Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1964, Page 150

Norn in Shetland
John Stewart
Shetland, like Faroe, has its Norðuroyar, the Nort Isles
of Yell, Unst, and Fetlar, separated in that order from the
Mainland. This, the chief island, forms by far the greater
bulk of the land mass of Shetland. Its shape may well have
been likened to a »hilt« in warlike times; in more prosaic
days it resembles nothing so much as a wrench or screw
spanner with open jaws. Equally spaced along the east side
of the Mainland are Whalsa and Bressa, while on the west
are Papa Stur, Burra, Trondra, and isolated Fula. Halfway
between Shetland and Orkney is Fair Isle, Friðarey of the
Sagas. These are the inhabited isles. Smaller islets have had
at times from one to half*a*dozen families, living grimly
and dangerously in closer proximity to fishing grounds when
oars were the means of propulsion. Only one is inhabited
now.
The nearest neighbour is Orkney, 22 English sea«=miles due
south from Shetland’s extremity to Fair Isle and a farther
24 to North Ronaldsay, the far north limit of Orkney.
Faroe is 176 miles west*north*west and Bergen in Norway
180 miles east. This is the geographical setting which has
influenced Shetland’s history.
For 2500 years Shetland was Britain’s extremity, the last
Iand which could be found without losing sight of othet
land, and there is ample evidence of occupation from well