Strange Vessel

The Orkney Herald, Wednesday, May 16, 1906.

Flotta – Strange vessel. A peculiar-looking vessel emerged out of the Pentland Firth last Wednesday and came to anchor in a place where we do not think any craft ever sought anchorage before, viz., off the rocks of Innenet, on the western side of Scatwick Bay. Her size was somewhat larger than that of a Banff lugger; her rig that of some “galleon” of the Middle Ages. She had three masts, the fore being only about half the height of the centre mast, while the mizzen was a mere apology. Her sails resembled square “lugs,” but were slung from the spars in such haphazard and unusual style that the vessel’s appearance was uncouthly unique . Two or three Flotta boats rowed alongside in order to find out what the craft was, and to warn her of her danger in bringing up in a notoriously unsafe situation. Judge of the well-disposed Flotta men’s astonishment when they found themselves confronted by a savage looking crew, shouting in a foreign tongue, and flourishing axes! The vessel was thereupon – and very naturally – left alone. The wind blowing off the land all the time, she lay until the Friday morning, when she hove anchor, hoisted her indescribable sails, and proceeded in the direction of Stromness. Had we lived a hundred years ago we should at once have put the unknown down for a pirate. As it is, however, we’re inclined to think she is a French “contrabandist” following the East Coast fishing boats to Stromness to ply her nefarious trade amongst the herring fleet. It is very remarkable, nevertheless, that a craft of any nationality should, in British waters, dear to lift weapons against kindly-intentioned visitors; and we cannot help hoping that the “floating monstrosity” referred to may yet come into close quarters with a gunboat flying the Union Jack and have an opportunity of being taught better manners by those who are in a position to enforce the lesson.

Flotta Island, Orkney

John O’Groat Journal January 2 1862.
(From a correspondent.)

This island seems to have been peopled at a very early period, but by what race there are no certain means of determining. In different places throughout the island there are mounds of earth and stones mixed together, the appearance of the stones indicating that they have been subjected to the powerful action of fire . This supposition is further confirmed by the presence of considerable quantities of ashes of various colours. One of these mounds are situated on the farm of Dow, which means the principle or ‘mains’ farm of the place. They are supposed to have been the places of sacrifice where the unknown aboriginal race reared their ‘altars of burnt offering,’ and on which perhaps they may have offered human sacrifices as likely as sheep. Of this latter species of animal there yet exists a breed which seems to have been indigenous to the soil, at least from a very ancient period.

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1839 Census Now Online

The 1839 census which was originally published in ‘The Flottarian’ is now online. It’s a fantastic resource, as the enumerator wrote down the maiden names of married women and the author’s of ‘The Flottarian’ also added where the folks ended up. You can find it under ‘Research’ on the Menu Bar. Alternately click here.