Intruders

 

Written by Alexander Gunn, A Native of Badbea, and published in the Northern Ensign, August 17, 1882. Part C

 

Limpets on rocks at Farr Bay

“Traifhad supplied us with abundance of limpets for bait, and we were sometimes visited with boats from Berriedale, Ramscraigs, and Dunbeath, but we did not cherish a friendly feeling towards these intruders, and sometimes we adopted a plan by which they were obliged to leave without accomplishing their errand. We would resort to the top of the rocks right above, or nearly so, where they would be gathering their bait, and let loose a stone or two, which bounded down the face of the steep rocks with the speed and force of a cannon ball, making the poor people run and hide themselves under the protection of a projecting rock”.

 

Empty limpet Shells at Dunbeath Shore

“Sometimes the boulders would plunge into the sea, making for the boat, the occupants of which were as much in danger as those in the ebb, as those stones sometimes bounded out a distance of a hundred yards. We took care that the stones were not let down right over the frightened people, as that would have been extremely dangerous. All we wanted to do was frighten them, and a couple of stones let loose in the manner described accomplished the purpose. Loud and deep were the imprecations howled at us, but we laughed at them, being beyond their reach”.

 

The shore at Helmsdale

 

 

To Be Continued