There is a very great stop to agricultural improvements still to be considered. Most of the tenants hold their farm from year to year by a verbal bargain; and the stipulations of the very few written leases that are granted, consist chiefly in binding the tenant assiduously to attend his landlord’s fishing as long as he possesses his farm. Now, any failure in this is a forfeiture of the agreement. But he may labour the land as he pleases; no question is asked on this head by the landlord. The grain is cut down in the usual way, and when fit, is carried home either on the shoulders of the women, or on horseback. There are not more than two or three carts in these islands, and these are only kept by gentlemen by way of novelty. Neither are there any roads, public or private, except the foot-paths made over the hills by the horses, cattle, and sheep. The landlords build the farm houses at their own expense. They are generally mean, low huts, into which a person must enter in a bending posture; and if he have not a guide (unless he be acquainted with the windings of the fabric,) he will scarcely find the apartment occupied by the family, they and their cattle being, for the most part, inhabitants of the same building[7]. They have the fire in the middle of the house. The beds are commonly like those of ships, with sliding doors. A table, a pot, and some stools, are the principal furniture to be seen. [7] “---- Ignemque Laremque Et pecus et dominos communi clauderet umbra.”--JUVENAL. Whether there were any chests, presses, cupboards, &c. in any of the huts which I visited, the continual smoke would not admit being ascertained. It is evident, however, that they are exempt from the window tax, as they have only a small hole besides that of the chimney, on which is a door to shut and open occasionally. The office-houses (where there are any) are truly despicable. These the tenants build at their own expense, and in the cheapest manner they can, on account of the uncertainty of their tenure. Here are few inclosures, so that the land lies almost wholly in open fields; and by this breach of agricultural economy their crops are exposed to the ravages of the numerous sheep, cattle, &c. which feed on the commons without herdsmen. These islanders trade chiefly to Leith, London, and Hamburgh; and with Dutch fishermen, and such ships as visit their coasts. The chief exports are linen and woollen yarn, rugs, stockings, butter, dried fish, herrings, oil, feathers, skins of various kinds, and kelp; the manufacture of which was first commenced in 1780. The commodities imported are corn, oatmeal, spirits, tobacco, lines and hooks, salt, &c. Here the Greenland ships are frequently served with mittens, night-caps, comforters, wigs, &c.