
Aithsting is sparsely
inhabited by a hardy race, of handsome form and primitive habits. No
district in the country is probably worse supplied with religious
ordinances and education, than that extensive portion of Aithsting
extending from the public road near the head of Bixter Yoe, northwards
and westwards. A Parish Church at Twatt, in the extreme south of the
district, six or seven miles from some of its outlying touns, where a
service is held every three weeks, and the Parish School, at the same
place, are the only regular places of worship and instruction in
Aithsting. The Wesleyan minister from Walls, however, holds an
occasional service at Aith, and one or two other places.
By far the greater
portion of Aithsting is the property of Mr Grierson, of Quendale. It was
purchased by an ancestor, in the end of last century, for little more
than twice the present rental.
In one of the most remote
fastnesses of Aithsting is a toun bearing the odd name of Fogrigarth. As
very few strangers have visited this curious place, let us hear the
account of one who has. “My boatman,” says Dr Hibbert, “led me to a
small creek at the head of Burrafiord, where the setting sun brightened
into a fine purple, a wild intermixture of crag and lake. The smoke
arose from a low house, built of unhewn stones, after the most ancient
fashion of the country; it was the head buil or manor-house of a small
landed possessor of Aithsting, named the Laird of Fogrigarth. On opening
the door, I passed through a double range of servants of both sexes, who
occupied forms disposed along each side of the room, and made suitable
obeisance to the hoy saedet or high seat of the house, filled by the
laird himself, with all the patriarchal dignity worthy that primitive
state of manners described in an ancient poem of the eighth century.”
The landed dignitary, to whom the learned geologist was thus introduced,
was Robert Doull, a well-known character in Shetland in his day, which
was a very long one, and ended about 1855. Many a strange story is told
of him. On the passing of the Reform Act of 1832, Mr Doull, like every
other proprietor in Shetland, with a rental above XI0, suddenly found
himself, for the first time, entrusted with the franchise. A contested
election took place, and an agent for thd Whig candidate, in the heat of
his political zeal, made his way to the mountain retreat of the laird of
Fogrigarth. Saluting his host with all due respect, the gentleman of the
law politely intimated he had come to solicit his vote. “But what am I
to get for my vote?” replied the shrewd elector. “Am surprised/’
rejoined the agent, “I’m surprised a gentleman of your intelligence
should put such a question: we don’t pay for rotes, I merely ask you to
support the liberal candidate, for the good of your country.” “And can
ye tell me what they are liberal o’, is it dir nain money or da
parliament money? And, besides, Mr , ir ye travelling about like dis for
de good o' yer kountry—get ye naethin’ for it?” replied the laird* The
lawyer’s answer is not recorded, but it is well known that Robbie Doull—for
the neighbours addressed him with such familiarity—of Fogrigarth, played
a distinguished part at every subsequent contested election that
occurred during his lifetime in Zetland. At his death, having no family,
he left the property to a young man he had adopted.
|