The inhabitants are sure to come with their boats alongside such ships as happen to call in here. They bring with them fish, fowl, eggs, &c. for which they get beef, pork, flour, meal, or such provisions as they may wish to have. They choose rather to barter than sell for money, probably for this reason, that they generally get more than the value of their commodities; at least, they do not fail to ask plenty, and have cunning enough to lay down their case as very deplorable, which tends to excite in the breasts of commanders of vessels that sympathy which is so peculiar to sailors. The Shetlanders, by these means, find a very good market for such things as they have to dispose of, and generally get as much meat and drink as they can take while on board. The Shetland Isles are divided into twelve parishes, in which are placed twelve ministers, the office of some of whom is very laborious, there being different small islands in one parish: besides, the paths are remarkably bad, and the people so wretchedly poor, that they cannot afford to accommodate their pastor in times of public examinations, visitations, &c. insomuch, that unless he carry with him, on those occasions, some store of _viaticum_, he must content himself with the soothing hope of a hearty meal on his return home. These islands enjoy the advantage of parochial schoolmasters, having the salaries allowed on the Scottish establishment; by which means the inhabitants are all taught to read, write, and understand arithmetic; and among those of any rank, the Latin, Greek, and French languages are not unknown, as also the rudiments of the mathematics. The English language prevails in all these islands; but they being a long time subject to the Kings of Norway, it is spoken with the accent of that country, and is mixed with a great many Norwegian words, especially in Foula. Neither here nor in the Orkneys is the Gaelic language known. English as well as Danish money is current here; but neither species is superabundant.