“ They are not exactly selfish, but they can never combine for the public good. They are always afraid of expending labor or money on what some one else may possibly reap greater advantages from than themselves. The Halliger does not, however, depend altogether on his werft for safety. Experience tells him that sometimes the tide flows so high as not only to cover the islet, but even to rise above the werft. ”

“ The expedient they adopted was to raise in the centre of each islet a mound of clay and stones, about fifteen or sixteen feet above the level of the island, and on this elevation to erect their houses. These werfts are accordingly the only places used for houses on the Hallige, the rest of the island being left for grass. On some of the werfts there are as many as fifteen houses, a church, and even a graveyard. But on other of the islands only one family can find subsistence, and of course in these cases there is only one house on the werft. ”

“ If the tide destroys the lower story, there is still the independent loft raised on piles to depend on; and if the worst comes to the worst, and the whole building is destroyed, then the lone householder takes to his boat and endeavors to escape to the mainland or to one of the dyked islets. ”

“ But love of country is among the Frisians a passion. In their eyes there is no land like Friesland, and the fairest portions of the world cannot in Frisian estimation rank alongside their barren sandy islands. ”

“ Accordingly, he builds his house in two flats, each semi-detached. The ground floor is of brick, and is divided into parts by a central passage. On one side the family lives; on the other the sheep and the cow, which form their main livelihood, are sheltered. ”