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diff --git a/old/69592-0.txt b/old/69592-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index e4a6c00..0000000 --- a/old/69592-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5502 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The popular superstitions and festive -amusements of the Highlanders of Scotland, by William Grant Stewart - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The popular superstitions and festive amusements of the - Highlanders of Scotland - -Author: William Grant Stewart - -Release Date: December 20, 2022 [eBook #69592] - -Language: English - -Produced by: deaurider, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was - produced from images generously made available by The - Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS AND -FESTIVE AMUSEMENTS OF THE HIGHLANDERS OF SCOTLAND *** - - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE - POPULAR - SUPERSTITIONS - AND - FESTIVE AMUSEMENTS - OF THE - HIGHLANDERS OF SCOTLAND. - - BY - WILLIAM GRANT STEWART. - - NEW EDITION. - - “Of Brownyis and of Bogilis full is this Beuk.” - - _Gawin Douglas._ - - - LONDON: - AYLOTT AND JONES, 8, PATERNOSTER, ROW. - - EDINBURGH: OLIVER AND BOYD. GLASGOW: - MUCKLEHOSE. DUBLIN: M^cGLASHAN. INVERNESS: - SMITH DOUGLAS. ELGIN: RUSSELL. - - - - - LONDON: - JOHN KING, PRINTER, 120, FLEET STREET. - - - - -TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE - -THE COUNTESS OF SEAFIELD. - - -This new Edition of the Popular Superstitions and Festive Amusements of -the Highlanders of Scotland is humbly and appropriately dedicated:--as -being the Lady Patroness of the Brave and Intelligent Highlanders of -Strathspey, and its Tributaries, into whom her Ladyship’s genuine -benevolence and condescension have infused the most devoted attachment, - - By her Ladyship’s - - Grateful humble servant, - - THE AUTHOR. - - Viewville, Glen Urquhart, - June, 1851. - - - - -ADVERTISEMENT. - - -A new and revised Edition of the following Treatise on the -superstitions and amusements of the Highlanders, which was very -favourably received by the Public on its original publication, has -often been called for; but the Author’s urgent professional avocations -did not permit of earlier attention to the matter. At the request of -many friends and countrymen, the Author has now, however, been induced -to reprint the present Edition, in order to record more fully the -fast-fading Tales and Traditions which lately formed, and still to a -certain extent form, the Winter’s Evening Entertainments of the happy -Highland Homes. - - _Viewville, Glen Urquhart, - July, 1851._ - - - - -PREFACE. - - -No part of the United Kingdom has of late years attracted a greater -portion of public attention than the Highlands of Scotland. Formerly -isolated as the inhabitants were from their fellow subjects, by a -different language and separate interests, their character was but -little known and less admired. Devoted to their chiefs and feudal -institutions, they entertained a sovereign contempt for their -neighbours; and, in their occasional intercourse with them, displayed -feelings and manners little calculated to gain confidence or secure -esteem. - -But when the Rebellion in 1745, and its consequences, nearly -annihilated feudal power, and broke down the wall of partition, by -which the mountaineer was so long divided from the inhabitant of -the plain, a new light was reflected upon his manners and habits. -The gradual establishment of commercial and friendly relations with -the inhabitants of other countries, accelerated the decay of mutual -prejudices; and the virtues of the Highlander, which were previously -reserved for home consumption, were now duly appreciated by the -world. He no longer appeared the rude and unprincipled depredator, -but the generous and disinterested character, whose romantic and -chivalrous habits were rendered peculiarly interesting, as the remains -of those boldly defined virtues which distinguished our primitive -ancestors. Accordingly, the genius of the age became speedily alive to -the importance of so novel and interesting a character. Shaping its -course to the Highland mountains, it discovered among their unexplored -recesses, those plentiful materials, on which are founded some of the -most splendid works which adorn the circle of British literature. - -Nor have all those superstructures yet exhausted so fertile a mine. -Notwithstanding all the research that has been employed in tracing -the origin, and delineating the manners of the inhabitants, and the -many ingenious descriptions we have had of their local scenery, there -are still many hidden treasures left for discovery, which presently -languish in obscurity. This observation applies with great truth to -those more remote and romantic regions, which, from their secluded -situations, had been long inaccessible to the approach of learning and -genius; and where the native inhabitants, from want of intercourse -with their more refined and effeminate countrymen, are the true -representatives of our ancient forefathers in their various feelings -and habits. - -Of the manners and character of this noble and poetic race of -mountaineers, little was known further than what may be collected from -the manners of their contemporaries, in more accessible parts of the -country. The great defect which especially exists in the delineation of -the Highlander’s superstitions, becomes peculiarly apparent to one, who -had an opportunity of investigating those relics of the less polished -ages of the world, as they are still exhibited in the habits of the -people of whom we are writing. Many of the more prominent and common -features of this branch of our national peculiarities have, indeed, -been long ago celebrated by the pens of the immortal Burns, Ramsay, Sir -Walter Scott, and others of less note, while much light has been thrown -on the general character of the Scottish Highlander, by the ingenious -Mrs. Grant of Laggan, and the gallant General Stewart of Garth; but -the more interesting and latent peculiarities have been left to expire -in the dark. The want of a complete and systematic account of the -Highland and Scottish Superstitions, is a desideratum in our national -literature, which the philosophic mind will readily regret; and this -regret will be the more sincere on reflecting, that, from the fading -aspects those interesting relics have now assumed, it is a desideratum -which, in the course of a few years, cannot be supplied. The decline -of popular romance is keeping pace with the progress of knowledge and -civilization,--which, as they illumine the unenlightened mind, open -it to the folly of its prejudices; and thus the time is hastening its -approach, when the natives of our remotest glens shall be no longer -inspired with reverence for the fairy turret, nor shall their social -circle be contracted by the frightful tale. - -Far be it, however, from the writer of these pages to wish the reign -of superstition prolonged. But, while he would hail with delight, -the total extirpation of every prejudice tending to enslave the -mental energy of the noble Gael, he would as ardently desire their -perpetuation on the page of history, as his ancient peculiarities. -Divested as they will soon be of their formidable character, we would -preserve them as the most ancient relics we could transmit to our -posterity, to whom, in the course of a few centuries, they may appear -as preposterous and incredible, as the Poems of Ossian do now to the -more sceptical part of the present generation. - -It was not, however, the writer’s conviction of the utility of such a -work as this alone, that induced him to undertake a task for which, he -is afraid, he will be found to have been ill qualified. A considerable -time ago, and at a very early period of life, an impaired state of -health rendered it necessary for him to abandon his professional -labours for a time, and to retire from the metropolis to the place of -his nativity. The lassitude of mind consequent on a total remission -from all employment, induced him to seek some rational source of -amusement; and the idea of investigating the opinions and customs -of his countrymen, was suggested to him by various circumstances, -as likely to afford instruction as well as entertainment. His -opportunities were most ample, and his task of course, comparatively -easy. Surrounded by the most original, brave, and ingenious class of -Highlanders existing, and possessing considerable knowledge of their -language and manners, the writer found it no difficult matter to become -completely acquainted with their prejudices and habits. By visiting -the most celebrated professors of traditional lore in the district, -he speedily acquired not only a fundamental knowledge of the reigning -principles of superstition but likewise an inexhaustible store of tales -and traditions. And by mingling occasionally with the peasantry in -their public and private festivities, he was enabled, from personal -observation, to draw faithful portraits of those scenes of mirth and -festivity, for which the inhabitants are so eminently distinguished. -The result of his observations afforded him so much satisfaction that -he thought it worth while from time to time, to commit the particulars -to paper,--not with the view of urging them on the public, but for his -own private amusement. But the increasing avidity with which traits -of the Highland Superstitions have been received as developed in the -tales of the day, suggested to him the idea of submitting his gleanings -to the public, in the form of a detailed account of the Superstitions -and Festivities of the Highlanders of Scotland; and he hopes, however -defective may be its execution, the design is not altogether unworthy -of public patronage. - -To arrange his gleanings in a connected and systematic order, was an -undertaking far more tedious than the collection of them. The traits of -Highland superstition are of so various and heterogeneous a character, -that it appeared almost wholly impracticable to connect and digest them -into the form of a connected narrative; and yet in any other shape -they would necessarily loose much of the interest which they possess -in their present form. Sensible of this he has endeavoured to the best -of his ability, to arrange the different traits under their proper -heads, in the most systematic and connected manner practicable, without -introducing extraneous matter, which would not only destroy the native -complexion of the subject, but also swell the limits of the work. By -excluding solemn dissertation from such ludicrous relations as the -following, he has been enabled to compress many particulars into little -space, while his delineations possess a greater degree of truth and -fidelity. To illustrate the various traits set forth, the writer has -interspersed his delineations with a collection of the most popular -tales of the day. These tales, whether they be the creation of the -imagination, or the offspring of the credulity of their own original -authors, cannot now fail to interest the philosopher or the antiquary, -while they may amuse the less profound. For, utterly destitute of all -probability, and broadly ludicrous as they may appear to the polished -reader, they are, nevertheless, those interesting channels, by which -the feelings and habits of our earliest forefathers have been kept -alive and transmitted down, through so many changeful ages, to their -posterity of the present day. - -The length of those primitive relations is necessarily much abridged, -but a strict regard has been had to their original style and -phraseology. The language is almost entirely borrowed from the mouth -of the Highland narrator, and translated, it is hoped, in a manner so -simple and unvarnished, as to be perfectly intelligible to the capacity -of the peasant, for whose fire-side entertainment this little volume -may, perhaps, be peculiarly adapted. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - Page. - - PART I.--GHOSTS - - CHAP. 1.--Of the Highland Ghosts in General 1 - - 2.--Of the Ghost in his co-existent State--His - personal Similitudes and Habits 10 - - 3.--Of the Ghost in his Intermediate State--His - Similitudes and Habits 18 - - 4.--Of the Ghost in his Post-existent State 24 - Safeguards from Ghosts 34 - - - PART II.--FAIRIES 37 - - CHAP. 1.--Origin and Genealogy of the Fairies 39 - - 2.--Similitude of the Fairy 43 - - 3.--Of the Fairies as a Community--Their - Political Principles and Ingenious - Habits 49 - - 4.--Of their Domestic Economy and Festive - Habits 61 - - 5.--Of the Passions and Propensities of - the Fairies 69 - - 6.--Of the Fairy’s Embezzling and Criminal - Propensities 73 - - - PART III.--BROWNIES 93 - - PART IV.--WATER-KELPIES 99 - - PART V.--SPUNKIES 109 - - PART VI.--WITCHCRAFT 113 - - CHAP. 1.--Origin and History of Witchcraft 115 - - 2.--Of the Agents, Qualifications, and - Ceremonies of their Constitution 118 - - 3.--Of the Personal Similitude of the - Agents or Members of the Craft 125 - - 4.--Of their Professional Powers and - Practices 127 - - 5.--Of the Witch’s Powers of Transformation 141 - - 6.--Safeguards from Witchcraft 145 - - - PART VII.--HIGHLAND FESTIVE AMUSEMENTS 157 - - Hallowe’en 159 - - Christmas 165 - - New-Year’s Eve 172 - - Fasten’s Eve 178 - - Beltane Eve 180 - - Christenings 183 - - Weddings 186 - - Wakes 195 - - Funerals 197 - - - - -THE - -HIGHLAND SUPERSTITIONS. - - - - -PART I. - - “The gleaming path of the steel winds through the gloomy ghost. The - form fell shapeless into air, like a column of smoke which the staff - of the boy disturbs as it rises from the half-extinguished furnace.” - - OSSIAN. - - - - - -THE - -HIGHLAND SUPERSTITIONS. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -OF THE HIGHLAND GHOSTS IN GENERAL. - - -Of whatever country, station, or character the reader may be, we -presume it will be unnecessary for us, on this our outset, to intrude -upon his time by entering into a logical definition of the term -_Ghost_. There is perhaps no nation or clime, from California to -Japan, where that very ancient and fantastic race of beings called -Ghosts is not, under different terms and different characters, more or -less familiar to the inhabitants. We do not mean, however, to follow -this fleeting race of patriarchs throughout their wide course of -wandering and colonisation from the beginning of time to the present -day--as, in all likelihood, our research would turn out equally arduous -and unprofitable; we confine our lucubrations to the colony of the -tribe which, from time immemorial, have settled themselves among the -inhabitants of the Highland Mountains. - -Be it known then to the reader, that, so early as the days of Ossian, -the son of Fingal, and ever since, ghosts have been at all times -a plentiful commodity among the hills of Caledonia. Every native -Highlander has allied to him, from his birth, one of those airy -beings in the character of an auxiliary or helpmate, who continues -his companion, not only during all the days of the Highlander’s life, -but also for an indefinite period of time after his decease. It will -be readily believed that this ancient class of our mountaineers -cannot have descended through so many changeful ages of the world -without sharing, in some measure, those revolutions of manners and -habits to which all classes and communities of people are equally -liable. Accordingly the ghost has suffered as great a degeneracy -from that majesty of person and chivalry of habits which anciently -distinguished the primitive inhabitants of Caledonia, as his mortal -contemporary, man. Unlike the present puny, green, worm-eaten effigies -that now-a-days stalk about our premises, and, like the cameleon, feed -upon the air, the ancient race of Highland ghosts were a set of stout, -lusty, sociable ghosts, “_as tall as a pine, and as broad as a house_.” -Differing widely in his habits from those of his posterity, the ghost -of antiquity would enter the habitation of man, descant a lee-long -night upon the news of the times, until the long-wished-for supper was -once prepared, when this pattern of frankness and good living would -invite himself to the table, and do as much justice to a bicker of -Highland crowdie as his earthly contemporaries. Indeed, if all tales be -true, many centuries are not elapsed since those social practices of -the ghosts of the day proved an eminent pest to society. With voracious -appetites, those greedy gormandizers were in the habit of visiting the -humble hamlets, where superabundance of store seldom resided, and of -ravishing from the grasp of a starving progeny the meagre fare allotted -to their support. - -Beyond their personal attractions, however, it is believed they -displayed few enviable qualities; for, besides their continual -depredations on the goods and chattels of the adjacent hamlets, they -were ill-natured and cruel, and cared not a spittle for woman or child. -The truth of this remark is well exemplified in the history of two -celebrated ghosts, who “_once upon a time_” lived, or rather existed, -in the Wilds of _Craig-Aulnaic_, a romantic place in the district of -Strathdown, Banffshire. The one was a male, and the other a female. The -male was called _Fhua Mhoir Bein Baynac_, after one of the mountains -of Glenavon, where at one time he resided; and the female was called -_Clashnichd Aulnaic_, from her having had her abode in _Craig-Aulnaic_. -But, although the great ghost of _Ben-Baynac_ was bound, by the -common ties of nature and of honour, to protect and cherish his -weaker companion, _Clashnichd Aulnaic_, yet he often treated her in -the most cruel and unfeeling manner. In the dead of night, when the -surrounding hamlets were buried in deep repose, and when nothing else -disturbed the solemn stillness of the midnight scene, “oft,” says our -narrator, “would the shrill shrieks of poor _Clashnichd_ burst upon the -slumberer’s ears, and awake him to any thing but pleasant reflections.” - -But of all those who were incommoded by the noisy and unseemly quarrels -of these two ghosts, James _Owre_ or Gray, the tenant of the farm of -Balbig of Delnabo, was the greatest sufferer. From the proximity of his -abode to their haunts, it was the misfortune of himself and family to -be the nightly audience of _Clashnichd’s_ cries and lamentations, which -they considered any thing but agreeable entertainment. - -One day, as James Gray was on his rounds looking after his sheep, he -happened to fall in with _Clashnichd_, the Ghost of Aulnaic, with whom -he entered into a long conversation. In the course of this conversation -he took occasion to remonstrate with her on the very disagreeable -disturbance she caused himself and family, by her wild and unearthly -cries,--cries which, he said, few mortals could relish in the dreary -hours of midnight. Poor _Clashnichd_, by way of apology for her -conduct, gave James Gray a sad account of her usage, detailing at full -length the series of cruelties committed upon her by _Ben-Baynac_. From -this account, it appeared that her cohabitation with the latter was -by no means a matter of choice with _Clashnichd_; on the contrary, it -appeared that she had, for a long time, led a life of celibacy with -much comfort, residing in a snug dwelling, as already mentioned, in the -wilds of Craig-Aulnaic; but _Ben-Baynac_ having unfortunately taken -it into his head to pay her a visit, he took a fancy, not to herself, -but her dwelling, of which, in his own name and authority, he took -immediate possession, and soon after expelled poor _Clashnichd_, with -many stripes, from her natural inheritance; while, not satisfied with -invading and depriving her of her just rights, he was in the habit of -following her into her private haunts, not with the view of offering -her any endearments, but for the purpose of inflicting on her person -every degrading torment which his brain could invent. - -Such a moving relation could not fail to affect the generous heart -of James Gray, who determined from that moment to risk life and limb -in order to vindicate the rights and revenge the wrongs of poor -_Clashnichd_ the Ghost of Craig-Aulnaic. He therefore took good care to -interrogate his new _protegé_ touching the nature of her oppressor’s -constitution, whether he was of that _killable_ species of ghost -that could be shot with a silver sixpence, or if there was any other -weapon that could possibly accomplish his annihilation. _Clashnichd_ -informed him that she had occasion to know that _Ben-Baynac_ was -wholly invulnerable to all the weapons of man, with the exception of -a large mole on his left breast, which was no doubt penetrable by -silver or steel; but that, from the specimens she had of his personal -prowess and strength, it were vain for mere man to attempt to combat -_Ben-Baynac_ the great ghost. Confiding, however, in his expertness as -an archer--for he was allowed to be the best marksman of his age--James -Gray told _Clashnichd_ he did not fear him with all his might,--that -_he_ was his man; and desired her, moreover, next time he chose to -repeat his incivilities to her, to apply to him, James Gray, for -redress. - -It was not long ere he had an opportunity of fulfilling his -promises. _Ben-Baynac_ having one night, in the want of better -amusement, entertained himself by inflicting an inhuman castigation -on _Clashnichd_, she lost no time in waiting on James Gray, with a -full and particular account of it. She found him smoking his _cutty_, -and unbuttoning his habiliments for bed; but, notwithstanding the -inconvenience of the hour, James needed no great persuasion to induce -him to proceed directly along with _Clashnichd_ to hold a communing -with their friend _Ben-Baynac_ the great ghost. _Clashnichd_ was a -stout sturdy hussey, who understood the knack of travelling much -better than _our_ women do. She expressed a wish that, for the sake of -expedition, James Gray would mount himself on her ample shoulders, a -motion to which the latter agreed; and a few minutes brought them close -to the scene of _Ben-Baynac’s_ residence. As they approached his haunt, -he came forth to meet them, with looks and gestures which did not at -all indicate a cordial welcome. It was a fine moonlight night, and they -could easily observe his actions. Poor _Clashnichd_ was now sorely -afraid of the great ghost. Apprehending instant destruction from his -fury, she exclaimed to James Gray that they would be both dead people, -and that immediately, unless James could hit with an arrow the mole -which covered _Ben-Baynac’s_ heart. This was not so difficult a task as -James had hitherto apprehended it. The mole was as large as a common -bonnet, and yet nowise disproportioned to the natural size of his body, -for he certainly was a great and a mighty ghost. _Ben-Baynac_ cried out -to James Gray, that he would soon make eagle’s-meat of him; and certain -it is, such was his intention, had not James Gray so effectually -stopped him from the execution of it. Raising his bow to his eye when -within a few yards of _Ben-Baynac_, he took an important aim; the -arrow flew--it hit--a yell from _Ben-Baynac_ announced its fatality. A -hideous howl re-echoed from the surrounding mountains, responsive to -the groans of a thousand ghosts; and _Ben-Baynac_, like the smoke of a -shot, evanished into air.[A] - -_Clashnichd_, the Ghost of Aulnaic, now found herself emancipated -from the most abject state of slavery, and restored to freedom and -liberty, through the invincible courage of James Gray. Overpowered -with gratitude, she fell at James Gray’s feet, and vowed to devote -the whole of her time and talents towards his service and prosperity. -Meanwhile, being anxious to have her remaining goods and furniture -removed to her former dwelling, whence she had been so iniquitously -expelled by _Ben-Baynac_ the great ghost, she requested of her new -master the use of his horses to remove them. James observing on the -adjacent hill a flock of deer, and wishing to have a trial of his new -servant’s sagacity or expertness, told her those were his horses,--she -was welcome to the use of them; desiring, when she had done with them, -that she would inclose them in his stable. _Clashnichd_ then proceeded -to make use of the horses, and James Gray returned home to enjoy his -night’s rest. - -Scarce had he reached his arm-chair, and reclined his cheek on -his hand, to ruminate over the bold adventure of the night, when -_Clashnichd_ entered, with her “breath in her throat,” and venting the -bitterest complaints at the unruliness of his horses, which had broken -one-half of her furniture, and caused more trouble in the stabling of -them than their services were worth. “Oh! they are stabled, then?” -inquired James Gray. _Clashnichd_ replied in the affirmative. “Very -well,” rejoined James, “they shall be tame enough to-morrow.” - -From this specimen of _Clashnichd_ the Ghost of Craig-Aulnaic’s -expertness, it will be seen what a valuable acquisition her service -proved to James Gray and his young family; of which, however, they were -too speedily deprived by a most unfortunate accident. From the sequel -of the story, and of which the foregoing is but an extract, it appears -that poor _Clashnichd_ was but too deeply addicted to those guzzling -propensities which at that time rendered her kin so obnoxious to their -human neighbours. She was consequently in the habit of visiting her -friends much oftener than she was invited, and, in the course of such -visits, was never very scrupulous in making free with any eatables that -fell within the circle of her observation. - -One day, while engaged on a foraging expedition of this description, -she happened to enter the Mill of Delnabo, which was inhabited in those -days by the miller’s family. She found the miller’s wife engaged in -roasting a large gridiron of fine savoury fish, the agreeable effluvia -proceeding from which perhaps occasioned her visit. With the usual -inquiries after the health of the miller and his family, _Clashnichd_ -proceeded, with the greatest familiarity and good humour, to make -herself comfortable at the expense of their entertainment. But the -miller’s wife, enraged at the loss of her fish, and not relishing such -unwelcome familiarity, punished the unfortunate _Clashnichd_ rather -too severely for her freedom. It happened that there was at the time -a large caldron of boiling water suspended over the fire, and this -caldron the beldam of a miller’s wife overturned in _Clashnichd’s_ -bosom! Scalded beyond recovery, she fled up the wilds of Craig-Aulnaic, -uttering the most melancholy lamentations, nor has she been ever since -heard of to the present day. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -OF THE GHOST IN HIS CO-EXISTENT STATE--HIS PERSONAL SIMILITUDES AND -HABITS. - - -Having, in the preceding chapter, endeavoured, as briefly as possible, -to throw some light upon the general character of the primitive race -of Highland ghosts in order to enable the reader to judge of the -difference of manners which distinguished them from the modern ghosts, -we shall now proceed to the consideration of the latter during the -interval betwixt the birth and the eve of the death of the mortal, and -which, for the sake of illustration, we shall call his co-existent -state. - -From the birth of the mortal to the eve of his death, the ghost, in -point of similitude, is a perfect counterpart or representative of his -earthly yoke-fellow. As the child grows towards manhood, his ghost -keeps pace with him, and so exactly do they resemble each other in the -features, complexions, and aspect, when seen by a third party, that, -without the use of prescribed spells, no human observer can distinguish -the mortal from the immortal. Nor is this resemblance confined to the -personal appearance alone--it is likewise extended to the habiliments. -Whether the mortal equips himself in the Highland garb or Lowland -costume, the imitative ghost instantly assumes the same attire. The -bonnet or the hat, the philibeg or the trews, are equally convenient -and agreeable to him; for in this solitary particular he has never been -known to dissent from his human partner. - -During this period the ghost is supposed either to accompany or -precede, at some distance, his human partner (of course invisible -to those not possessing the second-sight) in all those multifarious -journeys and duties which the mortal performs throughout the course -of his eventful life, and the moral utility of the ghost is supposed -to consist in propitiating the mortal’s undertakings by guarding them -from the influence of evil spirits. But, however this may be, it is a -well-known fact, that _all_ ghosts do not devote the whole of their -time to the discharge of this commendable duty. Common fame errs much -if those capricious beings do not love their own pleasures more than -their partner’s interest; and this their negligence is a subject of -still deeper regret, when we consider the nature of those practices in -which they employ their time. - -If the appetites of the modern ghost are better restrained than those -of his predecessors were in the “greedy times” we have written of, -the mischievous habits he has acquired in lieu of his predecessor’s -social accomplishments are to some far more calamitous than even -_Clashnichd’s_ practices. It is true, a dose of Highland crowdie would -but ill agree with the refined delicacy of the stomach of the former. -Such squeamish appetites must look out for more delicate and savoury -food. But if the modern ghost does not possess those keen digestive -powers which distinguished _Clashnichd_, he inherits all the ill -nature of _Ben-Baynac_, without one-third of his might; and we question -much if his regard for the fair sex is a bit more tender. - -Instead of being the peaceable and industrious associate of his -yoke-fellow, it is a common practice with the ghost of the present day -to prowl about the country with the laudable intention of committing -all the mischief in his power to the friends and acquaintances of -his partner. Planting himself in some wild and convenient position, -he will open on the ears of the slumbering inhabitants, or the more -unfortunate traveller, his wild and unearthly cries, highly gratified, -no doubt, at the paralyzing effect they produce on his audience. Of the -hideousness of these cries nothing short of auric demonstration can -convey an adequate conception. Partaking at once of all that is horrid -and unnatural, if any resemblance to them can be figured, we are told -it is the “expiring shrieks of a goat under the butcher’s knife, or the -howling of a dog in a solitary cavern.” Proportioned to the strength -of the ghost, the cry is loud or faint, and has something so peculiar -in it, that the least note never fails to give the hearer a temporary -palsy. - -But were his practices confined to those comparatively harmless -proceedings, the conduct of the ghost would be far less intolerable -than it is. His vocal entertainments, however hurtful they sometimes -prove to those unfortunate enough to hear them, are not sufficiently -iniquitous to satisfy the extent of his malice. Being, no doubt, well -disciplined in the noble and fashionable art of pugilism by long -experience and practice among his kindred species, never remarkable -for their social harmony, he is, perhaps, the best bruiser in the -universe, and will never be backward in showing those people who come -in his way his expertness in this science. As, however, the greatest -part of his human contemporaries are, perhaps, too _strikingly_ -convinced of his decided superiority, few of them are disposed to -hazard a _set-to_ with so pithy a combatant, and it is consequently no -easy matter for the ghost to fall in with those who are inclined to -fight merely for fighting’s sake. Finding, therefore, so few willing -to quarrel with him in that open and gentlemanlike manner usual in -those countries, the fertility of his noddle suggests to him the more -indirect or Irish mode of proceeding; and it is to this ingenious mode -of raising a row that the Modern Ghost owes the most of his laurels. -Presenting himself before the unsuspecting traveller in the servile -appearance of a scabbed colt, or some such equally contemptible animal, -he will in this guise place himself in the passenger’s way, as if to -graze by the road’s side. Raising his staff, the passenger will very -aptly apply it to the colt’s back to clear his way, when the malicious -animal will instantly retort, and a conflict ensues, in which the -unwary transgressor is severely punished for his indiscretion. - -In former times, however, and even in recent times, we have heard -of some instances where these wanton pugilists proceeded upon more -honourable and systematic principles than they do at present. Instead -of the dastardly mode of cajoling his adversary into a fight by -stratagem, and conquering him by surprise, the warlike bogle of the -last century carried about with him flails, cudgels, and such other -pithy weapons as were suitable to the spirit of the times,--and on his -meeting with a human adventurer who had no objection to become his -antagonist, his choice of weapons was left with the latter. Hence it -followed that this equitable and impartial mode of proceeding ended not -unfrequently to the ghost’s great disadvantage; for the _human_ bullies -of those days were so diligently trained up to the handling of a flail -or the wielding of a cudgel, that their ghostly combatants, with all -their might and dexterity, have often been the first to propose an -armistice. To multiply details of such encounters would be as tedious -as they are numerous and similar; a single narrative, communicated to -the compiler by the grand-nephew of the person concerned, will, we -suppose, be sufficient to confirm our statements. - -“Late one night, as my grand-uncle Lachlan _Dhu_ Macpherson, who was -well known as the best fiddler of his day, was returning home from a -ball, at which he had acted as a musician, he had occasion to pass -through the once haunted Bog of Torrans. Now, it happened at that time -that that Bog was frequented by a huge bogle or ghost, who was of a -most mischievous disposition, and took particular pleasure in abusing -every traveller who had occasion to pass through the place betwixt the -twilight at night and cock-crowing in the morning. Suspecting much that -he would also come in for a share of his abuse, my grand-uncle made up -his mind, in the course of his progress, to return him any _civilities_ -which he might think meet to offer him. On arriving on the spot, he -found his suspicions were too well grounded; for whom did he see but -the Ghost of Bogandoran, apparently ready waiting him, and seeming by -his ghastly grin not a little overjoyed at the meeting? Then marching -up to my grand-uncle, the bogle clapt a huge club into his hand, and -furnishing himself with one of the same dimensions, he put a spittle -in his hand, and deliberately commenced the combat. My grand-uncle -returned the salute with equal spirit, and so ably did both parties ply -their batons, that for a while the issue of the combat was extremely -doubtful. At length, however, the fiddler could easily discover that -his opponent’s vigour was much in the fagging order. Picking up renewed -courage in consequence, my grand-uncle, the fiddler, plied the ghost -with renovated vigour, and after a stout resistance, in the course of -which both parties were seriously handled, the Ghost of Bogandoran -thought it prudent to give up the night. - -“At the same time, filled, no doubt, with great indignation at this -signal defeat, it seems the ghost resolved to re-engage my grand-uncle -on some other occasion, under more favourable circumstances. Not long -after, as my grand-uncle was returning home quite unattended from -another ball in the Braes of the country, he had just entered the -hollow of Auldichoish, well known for its ‘_eery_’ properties, when -lo! who presented himself to his view on the adjacent eminence but his -old friend of Bogandoran, advancing as large as the gable of a house, -putting himself in the most threatening and fighting attitudes? - -“Looking on the very dangerous nature of the ground in which they were -met, and feeling no anxiety for a second encounter with a combatant -of his weight, in a situation so little desirable, the fiddler would -have willingly deferred the settlement of their differences till a -more convenient season. He, accordingly, assuming the most submissive -aspect in the world, endeavoured to pass by his champion in peace, -but in vain. Longing, no doubt, to retrieve the disgrace of his late -discomfiture, the bogle instantly seized the fiddler, and attempted -with all his might to pull the latter down the precipice, with the -diabolical intention, it is supposed, of drowning him in the river Avon -below. In this pious design the bogle was happily frustrated by the -intervention of some trees which grew in the precipice, and to which my -unhappy grand-uncle clung with the zeal of a drowning man. The enraged -ghost finding it impossible to extricate him from those friendly trees, -and resolving, at all events, to be revenged of him, he fell upon -maltreating the fiddler with his hands and feet in the most inhuman -manner. - -“Such gross indignities my worthy grand-uncle was not accustomed -to, and being incensed beyond all measure at the liberties taken by -Bogandoran, he resolved again to try his mettle, whether life or -death should be the consequence. Having no other weapon wherewith to -defend himself but his _biodag_, which, considering the nature of his -opponent’s constitution, he suspected much would be of little avail -to him--I say, in the absence of any other weapon, he sheathed the -_biodag_ three times in the Ghost of Bogandoran’s belly. And what -was the consequence? why, to the great astonishment of my courageous -forefather, the ghost fell down cold-dead at his feet, and was never -more seen or heard of.” - -Thus it will be seen that in those chivalrous days the stout and -energetic sons of Caledonia had courage and prowess enough to cope with -those powerful warriors, however unequally matched, with spirit and -even with success. In the present effeminate times, we hear of none -that will even contend with those miserable scarecrows of the present -day. Overcome, more by fear than by force, at the first encounter they -throw themselves down, and, like the lamb beneath the fox, tamely -submit to the most abusive treatment. Hence, encouraged by those -servile submissions, it is almost incredible to what extent those -invincible _corps_ sometimes carry their audacity. We have heard of not -a few of them, who having, in the first place, intruded their company -on peaceable travellers on the public road, in the next place offered -them the most provoking indignities,--one time piping their unearthly -cries into the passenger’s ears, at another time tripping him up by -the heels, and even committing indecencies which delicacy forbids us -to repeat, while the fears and agitation manifested by the traveller -constituted a subject of great merriment to the mischievous ghost. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -OF THE GHOST IN HIS INTERMEDIATE STATE--HIS SIMILITUDES AND HABITS. - - -A short time previous to the mortal’s death, and when just on the -eve of dissolution, the ghost undergoes a striking revolution in his -appearance and habits. Seized with the _locked jaw_, and all the other -disabilities common to the dead, he then becomes the awful emblem of -death in all its similitudes. Attired in a shroud and all the ensigns -of the grave, the ghost nocturnally proceeds to the narrow house of his -future residence, and there disappears. He is lighted on his way by a -pale azure-coloured light, of the size of that emitted by a _tallow_ -candle, which is of a flickering unsteady nature, sometimes vivid, and -sometimes faint, as the mortal inhales and respires his breath; and, -in his course towards the grave, he will follow minutely the line of -march destined to be followed by his earthly partner’s approaching -funeral. His pace is slow, and his footsteps imperceptible even to a -passenger; who, although he sees clearly all his trappings, cannot -discern his mode of travelling. To the naked eye the ghost’s visage is -not discernible, by reason of the _face-cloth_. There is a very simple -process, however, which has been discovered for enabling a spectator to -discern whose ghost he is, although we never heard of more than one -person who had the hardihood to put the experiment in practice. - -It is an admitted fact, in those countries, that a ghost may be -recognised, in the appearance of his human partner, on his passing a -spectator, by the latter’s reversing the cuff of his own coat, or any -other part of his raiment, which puts an instant stop to the ghost’s -career, and clearly exposes him to the recognition of the courageous -experimenter. - -A sage philosopher, who had long desired an opportunity of practising -this bold experiment, found, “late one night,” when returning home from -a market, a very convenient one. Observing a stout lusty ghost stalking -very majestically along the public road, this bold adventurer hesitated -not a moment. Clapping himself into a defensive attitude, he reversed -his cuff--when, lo! his next-door neighbour’s wife was instantly -confronted to his face--clad in death’s awful apparel--the death-candle -lowing in her throat, and mouth full distended. Such an exhibition was -too appalling to wish for a long interview; and, accordingly, Donald -Doul, the adventurer, made a motion to be off, but in vain. The unhappy -man, as if transformed into a stone, could no more move than Lot’s -wife, and was obliged to stand confronted to his loving companion, both -equally sparing of their talk, until the crowing of the cock in the -morning. Finding himself then released from his uncomfortable stance, -he was about to make the best of his way home, to communicate the -result of his experiment, when the friendly wife’s ghost thus addressed -him: “Donald Doul--Donald Doul--Donald Doul--hear me, and tremble. -Great is the hindrance you have caused me this night,--a hindrance for -which you should have been severely punished, but for the friendship -which formerly subsisted between yourself and my partner. Dare not -again to pry into the mysteries of the dead. The time will come when -you’ll know those secrets.” To this poetical harangue Donald Doul made -no other reply than a profound obeisance. It is possible, however, -the ghost would have proposed a rejoinder, had not a chanticleer, in -the adjacent hamlet, emitted his third clarion, at the magic sound of -which the wife’s ghost fairly took to her heels, leaving Donald Doul -to resume his course homewards without further advice. Satisfied of -the interesting nature of the occurrence, and that his reputation for -courage and veracity would suffer no diminution from the relation, -Donald Doul made no secret of what happened. This clearly foretold what -speedily took place, the dissolution of the neighbour’s wife, (who, by -the way, was dangerously ill at the time,) to the great grief of her -husband, and the credit of Donald Doul’s name. - -A short time after the ghost, bearing the death-candle, has thus -been seen, the house of the undertaker who is to make the mortal’s -coffin will be nightly disturbed by the sounds of saws and knocking -of hammers, no doubt proceeding from the ghost of the undertaker and -his assistants preparing the coffin of the ghost; while invisible -messengers will parade the country for necessaries for the ghost’s -funeral, or foregoing. And a very imposing and interesting spectacle -may be looked for. - -The mortal resigns his breath, and is about to follow the course of the -dead-candle to his new abode, when _Taish na Tialedh_, or the funeral -foregoing, takes the road. This is not a paltry spectacle of one ghost, -a sight so common in those countries, but a superb assemblage of them, -all drest in their best attire, each reflecting lustre on the other. On -this occasion, the ghost of every man who is destined to accompany the -mortal’s funeral will attend, dressed in apparel of the same colour, -and mounted on a horse of the same appearance, (if he is to have -one,) as his mortal companion on the day of the corporeal interment. -On this occasion, too, their characteristic austerity of manners is -dispensed with. Mellowed, no doubt, by the generous qualities of the -_Usquebaugh_, the jocund laugh, the jest, and repartee, go slapping -round, responsive to some mournful dirge proceeding from the defunct’s -immediate friends and relations. - -In the motley group, the ghost of a father or brother is easily -recognised by his well-known voice and Sabbath vestment. Nay, the -spectator may even recognise himself, if his senses enable him to -discriminate, joyous or sorry, as occasion suggests, mingling in the -throng. In the middle of the procession the coffin is seen, containing, -we presume, the _dead ghost_, circled by mourning relatives; and on -the front, flanks, and rear of the burden, the company are likewise -seen approaching and retiring, relieving each other by turns. At -length, the noise of horses and tongues, horsemen and footmen, mingled -indiscriminately together, closes the procession. - -The following account of the _foregoing_ of the funeral of an -illustrious chief, who died some few score of years ago, (witnessed -by a man whose veracity was a perfect proverb,) will not, we trust, be -unacceptable: - -“A smith, who had a large family to provide for, was often necessitated -to occupy his smithy till rather a late hour. One night, in particular, -as he was turning the key of his smithy door, his notice was attracted -to the public road, which lay contiguous to the smithy, by a confusion -of sounds, indicative of the approach of a great concourse of people. -Immediately there appeared the advanced ranks of a procession, marching -four men deep, in tolerable good order, unless occasionally some -unaccountable circumstance occasioned the fall of a lusty fellow, as -if he had been shot by a twenty-four pounder. Thunderstruck at the -nature and number of the marvellous procession, the smith, honest man, -reclined his back to the door, witnessing a continuation of the same -procession for nearly an hour, without discovering any thing further -of the character of those who composed it, than that they betokened a -repletion of the _Usquebaugh_. At length, the appearance of the hearse -and its awful ensigns, together with the succeeding line of coaches, -developed the nature of the concern. It was then that the smith’s -knees began to smite each other, and his hair to stand on an end. The -recent demise of this venerable chieftain confirmed his conviction of -its being a _Taish_, and a very formidable one too. Not choosing to -see the rear, he directed his face homewards, whither he fled with -the swiftness of younger years, and was not backward in favouring his -numerous acquaintances with a full and particular account of the whole -scene. This induced many honest people to assume the smithy door as -their stance of observation on the day of the funeral, which took place -a few days after; and, to his honour be it told, every circumstance -detailed by the smith in his relation accurately happened, even to the -decanting of two dogs, and this established the smith’s veracity in all -time thereafter.” - -Akin to this are all the relations of those good people whose evil -destiny it has been to fall in with those ghostly processions, some -of whom having inadvertently involved themselves into the crowd, were -repulsed in every attempt to extricate themselves, until carried along, -nobody knows how far, by the tumultuous rabble, who seemed to enjoy -themselves vastly at the standing hair, protruding eyes, and awry -visage of the unconscious intruder. - -In concluding this part of our subject, it is hardly necessary to add, -that in two or three days after the ghostly procession, the human or -corporeal procession will succeed it, following most minutely and -accurately every course, winding, and turn taken by the foregoing, -while the dress, conversation, and every other incident attending the -company will be precisely the same. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -OF THE GHOST IN HIS POST-EXISTENT STATE. - - -It might, no doubt, be readily supposed by the ingenious reader, that -the mortal’s decease should be the term of dissolution assigned to the -copartnery connection subsisting between the mortal and his ghost, as -it generally terminates every other engagement into which the people -of this world enter. The event, however, only serves to blend their -interests still more strictly together. Whatever doubt may exist as -to the ghost’s attention to his partner’s worldly interests in his -lifetime, his solicitude for his spiritual interest, after the mortal’s -death, is universally acknowledged. He then becomes the sole means of -remedying past errors, and obtaining redress for past injuries. To -enable one fully to appreciate a ghost’s utility in the “land of the -leal,” he must acquaint himself with the nature of the life which the -defunct led, whether regular in his habits and moral in his life, or -otherwise, and the particular situation of his affairs at death. If, -for instance, a man falls suddenly, like a tree in a storm, whatever -may be the situation or circumstances in which he happens to drop, -so he must lie. In this respect, then, the peculiar advantage of the -Highlander over his Lowland neighbour becomes perfectly apparent. -Through the medium of a faithful ghost and a confidential friend, -transactions, as intricate and ravelled as those of the Laird of Coul, -can be easily simplified and assorted. - -No man should, therefore, be surprised, if the ghost of some departed -friend should take an opportunity of saluting him, and for his own sake -he should also lose no time in enabling the awful emissary to declare -the purpose of his mission; whoever will defer doing so only increases -his own misery, and it is a task, however uncomfortable, that is -sacredly due to departed friendship; for how many, by yielding to the -influence of cowardly fear, have exposed themselves and their household -to those nocturnal rackets sometimes raised by those disappointed -ambassadors, whereas a little resolution would not only have averted -it, but have also greatly conduced to the repose and quietude of an old -and esteemed acquaintance. The following statement of a circumstance -which, we are told, happened in Strathspey not a great many years ago, -will best enforce this counsel: - -“Not many years ago there lived in Kincardine of Strathspey a poor -man, who contracted a severe and sudden illness, which, to the great -grief of his family, terminated in his death. From the suddenness of -the honest man’s call, he had not time to settle his affairs, and -this circumstance, it seems, as might have been supposed, caused him -no small disquietude in the eternal world. He wished, in particular, -to have had an axe and a whisky barrel, which he had borrowed of a -friend, restored to him; for iron, you must know, in such cases, is -very bad. In order, therefore, to have this matter adjusted, the -dead man commissioned his ghost to wait on a particular friend to -disclose to him the circumstance, not doubting in the least but the -friend would have bestowed his best attention on the subject. The -faithful ghost lost no time in proceeding to get the object of his -mission accomplished, which, however, turned out rather a difficult -undertaking, for it was no easy matter for the ghost to procure a -conference with the friend on the business. One glimpse of the former -never failed to communicate to the latter the feet of a roe, nor could -all his dexterity bring the matter to a bearing. At length, exasperated -by a long course of night watching and useless travelling, the wily -commissioner had recourse to an expedient which ultimately effected -his purpose. As soon as the sun went down every evening, the ghost -opened a cannonade of bricks and stones upon the unhappy friend and the -inmates of his house, which did not terminate till cock-crowing in the -morning; and so expert an archer was this pawky ghost, that he scarcely -ever missed an aim, while every stroke would kill a bullock. Smarting -under the effect of this unseasonable chastisement, the friend and -his family raised the most outrageous clamour at their unaccountable -misfortune, which induced some of their neighbours nightly to assemble -in considerable bodies to protect them from this nocturnal warfare. But -the wily ghost, far from relaxing his operations on that account, only -plied them with additional vigour, sparing neither sex nor age in his -sweeping career. All sorts of missiles announced themselves, rebounding -on the shoulders of the protectors as well as the protected, the pithy -weight of which, and the unaccountable manner in which they were -flung, convinced the sufferers they were not flung by mortal hand. All -the acquaintances of the friend, therefore, urged on him to challenge -the invisible demon who thus savagely persecuted him at the hour of -midnight, in order to afford the latter an opportunity of explaining -his business, and the reason of his cruel and unchristian conduct. -But this advice the friend of the deceased was disposed to consider -a dernier resort, and one that required some cool consideration. -At length, rendered quite desperate by a series of unparalleled -persecutions, which rendered him as thin in body as a silver sixpence, -the goodman came to a final determination to call the ghost to account -the very first opportunity, for his mean and pusillanimous attacks on -himself and poor family. Accordingly, one night, on receiving a tart -pill on the cheek, which gave him an ear-ache, and which wonderfully -improved his courage, the goodman marched forth, with a mixture of rage -and fear, demanding of the unfeeling ghost, in a voice resembling the -falling notes of the gamut, ‘Wha-a-t i-i-s you-r bus-n-ess wi’ m-my -ho-use a-and fa-fa-fa-mi-ly?’ The ghost instantly appeared happy to -answer the question; but, ere he could do so, it was necessary to go -through a ceremony, which is no less curious than it is disagreeable to -the feelings of the parties concerned. This ceremony consists in the -_mortal’s_ embracing the ghost, and raising his feet from the ground, -so as to allow the wind to pass between the soles of his feet and the -ground, which enables the tongue-tied ghost to speak a volume. What was -then to be done in this particular case? Encouraged by the eloquent -cheers and arguments held forth to him, through the crevices of his -house, by his anxious family, he made several attempts to encircle the -awful emissary in his arms, which, by a sort of mechanical motion, -receded from the embrace; and it was not without great difficulty he -could persuade himself to give a friendly embrace to this mischievous -ghost; this, however, he did at last,--seizing him as he would a -bush of thorns. The ghost’s long-locked jaws now began to speak in -so sepulchral a tone as to palsy all who heard it. The friend of the -deceased promised strict attention to all the ghost’s injunctions, -upon which he evanished in a flame of fire, leaving the unhappy man -scarce able to totter to his chair. A minute compliance with all his -instructions rendered a second visit from the ghost unnecessary--and -this was no small matter of comfort to the friend.” - -This frigid display of a Highlandman’s courage will appear very -contemptible when compared to the undaunted resolution of the female -alluded to in the following story: - -“About forty or fifty years ago, a native of Strathdown, whose manner -of living (like that of other folks) did not qualify him for a sudden -death, was unfortunately drowned in the following manner: While in -the act of cutting down a tree, in a steep precipice pending over the -river Avon, he slipped his footing--fell headlong into the abyss below, -and rose no more. His lamentable fate was speedily discovered, his -body interred, and his affairs arranged in the best possible order. -Time, the parent of oblivion, soon rendered his name extinct among -the living, and he was no longer heard of; when, on a certain day, in -the height of it, the deceased appeared in his human likeness at the -window of a female friend. On the woman’s exhibiting some surprise -and terror at his appearance, the drowned man called to her to fear -nothing, but to come forth and speak with him,--for it seems he had -been enabled to speak without the ‘_dead-lift_.’ The honest woman -suspecting, no doubt, that, if she did not go out to him, he would make -the best of his way to her, obeyed his summons; and, in the course -of a long convoy she gave him, he divulged to her several acts of -misconduct he had been guilty of towards an old master and some others, -which disturbed much his repose. Anxious, no doubt, to get rid of his -company, she promised to exert the best of her endeavours to atone for -his misconduct, on condition he would leave her, and never again renew -his visit,--a promise which she faithfully performed, and the dead -friend gave her no farther trouble.” - -But the settlement of unassorted affairs, after death, is not the only -thing in which the ghost is extremely useful. As an ambassador ever -ready to discharge any piece of useful service--such as appeasing the -unavailing grief of lamenting relatives--he is ever ready and expert, -and the delicate manner in which the ghost sometimes executes this -commission indicates that he is far more friendly and conciliatory -in his behaviour when _dead_ than he was when alive. Sometimes, but -rarely, he leaves his abode to benefit an old acquaintance or friend -of his partner; but it will no doubt be done at the instigation of the -devoted latter. We present the particulars of a favour of this sort -conferred on an inhabitant of Strathspey, no doubt a long time ago, -which deserved a better return than what the ghost at first met with. - -“Engaged one night in the arrangement of his farming affairs, a certain -farmer, living in the parish of Abernethy, was a good deal surprised -at seeing an old acquaintance, who had a considerable time previously -departed this life, entering quite coolly at his dwelling-house door. -Instead of following his old acquaintance into his house, to receive -an explanation from himself of the marvellous circumstance, his -curiosity led him into the church-yard where his friend was buried, -and which was near by, to see if he had actually risen from the dead. -On examination, he not only found the grave, but also the coffin _wide -open_, which left no doubt on his mind of the reality of the vision -which he thought had deluded his sight. Making the sign of the cross on -the grave, he returned to his house, not caring whether he found his -friend before him or not. He was not, however, to be seen; but, in the -course of a short time, he returned, and upbraided the farmer for his -improper interference with his grave, explaining to him the cause of -his resurrection. It appeared that a scabbed stirk, which had a greedy -custom of prowling about the doors, seeking what he might devour, -thief-like entering the dwelling-house in the absence of the family, -and, finding no better subject of entertainment, attacked the straw in -the cradle which stood by the fireside, and in which his only child was -sleeping at the time. The tugging of the stirk at the straw would have -inevitably overturned the cradle and the child into the fire but for -the generous interposition of the ghost. The farmer expressed his most -grateful acknowledgments for so signal an instance of his kindness; -and immediately retraced his steps to the grave, on which he made a -counter-sign to that which he formerly made, and the good-hearted ghost -obtained admission into his dreary abode.” - -But these are not all the ghost’s useful qualities. He possesses -another very important one in this unchristian and uncharitable age, -in which the repositories of the dead are exposed to the nocturnal -spoliation of the ruthless resurrectionist. It is vain for the -church-sexton to plant _steel-traps_ and _spring-guns_ in the field of -his labours,--the wily depredator will contrive to elude them all when -the vigilant watchman is wanted to direct them. To show the vigilance -of this agent’s attention to his own interest, and that of his friends, -on such occasions, take the following narration:-- - -“There was at one time a woman, who lived in Camp-del-more of -Strathavon, whose cattle were seized with a murrain, or some such -fell disease, which ravaged the neighbourhood at the time, carrying -off great numbers of them daily. All the _forlorn fires and hallowed -waters_ failed of their customary effects; and she was at length -told by the wise people whom she consulted on the occasion, that it -was evidently the effect of some infernal agency, the power of which -could not be destroyed by any other means than the never-failing -specific--the juice of a _dead head_ from the church-yard,--a nostrum -certainly very difficult to be procured, considering the head must -needs be abstracted from a grave in the hour of midnight. Being, -however, a woman of a stout heart and strong faith, native feelings of -delicacy towards the blessed sanctuary of the dead had more weight in -restraining her for some time from resorting to this desperate remedy -than those of fear. At length, seeing that her bestial stock would soon -be completely annihilated by the destructive career of the disease, -the wife of Camp-del-more resolved to put the experiment in practice, -whatever the result might be. Accordingly, having, with considerable -difficulty, engaged a neighbouring woman to be her companion in this -hazardous expedition, they set out, about midnight, for the parish -church-yard, distant about a mile and a half from her residence, -to execute her determination. On arriving at the church-yard, her -companion, whose courage was not so notable, appalled by the gloomy -prospect before her, refused to enter among the habitations of the -dead. She, however, agreed to remain at the gate till her friend’s -business was accomplished. This circumstance, however, did not -stagger our heroine’s resolution. She, with the greatest coolness and -intrepidity, proceeded towards what she supposed an old grave,--took -down her spade, and commenced her operations. After a good deal of toil -she arrived at the object of her labour. Raising the first head, or -rather skull, that came in her way, she was about to make it her own -property, when, lo! a hollow, wild, sepulchral voice exclaimed, ‘That -is _my_ head--let it alone!’ Not wishing to dispute the claimant’s -title to this head, and supposing she could be otherwise provided, -she very good-naturedly returned it, and took up another. ‘That is my -father’s head,’ bellowed the same voice. Wishing, if possible, to avoid -disputes, the wife of Camp-del-more took up another head, when the -same voice instantly started a claim to it as his grand-father’s head. -‘Well,’ replied the wife, nettled at her disappointments, ‘although it -were your grand-mother’s head, you shan’t get it till I am done with -it.’--‘What do you say, you limmer?’ says the ghost, starting up in -his awry habiliments; ‘What do you say, you limmer?’ repeated he in a -great rage. ‘By the great oath, you had better leave my grand-father’s -head.’ Upon matters coming this length, the wily wife of Camp-del-more -thought it proper to assume a more conciliatory aspect. Telling the -claimant the whole particulars of the predicament in which she was -placed by the foresaid calamity, she promised faithfully, that, if his -Honour would only allow her to carry off his grand-father’s skull, or -head, in a peaceable manner, she would restore it again when done with -it. Here, after some communing, they came to an understanding, and she -was allowed to take the head along with her, on condition she should -restore it before cock-crowing, under the heaviest penalties. - -“On coming out of the church-yard, and looking for her companion, -she had the mortification to find her ‘without a mouthful of breath -in her body;’ for, on hearing the dispute between her friend and the -guardian of the grave, and suspecting much that she was likely to -share the unpleasant punishments with which he threatened her friend, -at the bare recital of them she fell down in a faint, from which it -was no easy matter to recover her. This proved no small inconvenience -to Camp-del-more’s wife, as there were not above two hours to elapse -ere she had to return the head in terms of her agreement. Taking -her friend upon her back, she carried her up a steep acclivity to -the nearest adjoining house, where she left her for the night; then -repaired home with the utmost speed--made _dead bree_ of the _dead -head_, and, ere the appointed time had expired, she restored the head -to its guardian, and placed the grave in its former condition. It is -needless to add, that, as a reward for her exemplary courage, the -‘_bree_’ had its desired effect--the cattle speedily recovered--and, -so long as she retained any of it, all sorts of diseases were of short -duration.” - - -SAFEGUARDS FROM GHOSTS. - -Having now briefly described the leading features of a ghost’s -character in those countries, we shall close our account of him by -annexing a few of those safeguards which protect us from those wanton -encounters and impertinent interferences which we have related, -and which must be far from being palatable to the more effeminate -inhabitants of the Highland mountains at the present day. - -One simple plan of obtaining perfect security from supernatural agents -of any kind is, (whenever we apprehend the approach or presence of -a ghost,) to repeat certain words, which can be taught by any wise -patriarch or matron, the powerful charm of which instantly repercusses -the ghost back to his own proper abode, and, for the time, defeats all -his machinations. Note--If in the house, the words must be repeated -three times behind the door. A ghost then can neither enter at the -door, window, nor any other crevice of the house. The operation of -the words is like that of an infeftment, which, taken on one part of -the property, affects the whole. Were it not for this grand discovery, -vain would be the attempt of any man to bar out a ghost as he might do -a _mortal_. A ghost can enter in at the key-hole--nay, even through the -wall of the house, if there is no other caveat to arrest him in his -career. - -Another safeguard consists in forming a piece of the _rowan tree_ into -the shape of a cross with a red thread. This cross you will insert -between the lining and cloth of your garment, and, so long as it lasts, -neither ghost nor witch shall ever interfere with you. - - - - -PART II. - -Fairies. - - There are fairies, and brownies, and shades Amazonian, - Of harper, and sharper, and old Cameronian; - Some small as pigmies, some tall as a steeple: - The spirits are all gone as mad as the people. - - HOGG. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -ORIGIN AND GENEALOGY OF THE FAIRIES. - - -Though the ghost is confessedly entitled to no small degree of -consideration from his intimate connection with our own species, no one -will pretend to deny that the fairy is a character whose _greatness of -descent_ renders him equally interesting and respectable. The genealogy -of the ghost can no doubt be traced back to the earliest ages of the -world, and it is pretty certain that he has been amongst the first of -its inhabitants; still, on the score of antiquity, he cannot pretend -to compete with the fairy, who, it seems, existed long before the -world itself. The origin and descent of the fairies, which had so long -proved such knotty subjects of controversy in other quarters of the -kingdom, are points which have been finally settled and disposed of -in these countries. No doubt now remains, in the minds of those who -have bestowed any attention on the important subject, of there being -those unhappy angels whose diabolical deeds produced their expulsion -from Paradise. In support of this rational theory, the wise men of the -day never fail to quote the highest authority. Scripture, they say, -tells us those angels were cast down; and although, indeed, it does -not mention to what place, sad experience proves the fact, that the -Highland mountains received an ample share of them. Here, wandering up -and down, like the hordes of Tartary, they pitch their camp where spoil -is most plentiful; and taking advantage of the obstinate incredulity of -some of their human neighbours, contrive to make themselves perfectly -comfortable at the latter’s expense. To dispel any doubt that may -remain on the mind of the reader as to the soundness of this doctrine, -we present him with the following particulars: - -“Not long since, as a pious clergyman was returning home, after -administering spiritual consolation to a dying member of his flock, -it was late of the night, and he had to pass through a good deal of -_uncanny_ ground. He was, however, a good and conscientious minister -of the gospel, and feared not all the spirits in the country. On his -reaching the end of a lake which stretched alongst the road-side for -some distance, he was a good deal surprised to have his attention -arrested by the most melodious strains of music. Overcome by pleasure -and curiosity, the minister coolly sat down to listen to the harmonious -sounds, and try what new discoveries he could make with regard to -their nature and source. He had not sitten many minutes when he could -distinguish the approach of the music, and also observe a light in the -direction from whence it proceeded, gliding across the lake towards -him. Instead of taking to his heels, as any faithless wight would -have done, the pastor, fearless, determined to await the issue of the -phenomenon. As the light and music drew near, the clergyman could at -length distinguish an object resembling a human being walking on the -surface of the water, attended by a group of diminutive musicians, -some of them bearing lights, and others of them instruments of music, -on which they continued to perform those melodious strains which -first attracted his attention. The leader of the band dismissed -his attendants, landed on the beach, and afforded the minister the -amplest opportunities of examining his appearance. He was a little -primitive-looking grey-headed man, clad in the most grotesque habit -he ever witnessed, and such as led the venerable minister all at once -to suspect his real character. He walked up to the minister, whom he -saluted with great grace, offering an apology for his intrusion. The -pastor returned his compliments, and, without farther explanation, -invited the mysterious stranger to sit down by his side. The invitation -was complied with, upon which the minister proposed the following -question: ‘_Who art thou, stranger, and from whence?_’ To this -question the fairy, with downcast eye, replied, that he was one of -those sometimes called ‘_Doane Shee_, or men of peace, or good men, -though the reverse of this title was a more fit appellation for them. -Originally angelic in his nature and attributes, and once a sharer -of the indescribable joys of the regions of light, he was seduced by -Satan to join him in his mad conspiracies; and as a punishment for his -transgression, he was cast down from those regions of bliss, and was -now doomed, along with millions of fellow-sufferers, to wander through -seas and mountains, until the coming of the great day; what their fate -would be then they could not divine, but they apprehended the worst. -And,’ continued he, turning to the minister, with great anxiety, ‘the -object of my present intrusion on you is to learn your opinion, as an -eminent divine, as to our final condition on that dreadful day.’ Here -the venerable pastor entered upon a long conversation with the fairy, -(the particulars of which we shall be excused for omitting,) touching -the principles of faith and repentance. Receiving rather unsatisfactory -answers to his questions, the minister desired the ‘_Sheech_’ to -repeat after him the Paternoster; in attempting to do which, it was -not a little remarkable that he could not repeat the word ‘_art_,’ but -‘_wert_,’ in heaven. Inferring from every circumstance that their fate -was extremely precarious, the minister resolved not to puff the fairies -up with presumptuous and perhaps groundless expectations. Accordingly, -addressing himself to the unhappy fairy, who was all anxiety to know -the nature of his sentiments, the reverend gentleman told him that he -could not take it upon him to give them any hopes of pardon, as their -crime was of so deep a hue as scarcely to admit of it. On this the -unhappy fairy uttered a shriek of despair, plunged headlong into the -loch, and the minister resumed his course to his home.” - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -SIMILITUDE OF THE FAIRY. - - -Of all the different species of supernatural tribes which inhabit those -countries, none of them could ever vie with the fairy community for -personal elegance. Indeed, this seems to be the only remaining vestige -they possess of their primitive character. Though generally low in -stature, they are exceedingly well proportioned, and prepossessing in -their persons. The females, in particular, are said to be the most -enchanting beings in the world, and far beyond what the liveliest -fancy can paint. Eyes sparkling as the brightest of the stars, or the -polished gem of Cairngorm,--cheeks in which the whiteness of the snow -and red of the reddan are blended with the softness of the Cannoch -down,--lips like the coral, and teeth like the ivory,--a redundant -luxuriance of auburn hair hanging down the shoulders in lovely -ringlets, and a gainly simplicity of dress, always of the colour of -green, are prominent features in the description of a Highland fairy -nymph. - -But while we agree in some measure with our fellow historians who -have described the fairy race as they exist in other quarters of the -country, in so far as regards their personal beauty, we widely differ -from those historians as to the splendour of their dress as exhibited -in the character of the Highland fairies. Instead of the gorgeous -habiliments of “white and gold dropped with diamonds, and coats of the -threads of gold,” which we are told are worn by those more luxurious -and refined fairies living within the sphere of splendour and fashion -in the Lowlands of Scotland; the Highland fairies, more thrifty and -less voluptuous, clothe themselves in plain worsted green, not woven -by the “_shuttle of Iris_,” but by the greasy shuttle of some Highland -weaver. This description, let it be understood, however, applies only -to the portion of them inhabiting _terra firma_; for the dress of those -whose lot it was to fall in the deep is of a very different nature, -consisting entirely of seal-skins, and such other _marine_ apparel as -is most suitable and appropriate to their element. - -The following story will throw some light upon the manners and _habits_ -of this portion of the fairy tribes. - -There was once upon a time a man who lived on the northern coasts, not -far from “_Taigh Jan Crot Callow_,”[B] and he gained his livelihood -by catching and killing fish, of all sizes and denominations. He had -a particular liking to the killing of those wonderful beasts, half -dog half fish, called “Roane,” or Seals, no doubt because he got a -long price for their skins, which are not less curious than they are -valuable. The truth is, that most of these animals are neither dogs nor -cods, but downright fairies, as this narration will show; and, indeed, -it is easy for any man to convince himself of the fact by a simple -examination of his _tobacco-spluichdan_,--for the dead skins of those -beings are never the same for four-and-twenty hours together. Sometimes -the “_spluichdan_” will erect its bristles almost perpendicularly, -while, at other times, it reclines them even down; one time it -resembles a bristly sow, at another time a _sleekit cat_; and what dead -skin, except itself, could perform such cantrips? Now, it happened -one day, as this notable fisher had returned from the prosecution -of his calling, that he was called upon by a man who seemed a great -stranger, and who said he had been dispatched for him by a person -who wished to contract for a quantity of seal-skins, and that it was -necessary for the fisher to accompany him (the stranger) immediately -to see the person who wished to contract for the skins, as it was -necessary that he should be served that evening. Happy in the prospect -of making a good bargain, and never suspecting any duplicity in the -stranger, he instantly complied. They both mounted a steed belonging -to the stranger, and took the road with such velocity that, although -the direction of the wind was towards their back, yet the fleetness -of their movement made it appear as if it had been in their faces. On -reaching a stupendous precipice which overhung the sea, his guide told -him they had now reached the point of their destination. “Where is the -person you spoke of?” inquired the astonished seal-killer. “You shall -see that presently,” replied the guide. With that they immediately -alighted, and, without allowing the seal-killer much time to indulge -the frightful suspicions that began to pervade his mind, the stranger -seized him with irresistible force, and plunged headlong with the -seal-killer into the sea. After sinking down--down--nobody knows -how far, they at length reached a door, which, being open, led them -into a range of apartments, filled with inhabitants--not people, but -seals, who could nevertheless speak and feel like human folk; and how -much was the seal-killer surprised to find that he himself had been -unconsciously transformed into the like image! If it were not so, he -would probably have died, from the want of breath. The nature of the -poor fisher’s thoughts may be more easily conceived than described. -Looking on the nature of the quarters into which he was landed, all -hopes of escape from them appeared wholly chimerical, whilst the -degree of comfort and length of life which the barren scene promised -him were far from being flattering. The “Roane,” who all seemed in -very low spirits, appeared to feel for him, and endeavoured to soothe -the distress which he evinced, by the amplest assurances of personal -safety. Involved in sad meditation on his evil fate, he was quickly -roused from his stupor, by his guide’s producing a huge gully or -joctaleg, the object of which he supposed was to put an end to all his -earthly cares. Forlorn as was his situation, however, he did not wish -to be killed; and, apprehending instant destruction, he fell down, -and earnestly implored for mercy. The poor generous animals did not -mean him any harm, however much his former conduct deserved it; and he -was accordingly desired to pacify himself, and cease his cries. “Did -you ever see that knife before?” says the stranger to the fisher. The -latter instantly recognising his own knife, which he had that day stuck -into a seal, and with which it made its escape, acknowledged it was -formerly his own, for what would be the use of denying it? “Well!” -rejoins the guide, “the apparent seal, which made away with it, is my -father, who lies dangerously ill ever since, and no means could stay -his fleeting breath, without your aid. I have been obliged to resort -to the artifice I have practised to bring you hither, and I trust that -my filial duty to my father will readily operate my excuse.” Having -said this, he led into another apartment the trembling seal-killer, -who expected every minute a return of his own favour to the father; -and here he found the identical seal, with which he had the encounter -in the morning, suffering most grievously from a tremendous cut in -its hind-quarter. The seal-killer was then desired, with his hand, to -cicatrize the wound; upon doing which, it immediately healed, and the -seal arose from its bed in perfect health. Upon this, the scene changed -from mourning to rejoicing,--all was mirth and glee. Very different, -however, were the feelings of the unfortunate seal-catcher, expecting, -no doubt, to be a seal for the remainder of his life, until his late -guide accosted him as follows: “Now, sir, you are at liberty to return -to your wife and family, to whom I am about to conduct you; but it -is on this express condition, to which you must bind yourself by a -solemn oath, viz., that you shall never maim or kill a seal in all your -lifetime hereafter.” To this condition, hard as it was, he joyfully -acceded; and the oath being administered in all due form, he bade his -new acquaintance most heartily and sincerely a long farewell. Taking -hold of his guide, they issued from the place, and swam up--up--till -they regained the surface of the sea; and, landing at the said -stupendous pinnacle, they found their former riding steed ready for -a second canter. The guide breathed upon the fisher, and they became -like men. They mounted their horse; and fleet as was their course -towards the precipice or pinnacle, their return from it was doubly -swift; and the honest seal-killer was laid down at his own door-cheek, -where his guide made him such a present as would have almost reconciled -him to another similar expedition, and such as rendered his loss of -profession, in so far as regarded the seals, a far less intolerable -hardship than he had at first contemplated it. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -OF THE FAIRIES AS A COMMUNITY--THEIR POLITICAL PRINCIPLES AND INGENIOUS -HABITS. - - -From the description the reader may have seen of the fairy community -in general, as drawn in the works of the eminent writers of the day, -he may have been led to form very erroneous estimates not only of the -dress of the _Highland_ fairies, but also of their political economy -and government. - -There are few who have not heard of the illustrious and divine beauty -of the Queen of the Fairies, and the splendid and dazzling courts -with which her majesty is surrounded on all occasions of intercourse -with the inhabitants of this world. It appears, however, from all -that the compiler can learn, that the empire of Queen Mab, like that -of the renowned Cæsar, never was extended to the northern side of the -Grampians, for she is entirely unknown in those countries. Indeed, it -is believed that the Highland fairies acknowledge no distinctions of -this sort. As there were originally none such amongst them in Paradise, -so they are not disposed to create any on earth,--and a more complete -republic never was. - -It is true, Satan, no doubt, exercises a sort of impotent chieftainship -over them as his once rebellious confederates,--but, it is believed, -his laws and his edicts are as much despised by them as those of the -Great Mogul. In spite of all his power and policy, like the Israelites -of old, each does what is right in his own eyes; and, unless on a -Halloweven, or such occasion of state, they may submit to a pageant -review more from motives of vanity than of loyalty, Auld Nick’s ancient -sovereignty over the fairy community in this land of freedom has fallen -into desuetude. - -The fairies are a very ingenious people. As may be expected from the -nature of their origin and descent, they are possessed of very superior -intellectual powers, which they know well enough how to apply to useful -purposes. Nor are they so vain of their abilities as to scorn to direct -them to the prosecution of those more ignoble employments, on which the -politer part of mankind commonly look down with contempt. Whether this -condescension, on the part of the fairy, be more the result of choice -or necessity, it is hard for us to determine; but certain it is, that -few communities can boast of a more numerous or more proficient body of -artisans. We are told, indeed, by some of those well acquainted with -their manners, that every individual fairy combines all the necessary -arts in his own person--that he is his own weaver, his own tailor, and -his own shoemaker. Whether this is truly the case public opinion is -rather divided; but all our informants concur in this conclusion--that -by far the greater number of them understand well enough those several -callings; and the expertness they display in handling the shuttle, the -needle, and the awl, evidently demonstrate their practical knowledge of -these implements. In support of this conclusion, we have the authority -of a decent old man, whose veracity, on subjects of this description, -has never been questioned in the district in which he lived, who -favoured the compiler with the following narration: - -“My great-grandfather, (peace to his manes!) who was by profession a -weaver, and, by the bye, a very honest man, though I should not say it, -was waked one night from his midnight sleep by a tremendous noise. On -looking ‘_out over_’ the bed, to see whence it proceeded, he was not -a little astonished to find the house full of operative fairies, who, -with the greatest familiarity, had made free with his manufacturing -implements. Having provided themselves with a large sack of wool,--from -whence it came they best knew,--they were actively employed in -converting it into cloth. While one teethed it, another carded it; -while another span it, another wove it; while another dyed it, another -pressed it; while the united bustle of their several operations, joined -to the exclamations uttered by each expressive of his avocation, -created a clamour truly intolerable to the gudeman of the house, with -whom they used so unacceptable a freedom. So diligent were they, that -long ere day they decamped with a web of green cloth, consisting of -fifty ells and more, without even thanking my venerable grandfather for -the use of his machinery.” - -Another narrative, with which we were favoured, related the activity -of a fairy shoemaker, who sewed a pair of shoes for a “_mountain -shepherd_” during the time the latter mealed a bicker of pottage -for them. And another narrative related the expertness of a fairy -_barber_, who shaved an acquaintance so effectually with no sharper a -razor than the palm of his hand, that he never afterwards required to -undergo the same operation. These, and a number of equally creditable -stories, confirm their transcendent superiority as artisans over any -other class of people in Christendom. - -Nor in the more honourable and learned professions are they less -dexterous. As architects they stand quite unrivalled. To prove their -excellence in this art we have only to consider the durability of -their habitations. Some of these, it is said, have outlived the -ravages of time and vicissitudes of weather for some thousand years, -without sustaining any other injury than the suffocation of the -smoke-vents--defects which could no doubt be repaired with little -trouble. But as the relics of former ages receive additional interest -from their rude and ruinous appearance, so must these monuments of -fairy genius excite in the breasts of the community the most profound -sentiments of respect and veneration. - -Nor are these the only monuments remaining calculated to perpetuate -their excellence as architects and engineers,--there are others of -too lasting and extraordinary a character to escape the notice of the -traditional historian. We allude to those stupendous superstructures -built by the fairies under the auspices of that distinguished -arch-architect Mr. Michael Scott, which sufficiently demonstrate the -skill of the designer and the ability of the workmen. As the history -of this celebrated character (rendered not the less interesting by the -notices of him written by the Minstrel of Minstrels) is not yet quite -complete, we shall make no apology for submitting to the reader the -following anecdotes of his life, which we have collected in the course -of our peregrinations. - - -MICHAEL SCOTT. - -In the early part of Michael Scott’s life he was in the habit, as is -not yet uncommon with northern tradesmen, of emigrating annually to the -Scottish metropolis, for the purpose of being employed in his capacity -of mason. One time, as himself and two companions were journeying to -the place of their destination for a similar object, they had occasion -to pass over a high hill, the name of which is not mentioned, but -supposed to be one of the Grampians, and being fatigued with climbing, -they sat down to rest themselves. They had no sooner done so than they -were warned to take to their heels by the hissing of a large serpent, -which they observed revolving itself towards them with great velocity. -Terrified at the sight, Michael’s two companions fled, while he, on -the contrary, resolved to encounter the serpent. The appalling monster -approached Michael Scott with distended mouth and forked tongue; and, -throwing itself into a coil at his feet, was raising its head to -inflict a mortal sting, when Michael, with one stroke of his stick, -severed its body into three pieces. Having rejoined his affrighted -comrades, they resumed their journey; and, on arriving at the next -public-house, it being late, and the travellers being weary, they took -up their quarters at it for the night. In the course of the night’s -conversation, recurrence was naturally had to Michael’s recent exploit -with the serpent, when the landlady of the house, who was remarkable -for her “arts,” happened to be present. Her curiosity appeared much -excited by the conversation; and, after making some inquiries regarding -the colour of the serpent, which she was told was _white_, she offered -any of them, that would procure her the middle piece, such a tempting -reward, as induced one of the party instantly to go for it. The -distance was not very great; and, on reaching the spot, he found the -middle and tail piece in the place where Michael left them; but the -head piece was gone, it is supposed, to a contiguous stream, to which -the serpent is said always to resort, after an encounter with the human -race, and, on immersing itself into the water, “like polypus asunder -cut,” it again regenerates and recovers. On the other hand, it is a -circumstance deserving the attention of the medical world, that should -an individual, unfortunate enough to be bitten by this galling enemy -of mankind, reach the water before the serpent, his recovery from the -effects of the calamity is equally indubitable. - -The landlady, on receiving the piece, which still vibrated with life, -seemed highly gratified at her acquisition; and, over and above the -promised reward, regaled her lodgers very plentifully with the choicest -dainties in her house. Fired with curiosity to know the purpose for -which the serpent was intended, the wily Michael Scott was immediately -seized with a severe fit of indisposition,--an excruciating colic, the -pains of which could only be alleviated by continual exposure to the -fire, the warmth of which, he affirmed, was in the highest degree -beneficial to him. - -Never suspecting Michael Scott’s hypocrisy, and naturally supposing -that a person so severely indisposed should feel very little curiosity -about the contents of any cooking utensils which might lie around the -fire, the landlady consented to his desire of being allowed to recline -all night along the fireside. As soon as the other inmates of the house -were retired to bed, the landlady resorted to her darling occupation; -and, in this feigned state of indisposition, Michael had a favourable -opportunity of watching most scrupulously all her actions, through -the key-hole of a door leading to the next apartment where she was. -He could see the rites and ceremonies with which the serpent was put -into an oven, along with many mysterious ingredients. After which, -the unsuspicious landlady placed it by the fireside, where lay our -distressed traveller, to stove till the morning. - -Once or twice, in the course of the night, the “wife of the -change-house,” under pretence of inquiring for her sick lodger, and -administering to him some renovating cordials, the beneficial effects -of which he gratefully acknowledged, took occasion to dip her finger in -her saucepan, upon which the cock, perched on his roost, crowed aloud. -All Michael’s sickness could not prevent him from considering very -inquisitively the landlady’s cantrips, and particularly the influence -of the sauce upon the crowing of the cock. Nor could he dissipate some -inward desires he felt to follow her example. At the same time that he -suspected that Satan had a hand in the pye, yet he liked very much to -be at the bottom of the concern; and thus his reason and his curiosity -clashed against each other for the space of several hours. At length, -passion, as is too often the case, became the conqueror. Michael, -too, dipt his finger in the sauce, and applied it to the tip of his -tongue, and immediately the cock perched on the _spardan_ announced the -circumstance in a mournful clarion. Instantly his mind received a new -light to which he was formerly a stranger, and the astonished dupe of a -landlady now found it her interest to admit her sagacious lodger into a -knowledge of the remainder of her secrets. - -Endowed with the knowledge of “_good and evil_,” and all the -“_second sights_” that can be acquired, Michael left his lodgings in -the morning, with the philosopher’s stone in his pocket. By daily -perfecting his supernatural attainments, by new series of discoveries, -he was more than a match for Satan himself. Having seduced some -thousands of Satan’s best workmen into his employment, he trained them -up so successfully to the architective business, and inspired them -with such industrious habits, that he was more than sufficient for the -architectural work of the empire. To establish this assertion, we need -only refer to some remains of his workmanship still existing north of -the Grampians, some of them stupendous bridges built by him in one -short night, with no other visible agents than two or three workmen. - -As the following anecdote is so applicable to our purpose, we shall -submit it to the reader as a specimen of the expertness of Mr. Scott -and his agents. - -On one occasion, work was getting scarce, as might have been naturally -expected, and his workmen, as they were wont, flocked to his doors, -perpetually exclaiming, Work! work! work! Continually annoyed by their -incessant entreaties, he called out to them in derision to go and make -a dry road from Fortrose to Arderseir over the Moray Firth. Immediately -their cry ceased, and as Mr. Scott supposed it wholly impracticable for -them to execute his order, he retired to rest, laughing most heartily -at the chimerical sort of employment he had given to his industrious -workmen. Early in the morning, however, he got up and took a walk down -at the break of day to the shore, to divert himself at the fruitless -labours of his zealous workmen. But on reaching the spot, what was his -astonishment to find the formidable piece of work allotted to them only -a few hours before almost quite finished. Seeing the great damage the -commercial class of the community would sustain from the operation, he -ordered them to demolish the most part of their work; leaving, however, -the point of Fortrose to show the traveller to this day the wonderful -exploit of Michael Scott’s fairies. - -On being thus again thrown out of employment, their former clamour was -resumed, nor could Michael Scott, with all his sagacity, devise a plan -to keep them in innocent employment. He at length discovered one. “Go,” -says he, “and manufacture me ropes that will carry me to the back of -the moon, of those materials, _miller’s-sudds_ and sea-sand.” Michael -Scott here obtained rest from his active operators; for, when other -work failed them, he always dispatched them to their rope-manufactory. -“But,” says our relator, “though these agents could never make proper -ropes of those materials, their efforts to that effect are far from -being contemptible,--for some of their ropes are seen by the seaside -till this blessed day.” - -We shall close our notice of Michael Scott by reciting one anecdote of -him in the latter end of his life, which, on that account, will not be -the less interesting. - -In consequence of a violent quarrel which Michael Scott once had with -a person whom he conceived to have caused him some injury, Michael -resolved, as the highest punishment he could inflict upon him, to send -his adversary to that evil place designed only for Satan and his black -companions. He, accordingly, by means of his supernatural machinations, -sent the poor unfortunate man thither; and had he been sent by any -other means than those of Michael Scott, he would no doubt have met -with a warm reception. Out of pure spite to Michael, however, when -Satan learned who was his billet-master, he would no more receive him -than he would receive the Wife of Beth; and, instead of treating the -unfortunate man with that harshness characteristic of him, he showed -him considerable civilities. Introducing him to his “_Ben Taigh_,” he -directed her to show the stranger any curiosities he might wish to see, -hinting very significantly that he had provided some accommodations for -their mutual friend Michael Scott, the sight of which might afford him -some gratification. The polite housekeeper, accordingly, conducted the -stranger through the principal apartments in the house, where he saw -sights which, it is hoped, the reader will never witness. But the bed -of Michael Scott!--his greatest enemy could not but feel satiate with -revenge at the sight of it. It was a place too horrid to be described, -filled promiscuously with all the horrid brutes imaginable. Toads -and lions, lizards and leeches, and, amongst the rest, not the least -conspicuous, a large serpent gaping for Michael Scott, with its mouth -wide open. This last sight having satisfied the stranger’s curiosity, -he was led to the outer gate, and came off with far more agreeable -reflections than when he entered. - -He reached his friends, and, among other pieces of news touching his -travels, he was not backward in relating the entertainment that awaited -his friend Michael Scott, as soon as he would _stretch his foot_ for -the other world. But Michael did not at all appear disconcerted at -his friend’s intelligence. He affirmed that he would disappoint the -d--l and him both in their expectations. In proof of which, he gave -the following signs: “When I am just dead,” says he, “open my breast, -and extract my heart. Carry it to some place where the public may see -the result. You will then transfix it upon a long pole, and if Satan -will have my soul, he will come in the likeness of a black raven, and -carry it off; and if my soul will be saved, it will be carried off by -a white dove.” His friends faithfully obeyed his instructions. Having -exhibited his heart in the manner directed, a large black raven was -observed to come from the east with great fleetness; while a white dove -came from the west with equal velocity. The raven made a furious dash -at the heart, missing which, it was unable to curb its force, till it -was considerably past it; and the dove, reaching the spot at the same -time, carried off the heart amidst the cheers and ejaculations of the -spectators. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -OF THEIR DOMESTIC ECONOMY AND FESTIVE HABITS. - - -It is well known that the fairies are a sociable people, passionately -given to festive amusements and jocund hilarity. Hence, it seldom -happens that they cohabit in pairs, like most other species, but rove -about in bands, each band having a stated habitation or residence, to -which they resort as occasion suggests. - -Their habitations are generally found in rough irregular precipices and -broken caverns, remarkable for wildness of scenery, from whence we may -infer that they are particularly fond of what we term the Romantic. -These habitations are composed of stones, in the form of irregular -turrets, of such size and shapes as the nature of the materials and -the taste of the architect happened to suggest, and so solid in their -structure as frequently to resemble “masses of rocks or earthen -hillocks.” - -Their doors, windows, smoke-vents, and other conveniences, are so -artfully constructed, as to be invisible to the naked eye in day-light, -though in dark nights splendid lights are frequently reflected through -their invisible casements. - -Within those “_Tomhans_,” or, as others term them, “Shian,” sociality -and mirth are ever the inmates,--and they are so much addicted to -dancing, that it forms their chief and favourite amusement. The length -of their reels will be judged of from the following narrative: - -“Once upon a time, a tenant in the neighbourhood of Cairngorm in -Strathspey emigrated with his family and cattle to the forest of -Glenavon, which is well known to be inhabited by many fairies as well -as ghosts. Two of his sons having been one night late out in search -of some of their sheep which had strayed, they had occasion to pass -a fairy turret, or dwelling, of very large dimensions; and what was -their astonishment on observing streams of the most refulgent light -shining forth through innumerable crevices in the rock--crevices which -the sharpest eye in the country had never seen before. Curiosity led -them towards the turret, when they were charmed by the most exquisite -sounds ever emitted by a fiddle-string, which, joined to the sportive -mirth and glee accompanying it, reconciled them in a great measure to -the scene, although they knew well enough the inhabitants were fairies. -Nay, overpowered by the enchanting jigs played by the fiddler, one -of the brothers had even the hardihood to propose that they should -pay the occupants of the turret a short visit. To this motion the -other brother, fond as he was of dancing, and animated as he was by -the music, would by no means consent, and very earnestly inculcated -upon his brother many pithy arguments well calculated to restrain his -curiosity. But every new jig that was played, and every new reel that -was danced, inspired the adventurous brother with additional ardour; -and at length, completely fascinated by the enchanting revelry, -leaving all prudence behind, at one leap he entered the ‘Shian.’ The -poor forlorn brother was now left in a most uncomfortable situation. -His grief for the loss of a brother whom he dearly loved suggested to -him more than once the desperate idea of sharing his fate, by following -his example. But, on the other hand, when he coolly considered the -possibility of sharing very different entertainment from that which -rung upon his ears, and remembering, too, the comforts and conveniences -of his father’s fireside, the idea immediately appeared to him any -thing but prudent. After a long and disagreeable altercation between -his affection for his brother and his regard for himself, he came to -the resolution of trying a middle course;--that is, to send in at the -window a few remonstrances to his brother, which if he did not attend -to, let the consequences be upon his own head. Accordingly, taking his -station at one of the crevices, and calling upon his brother, three -several times, by name, as use is, he sent in to him, as aforesaid, -the most moving pieces of elocution he could think upon,--imploring -him, as he valued his poor parent’s life and blessing, to come forth -and go home with him, Donald Macgillivray, his thrice affectionate and -unhappy brother. But, whether it was he could not hear this eloquent -harangue, or, what is more probable, that he did not choose to attend -to it, certain it is, that it proved totally ineffectual to accomplish -its object,--and the consequence was, that Donald Macgillivray found -it equally much his duty and his interest to return home to his family -with the melancholy tale of poor Rory’s fate. All the prescribed -ceremonies calculated to rescue him from the fairy dominion were -resorted to by his mourning relatives without effect, and Rory was -supposed as lost for ever, when a _wise man_ of the day having learned -the circumstance, set them upon a plan of having him delivered at the -end of twelve months from his entry. ‘Return,’ says the _Duin Glichd_ -to Donald, ‘to the place where you lost your brother, a year and a day -from the time. You will insert in your garment a Rowan Cross, which -will protect you from the fairies’ interposition. Enter the turret -boldly and resolutely, in the name of the Highest claim your brother, -and, if he does not accompany you voluntarily, seize him and carry him -off by force,--none dare interfere with you.’” - -The experiment appeared to the cautious contemplative brother as one -that was fraught with no ordinary danger, and he would have most -willingly declined the prominent character allotted to him in the -performance of it, but for the importunate entreaty of his friends, who -implored him, as he valued their blessing, not to slight such excellent -advice. Their entreaties, together with his confidence in the virtues -of the Rowan Cross, overcame his scruples, and he, at length, agreed to -put the experiment in practice, whatever the result might be. - -Well then, the important day arrived, when the father of those two -sons was destined either to recover his lost son, or to lose the only -son he had, and, anxious as the father felt, Donald Macgillivray, -the intended adventurer, felt no less on the occasion. The hour of -midnight approached, when the drama was to be acted, and Donald -Macgillivray, loaded with all the charms and benedictions in his -country, took mournful leave of his friends, and proceeded to the scene -of his intended enterprise. On approaching the well-known turret, a -repetition of that mirth and those ravishing sounds, that had been the -source of so much sorrow to himself and family, once more attracted -his attention, without at all creating in his mind any extraordinary -feelings of satisfaction. On the contrary, he abhorred the sounds most -heartily, and felt much greater inclination to recede than to advance. -But what was to be done? courage, character, and every thing dear to -him, were at stake--so that to advance was his only alternative. In -short, he reached the “_Shian_,” and after twenty fruitless attempts, -he at length entered the place with trembling footsteps, and, amidst -the brilliant and jovial scene, the not least gratifying spectacle -which presented itself to Donald was his brother Rory earnestly -engaged at the Highland Fling on the floor, at which, as might have -been expected, he had greatly improved. Without losing much time in -satisfying his curiosity, by examining the quality of the company, he -ran to his brother, repeating, most vehemently, the words prescribed -to him by the “_Wise man_”--seized him by the collar, and insisted he -should immediately accompany him home to his poor afflicted parents. -Rory assented, provided he would allow him to finish his single reel, -assuring Donald, very earnestly, that he had not been half an hour in -the house. In vain did the latter assure the former, that, instead of -half an hour, he had actually remained twelve months. Nor would he have -believed his overjoyed friends on reaching home, “did not the calves, -now grown into stots, and the newborn babes, now travelling the house, -at length convince him, that in his single reel he had danced for a -twelvemonth and a day.” - -This reel, however, in which Rory Macgillivray had been engaged, -although it may be considered of pretty moderate length, will form but -a short space in a night’s entertainment, of which the following is a -brief account: - -“Nearly three hundred years ago, there lived in Strathspey two men, -greatly celebrated for their performances on the fiddle. It happened -upon a certain Christmas time that they had formed the resolution of -going to Inverness, to be employed in their musical capacities during -that festive season. Accordingly, having arrived in that great town, -and secured lodgings, they sent round the newsman and his bell, to -announce to the inhabitants their arrival in town, and the object of -it, their great celebrity in their own country, the number of tunes -they played, and their rate of charge per day, per night, or hour. -Very soon after, they were called upon by a venerable-looking old man, -grey-haired and somewhat wrinkled, of genteel deportment and liberal -disposition; for, instead of grudging their charges, as they expected, -he only said that he would double the demand. They cheerfully agreed -to accompany him, and soon they found themselves at the door of a very -curious dwelling, the appearance of which they did not at all relish. -It was night, but still they could easily distinguish the house to be -neither like the great Castle Grant, Castle Lethindry, Castle Roy, -or Castle-na-muchkeruch at home, nor like any other house they had -seen on their travels. It resembled a huge fairy ‘Tomhan,’ such as -are seen in Glenmore. But the mild persuasive eloquence of the guide, -reinforced by the irresistible arguments of a purse of gold, soon -removed any scruples they felt at the idea of entering so novel a -mansion. They entered the place, and all sensations of fear were soon -absorbed in those of admiration of the august assembly which surrounded -them; strings tuned to sweet harmony soon gave birth to glee in the -dwelling. The floor bounded beneath the agile ‘_fantastic toe_,’ and -gaiety in its height pervaded every soul present. The night passed on -harmoniously, while the diversity of the reels and the loveliness of -the dancers presented to the fiddlers the most gratifying scene they -ever witnessed; and in the morning, when the ball was terminated, they -took their leave, sorry that the time of their engagement was so short, -and highly gratified at the liberal treatment which they experienced. -But what was their astonishment, on issuing forth from this strange -dwelling, when they beheld the novel scene which surrounded them. -Instead of coming out of a castle, they found they had come out of a -little hill, they knew not what way; and on entering the town they -found those objects which yesterday shone in all the splendour of -novelty, to-day exhibit only the ruins and ravages of time, while the -strange innovations of dress and manners displayed by their numerous -spectators filled them with wonder and consternation. At last a mutual -understanding took place between themselves and the crowd assembled to -look upon them, and a short account of their adventures led the more -sagacious part of the spectators to suspect at once that they had been -paying a visit to the inhabitants of _Tomnafurich_, which, not long -ago, was the grand rendezvous of many of the fairy bands inhabiting -the surrounding districts; and the arrival of a very old man on the -spot set the matter fairly at rest. On being attracted by the crowd, -he walked up to the two poor old oddities, who were the subject of -amazement, and having learned their history, thus addressed them: ‘You -are the two men my great-grandfather lodged, and who, it was supposed, -were decoyed by Thomas Rymer to Tomnafurich. Sore did your friends -lament your loss--but the lapse of a hundred years has now rendered -your name extinct.’ - -“Finding every circumstance conspire to verify the old man’s story, -the poor fiddlers were naturally inspired with feelings of reverential -awe at the secret wonders of the Deity--and it being the Sabbath-day, -they naturally wished to indulge those feelings in a place of worship. -They, accordingly, proceeded to church, and took their places, to -hear public worship, and sat for a while listening to the pealing -bells, which, while they summoned the remainder of the congregation to -church, summoned them to their long homes. When the ambassador of peace -ascended the sacred place, to announce to his flock the glad tidings of -the Gospel--strange to tell, at the first word uttered by his lips, his -ancient hearers, the poor deluded fiddlers, both crumbled into dust.” - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -OF THE PASSIONS AND PROPENSITIES OF THE FAIRIES. - - -The ingenious reader must not suppose that, because the fairies were -once angelic, they have continued so in this corrupt world to the -present day. They will be found to exhibit in their conduct as signal -proofs of degeneracy from their original innocence and worth as their -mortal contemporary, man; and, as may be concluded, this degeneracy -has entailed upon them those passions and infirmities, from which they -were, no doubt, once on a time exempt. - -The fairies are remarkable for the amorousness of their dispositions, -and are not very backward in forming attachments and connections with -the people that cannot with propriety be called their own species. We -are told it is an undeniable fact, that it was once a common practice -with both sexes of the fairy people to form intimacies with human -swains and damsels, whom they would visit at times and in places -highly unbecoming and suspicious; and these improper intimacies -not unfrequently produced, as may be well believed, _their natural -consequences_. It exposed the fairy-females to that indisposition to -which, before their fall, they were no doubt strangers--we mean the -pains of child-birth, which, it seems, they suffer in common with -their earthly neighbours. To the more sceptical part of our readers, -the idea of fairy fruition may appear somewhat incredible. In order, -however, to remove any doubt on the subject, we submit the particulars -of a fairy accouchement, which took place, no doubt, “a considerable -time ago,” in the wilds of Cairngorm: - -“A considerable time ago there was a woman living in the neighbourhood -of Cairngorm in Strathspey, by profession a midwife, of extensive -practice, and esteemed, indeed, the best midwife in the district. One -night, while she was preparing for bed, there came a loud knocking -to her door, indicating great haste in the person that knocked. The -midwife was accustomed to such late intrusions, and concluded, even -before she opened the door, that her presence was too much required -at a _sick-bed_. She found the person that knocked to be a rider and -his horse, _both out of breath_, and most impatient for her company. -The rider entreated the midwife to make haste, and jump up behind him -without a single moment’s delay, else that the life of an amiable -woman was lost for ever. But the midwife, having a great regard to -cleanliness and decorum, requested leave to exchange her apparel before -she set out; a motion which, on the part of the rider, was met with -a decided negative, and nothing would satisfy the rider but that the -midwife would immediately jump up behind him on his grey horse. His -importunities were irresistible, the midwife mounted, and off they -flew at full gallop. The midwife being now seated, and fleeing on the -road, she began naturally to question her guide what he was--where he -was going--and how far. He, however, declined immediately making any -other reply to her questions than merely saying that she would be well -rewarded, which, however consoling, was far from being satisfactory -information to the midwife. At length the course they pursued, and the -road they took, alarmed the midwife beyond measure, and her guide found -it necessary to appease her fears by explaining the matter, otherwise -she would, in all probability, prove inadequate to the discharge of -her duty. ‘My good woman,’ says the fairy to the midwife, ‘be not -alarmed; though I am conducting you to a fairy habitation to assist a -fairy lady in distress, be not dismayed, I beseech you; for I promise -you, by all that is sacred, you shall sustain no injury, but will -be safely restored to your dwelling when your business is effected, -with such boon or present as you shall choose to ask or accept of.’ -The fairy was a sweet good-looking young fellow, and the candour of -his speech and the mildness of his demeanour soothed her fears, and -reconciled the _Ben Ghlun_, in a great measure, to the enterprise. -They were not long in reaching the place, when the midwife found the -fairy lady in any thing but easy circumstances, and soon proved the -auspicious instrument of bringing to the world a fine lusty boy. All -was joy and rejoicing in consequence, and all the fairies in the -turret flattered and caressed the midwife. She was desired to choose -any gift in the power of fairies to grant, which was instantly to be -given her. Upon which she asked, as a boon, that whomsoever she or her -posterity should attend in her professional capacity, a safe and speedy -delivery should be insured them. The favour was instantly conferred on -her, and all know to this day that _Muruch-na-Ban_, the man-midwife, -possesses, in no inconsiderable degree, the professional talents of his -great-grandmother.” - -Before concluding this chapter, we owe it, in justice to both the human -and fairy communities of the present day, to say, that such intercourse -as that described to have taken place betwixt them is now extremely -rare; and, with the single exception of a good old shoemaker, now or -lately living in the village of Tomantoul, who confesses having had -some dalliances with a “_lanan shi_” in his younger days, we do not -know personally any one who has carried matters this length. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -OF THE FAIRY’S EMBEZZLING AND CRIMINAL PROPENSITIES. - - -But, although the correspondence now subsisting between the human and -fairy people is much more chaste and innocent than it was of old, still -it appears that the strong predilection which the fairies entertained -for human society is far from being yet extinguished. It is no doubt -the existence of this predilection on the part of the former, and the -increasing shyness on the part of the latter, that could induce the -fairies to resort to those dishonest methods to which they now recur, -to have their passion for human society gratified. - -We presume the reader is aware that the fairies are much addicted to -that heinous crime child-stealing--a crime which these people, in -consequence, no doubt, of their long experience in the practice, commit -with wonderful address. Often have they robbed the inexperienced mother -of her tender babe in the height of day, while his place is taken by an -impudent impostor, whose sham sickness and death entail on the unhappy -parent an additional load of misery. To warn unsuspicious mothers of -the dangers to which themselves and their offspring are exposed from -fairy practices, the following narrative may be of use: - -“There were once two natives of Strathspey who were in the habit -of dealing a little in the whisky way--that is to say, they were -accustomed occasionally to visit a family in Glenlivat, from whom they -would buy a few barrels, which they would again dispose of among the -gentlemen of Badenoch and Fort-William, to pretty good account; and on -those occasions, for reasons well known to every district gauger, (an -evil death to him!) the Strathspeymen always found it most convenient -to travel by night. Well, then, on one of those occasions, as they -were busy measuring the whisky in the friend’s house at Glenlivat, a -little child belonging to the goodman, and which lay in the cradle, -uttered a piteous cry, as if it had been shot. The goodwife, according -to custom, blessed her child, and, as she supposed, raised it from the -cradle. Ascribing the cry merely to infantine frailty or fretfulness, -the Strathspeymen took no particular notice of it, and having their -business transacted, they proceeded on their way with their cargo. -A short distance from their friend’s house, they were not a little -astonished to find a little child abandoned on the high road, without a -being in sight of it. One of the lads took it up in his arms, on which -it ceased its plaintive cries, and with great fondness clasped his -little hands round his neck, and smiled. This naturally excited some -curiosity, and on closer examination they clearly recognised it to be -their friend’s child. Suspicion was instantly attached to the fairies, -and this suspicion was a great deal strengthened by the circumstance of -the cry uttered by the child, as already mentioned. Indeed, they came -to an immediate conclusion that the fairies, having embezzled the real -child, then in their possession, and deposited a stock or substitute in -its place, it was the lucky presence of mind discovered by its mother -in blessing it, on its having uttered the cry, that rescued it from -fairy dominion, for no sooner was the blessing pronounced than they -were compelled to abandon the child. As their time was limited, they -could not with convenience immediately return to their friend’s house -to solve the mysterious occurrence, but proceeded on their journey, -taking special care of their little foundling. - -“In about a fortnight thereafter, having occasion for a few barrels -more, they returned to Glenlivat, taking the child along with them, -which, however, they concealed on arriving at the father’s house. -In the course of mutual inquiries for each other’s welfare, the -goodwife took occasion to lament very bitterly a severe and protracted -illness which seized her child on the night of their preceding visit, -the nature of which illness could not be ascertained, but, at all -events, certain death was the consequence to the child. During this -lamentation, the impostor uttered the most piteous cries, and appeared -in the last stage of his sufferings; upon this, the lads, without any -preliminary remarks, produced their little charge, telling the mother -to take courage, that they now presented her with her real child, as -healthy and thriving as a trout, and that the object of her great -solicitude was nothing more than a barefaced fairy impostor. A short -statement of facts induced the happy mother to agree to an exchange, -she receiving back her child, and the lads the stock or impostor, -to whom his new proprietors proceeded to administer a warm specific -commonly given to his kin on similar occasions. They procured an old -creel and a bunch of straw, in order to try the effects the burning -element would have in curing him of his grievous complaints. But at the -appearance of those articles, the stock took the hint, and not choosing -to wait a trial of its effects, flew out at the smoke-hole, telling the -exulting spectators, on attaining the top of the ‘_Lum_,’ that, had it -not been for the unfortunate arrival of the two travellers, he should -have given the inmates very different entertainment.” - -When we reflect upon the extreme covetousness manifested by the fairies -for human children, the frequent instances of their embezzlement, and, -on the other hand, the ease and simplicity by which these robberies -can be foiled, we feel persuaded neither mother nor nurse will now -neglect the safeguards prescribed for the preservation of children -from such practices. It is universally allowed by people conversant in -those important matters, that suspending the child’s head downwards, -on its being dressed in the morning, is an excellent preservative from -every species of supernatural agency, and this is certainly a cheap and -simple process. A red thread tied about its neck, or a rowan cross, -are said to be equally efficacious in preventing the influence of evil -spirits, evil eyes, and other calamities of the same description. - -But as it is natural to suppose that those precautions will still -be sometimes neglected, as they have always too often been, it is -fortunate that a remedy has been discovered for those desperate cases, -where repentance for past imprudence would not avail. When a child has -actually been stolen, and a stock or substitute left in its stead, -the child may be recovered in the following manner:--Let the stock be -carried to the junction of three shires, or the confluence of three -rivers, where it is to be left for the night; and it is a certain fact, -that if the child has been stolen by the fairies, they must, in the -course of the night, return the genuine offspring, and take away the -spurious one.[C] - -But children are not the only objects of their envy. They are equally -covetous of pregnant females at a certain juncture, when they embrace -every opportunity of securing them, well knowing that, by such -acquisitions, they obtain a double bargain. The process of stealing -women is the same as that of stealing children, only their ranges in -quest of such prizes are much more extensive, as the following story -will show: - -“There was once a courageous clever man, of the name of John Roy, who -lived in Glenbrown, in the parish of Abernethy. One night, as John -Roy was out traversing the hills for his cattle, he happened to fall -in with a fairy banditti, whose manner of travelling indicated that -they carried along with them some booty. Recollecting an old, and, it -seems, a faithful saying, that the fairies are obliged to exchange -any booty they may possess for any return, however unequal in value, -on being challenged to that effect, John Roy took off his bonnet, and -threw it towards them, demanding a fair exchange in the emphatic Gaelic -phrase, _Sluis sho slumus Sheen_.[D] It was, no doubt, an unprofitable -barter for the fairies. They, however, it would appear, had no other -alternative but to comply with John Roy’s demand; and in room of the -bonnet, they abandoned the burden, which turned out to be nothing more -nor less than a fine fresh lady, who, from her dress and language, -appeared to be a _Sasonach_. With great humanity, John Roy conducted -the unfortunate lady to his house, where she was treated with the -utmost tenderness for several years; and the endearing attentions paid -to her by John and his family won so much her affections as to render -her soon happy in her lot. Her habits became gradually assimilated to -those of her new society; and the Saxon lady was no longer viewed in -any other character than as a member of John Roy’s family. - -“It happened, however, in the course of time, that the _new king_ found -it necessary to make the great roads through those countries by means -of soldiers, for the purpose of letting coaches and carriages pass to -the northern cities; and those soldiers had officers and commanders -in the same way as our fighting army have now. Those soldiers were -never great favourites in these countries, particularly during the -time that our own kings were alive; and, consequently, it was no easy -matter for them, either officers or men, to procure for themselves -comfortable quarters. But John Roy forgot the national animosity -of his countrymen to the _Cotton Darg_ (red coat), when the latter -appealed to his generosity as an individual; and he, accordingly, -did not hesitate to offer an asylum under his roof to a _Saxon_ -captain and his son, who commanded a party employed in his immediate -neighbourhood. His offer was thankfully accepted of, and while the -strangers were highly delighted at the cleanliness and economy of the -house and family of their host, the latter was quite satisfied with -the frankness and urbanity of manners displayed by his guests. One -thing, however, caused some feelings of uneasiness to John Roy, and -that was the extreme curiosity manifested by them, whenever they were -in the company or presence of his English foundling, on whom their eyes -were continually rivetted, as if she were a ghost or a fairy. On one -occasion, it happened that the captain’s son lapsed into a state of -the profoundest meditation, gazing upon this lady with silent emotion. -‘My son,’ says the captain, his father, ‘tell me what is the cause of -your deep meditation?’--‘Father,’ replies the sweet youth, ‘I think on -the days that are gone; and of my dearest mother, who is now no more. -I have been led into those reflections by the appearance of that lady -who is now before me. Oh, father! does she not strikingly resemble -the late partner of your heart; she for whom you so often mourn in -secret?’--‘Indeed, my son,’ replied the father, ‘the resemblance has -frequently recurred to me too forcibly. Never were twin sisters more -like; and, were not the thing impossible, I should even say she was my -dearest departed wife;’--pronouncing her name as he spoke, and also -the names of characters nearly connected to both parties. Attracted by -the mention of her real name, which she had not heard repeated for a -number of years before, and attracted still more by the nature of their -conversation, the lady, on strict examination of the appearance of the -strangers, instantly recognised her tender husband and darling son. -Natural instinct could be no longer restrained. She threw herself upon -her husband’s bosom; and Ossian, the son of Fingal, could not describe -in adequate terms the transports of joy that prevailed at the meeting. -Suffice it to say, that the _Saxon_ lady was again restored to her -affectionate husband, pure and unblemished as when he lost her, and -John Roy gratified by the only reward he would accept of--the pleasure -of doing good.” - -From the sequel of the story, it appears that some of the hordes of -fairies, inhabiting the “Shian of Coir-laggack,” found it convenient, -for purposes which may be easily guessed at, to take a trip to the -south of England, and made no scruple to kidnap this lady in the -absence of her husband, and on the occasion of her accouchement. A -stock was, of course, deposited in her stead--which, of _course_, died -in a few days after--and which, of _course_, was interred in the full -persuasion of _its_ being the lady in question, with all the splendour -which her merits deserved. Thus would the perfidious fairies have -enjoyed the fruits of their cunning, without even a suspicion of their -knavery, were it not for the “cleverness and generosity of John Roy, -who once lived in Glenbrown.” - -The natural passions, lusts, and covetousness of which we have now -shown the fairies to be possessed, are not, however, our only grounds -for calling in question the fitness of their title to angelic nature -and attributes. For it will be seen, from some traits in their -character about to be detailed, that their appetites are as keen and -voluptuous as their inclinations are corrupt and wicked. Our readers -would be apt to believe, from the first outline of their character, -that they were an amiable, harmless race of people, strictly honest, -and given entirely to innocent amusements. But it is a fact too well -known, that many of them are employed in very different avocations -from mirth and dancing; for, to repeat an old Scottish proverb, “if -a’ tales be true,” thieving and blackguarding occupy fully as much of -their time as mirth and dancing. And what is still worse, it is much -suspected that their proneness to theft and knavery is not so much the -effect of necessity, as it is the effect of wanton depravity. However -base and degrading in the eyes of society appears the thief, even when -his deviation from honesty is the result of _sheer_ necessity, he -appears infinitely more so when he is solely led to the commission of -crimes from wanton levity. Hence the indignation which a worthy man -feels, whenever those pilfering depredators embezzle the fruits of his -honest industry. The _whirlwind_ is not the alone engine of robbery to -which the fairies resort; they recur to others of a more direct and -ruinous character; while the loser, from the speciousness of their -artifices, is seldom conscious of the true cause of his loss. In order -to expose the wantonness of such pillage as they will be shown to be -guilty of, we need only call our reader’s attention to the extent of -the indisputable perquisites which they derive from fire and other -calamities incident to the estate of man, many of which calamities, we -are told, are accomplished by their agency. As, however, we would not -readily accuse them of crimes so atrocious, without some foundation, -we submit the following particulars to the judgment of our readers, -leaving them to draw their own inferences. - -“One day a fairy woman, residing in the turrets of Craig-Aulnaic, -called on one of the tenants’ wives in Delnabo, in her neighbourhood, -and requested of her the loan of a firlot of oatmeal for meat to her -family, promising she would return it in a very short time, as she -herself hourly expected a considerable supply. Not choosing, for so -small a trifle, to incur the fairy’s displeasure, the tenant’s wife -complied with her request, from the same motives as if she had been the -exciseman. After regaling the fairy with a dram and bread and cheese, -as is the custom of the country, she went out to give her the customary -convoy. On ascending the eminence above the town, the ‘_Benshi_’ -paused, and, with apparent exultation, told the tenant’s wife that she -might take her meal home with her, as she herself was now supplied as -she expected. The woman, without putting any impertinent questions -to the lady as to the source whence her supply proceeded, cheerfully -agreed to receive back her meal, and took leave of her visitor. She -was not a little surprised, however, to observe, in a few minutes -thereafter, the corn-kiln of an adjacent farm in total conflagration, -with all its contents.” - -Over and above this, all liquids spilled on the ground are supposed -to go to their use; and there are some people even so charitable as -purposely to reserve for their participation a share of the best they -possess. It is not unlikely that such generous actions were in some -degree influenced by such returns as the following:-- - -“Once upon a time, a farmer, in Strathspey, was engaged sowing a field -upon his farm, and, as is not uncommon, he accompanied his labours -with a cheerful song. Now the fairies are very fond of music, and -not less so of spoil,--and whether it was the music or the seed that -attracted her most to the spot, certain it is, that a fairy damsel, -of great beauty and elegance, presented herself to the farmer. She -requested of him, as a particular favour, to sing her an old Gaelic -song, ‘_Nighan Donne na Bual_;’ and, when this favour was granted -her, she sought of him a present of corn. Although he had far less -objections to her first request than he had to her second, he did -not flatly refuse her, but he did what any prudent man would do in -similar circumstances,--he inquired what she would give him in return. -She answered, that, provided he granted her request, his seed would -not the more speedily fail him; and this assurance she enforced with -a look so significant, as to induce him at once to supply her very -liberally from his bag. She then departed, and he resumed his work. -He was soon after very agreeably surprised, when he found that, after -sowing abundantly a large field, wont to take five times the bulk -of his bag, it appeared equal in size and weight to what it was when -he met with the fairy nymph. Far from being in the least confounded -at the agreeable circumstance, he threw his bag over his shoulder, -highly satisfied at the act of munificence he did in the morning, and -sowed with it another field of equal extent, without its exhibiting -any appearance of diminution. Perfectly satisfied now with his day’s -labour, he returned home, fully determined to take care of his bag. -But, just as he was entering the barn door, who met him but his wife, -‘who was a foolish talkative hussey, having a tongue as long, and a -head as empty, as the parish church bell.’ With her usual loquacity she -accosted him, expressing her astonishment at the unaccountable nature -of the sack, that had thus sown half their farm,--expressing, moreover, -very notable suspicions of the cause. Now it is well known that, -whenever any supernatural agency is challenged, the spell is instantly -broken. So that the clashmaclavering Jezebel had scarcely uttered those -inconsiderate and highly reprehensible words, when the burden on the -farmer’s back became an empty bag. ‘I’ll be your death, you foolish, -foolish woman,’ exclaimed her woe-struck husband; ‘were it not for your -imprudent talk, this bag were worth its weight of gold.’” - -Such relations as the foregoing should go very far to induce every -prudent and foreseeing man to be on as friendly a footing as possible -with those capricious and all-powerful people, especially when their -friendship is to be purchased on such reasonable terms as those of -which we have just read. The unhappy hero of the following narrative -was convinced, when too late, of the truth of this observation. - -“A farmer, who at one time occupied the farm of Auchriachan, of -Strathavon, was one day searching for his goats in a remote hill -in Glenlivat, and what came on but a thick hazy fog, which marred -his way, and bewildered his senses. Every stone, magnified by the -delusion of the moment, appeared a mountain; every rivulet seemed -to him to run in an opposite direction to its usual course; and the -unhappy traveller thought of his fireside, which he expected never to -see more. Night came on apace; its horrific gloom, as it approached, -dispelled the unhappy wanderer’s forlorn hopes, and he now sat down to -prepare for the world that has no end. Involved in perplexity at his -unhappy situation, he threw a mournful look on the gloomy scene around -him, as if to bid the world an eternal adieu,--when, lo! a twinkling -light glimmered on his eye. It was a cheering blink that administered -comfort to his soul. His frigid limbs, which lately refused their -office, recovered their vigour. His exhausted frame became animated -and energetic: and he immediately directed his course towards the -light, which, from its reflection, seemed not far distant. On reaching -the place, however, his joy was a good deal damped when he examined -the nature of the place whence the light reflected. A human foot -never seemed to have visited the scene; it was one of wildness and -horror. Life, however, is exceedingly sweet when we are on the brink -of losing it, and necessity had so far subdued every vestige of fear, -that _Auchriachan_ resolved at all hazards to take a night’s lodging -with the inmates, whatever their nature or calling might be. The door -was open, and he entered the place. His courage, however, was a good -deal appalled, on meeting at the door an old female acquaintance, -whose funeral he had recently attended, and who, it appeared, acted in -this family in the capacity of housewife. But this meeting, however -disagreeable it proved to Auchriachan in one respect, ultimately turned -out a fortunate circumstance for him, inasmuch as his old acquaintance -was the happy means of saving his life. On observing Auchriachan--for -that was the farmer’s title--enter the abode, she instantly ran towards -him, and told him he was done for, unless he chose to slip in into a -bye-corner off the principal apartment, where he had better remain -until she found an opportunity of effecting his escape. The advice of -the friendly housekeeper he thought it prudent to adopt, and he was -accordingly content to hide himself in a crevice in the apartment. -Scarce had he done so, when there entered the dwelling an immense -concourse of fairies, who had been all day absent upon some important -expedition; and being well appetized by their journey, they all cried -out for some food. Having all sat in council, the question proposed -for discussion was, ‘What was their supper to consist of?’--When an -old sagacious looking fairy, who sat in the chimney corner, spoke as -follows: ‘Celestial gentlemen, you all know and abhor that old miserly -fellow the taxman of Auchriachan. Mean and penurious, he appropriates -nothing to us; but, on the contrary, disappoints us of our very dues. -By learning too well the lesson taught him by his old and wizened -grand-mother, nothing escapes a blessing and a safeguard; and the -consequence is, that we cannot interfere with the gleanings on his -fields, far less the stock and produce. Now, Auchriachan himself is not -at home this night; he is in search of his goats, our allies,[E]--his -less careful household have neglected the customary safeguards; and, -lo! his goods are at our mercy. Come, let us have his favourite ox to -supper.’--‘Bravo!’ exclaimed the whole assembly; ‘the opinion of Thomas -Rymer is always judicious; Auchriachan is certainly a miserable devil, -and we shall have his favourite ox to supper.’--‘But whence shall we -procure bread to eat with him?’ inquired a greedy-looking fairy. ‘We -shall have the new baken bread of Auchriachan,’ replied the sagacious -and sage counsellor, Mr. Rymer; ‘for he is a miserly old fellow--he -himself is not at home, and his wife has forgot to cross the first -bannock.’--‘Bravo!’ exclaimed the whole assembly. ‘By all means, let us -have the new baken bread of Auchriachan.’ - -“Thus did Auchriachan, honest man, who, indeed, was not at home, -with no very grateful feelings, learn the fate of his favourite ox, -without, however, dissenting from the general voice that pronounced -his doom. And, in pursuance of the same unpleasant decision, he had -the additional mortification to see his ill-fated ox deliberately -introduced by the nose and killed in his presence. Meantime, -when all were engaged cooking the ox, the officious housekeeper -took occasion, under pretence of some other errand, to relieve -Auchriachan from his uncomfortable seclusion. On issuing forth from -Mr. Rymer’s council-chamber, Auchriachan found the mist had entirely -disappeared--the stones were now of their natural size--the rivulets -now ran their usual course--the moon threw her silver mantle over the -lately murky scene, and he had now no difficulty to make his way home, -lamenting most sincerely the lot of his favourite ox. - -“On arriving at home, he was cordially welcomed by his happy family, -whose great anxiety for his safety was probably the cause of the -omission of that duty that poor Auchriachan had so much cause to -deplore. His overjoyed wife, supposing her husband to be no doubt in a -hungry case, provided a basket of new baked bread and milk, and urged -him to eat, for sure he might well be hungry. He did not, however, mind -her solicitude for his comfort--he was sorry and sullen, and cared not -for the provision, particularly the bread, well knowing it was only -an abominable phantom. At last he inquired, ‘Which of you served the -oxen this night, my lads?’--‘It was I, my father,’ replied one of his -sons. ‘And did you mind the customary safeguard?’--‘Indeed,’ says the -son, ‘from my great agitation for the fate of my father, I believe I -forgot.’--‘Alas! alas!’ exclaimed the affectionate farmer, ‘my dear -and favourite ox is no more!’--‘What!’ exclaims one of his sons, ‘I -saw him alive not two hours ago!’--‘It was only a fairy stock,’ says -Auchriachan. ‘Bring him out here until I dispatch him.’ The farmer -then, venting the most unqualified expressions of his indignation upon -the stock and its knavish proprietors, struck it such a pithy blow on -the forehead as felled it to the ground. Rolling down the brae, at the -back of the house, to the bottom, there it lay and the bread along with -it, both unmolested; for it was a remarkable circumstance, that neither -dog nor cat ever put a tooth on the carcase.” - -It now only remains for us to describe the most heinous of all their -crimes, a crime which we are peculiarly reluctant to bring so openly -to light, did not our impartiality as an historian compel us. This -crime consists in their destruction of human beings, and their cattle, -by means of their magical dart, commonly called an elf-bolt. Those -bolts are of various sizes, of a hard yellowish substance, resembling -somewhat the flint, for which they are no bad substitutes. The bolt -is very frequently of the shape of a heart, its edges being indented -like a saw, and very sharp at the point. This deadly weapon the wicked -fairy will throw at man or beast with such precision as seldom to -miss his aim; and whenever it hits, the stroke is fatal. Such is the -great force with which it is flung, that on its striking the object it -instantaneously perforates it to the heart, and a sudden death is the -consequence. In the blinking of an eye, a man or an ox is struck down -cold-dead, and, strange to say, the wound is not discernible to an -ordinary person, unless he is possessed of the charm that enables some -wise people to trace the course of the bolt, and ultimately discover it -in the dead body.--Note, whenever this fatal instrument is discovered, -it should be carefully preserved, as it defends its possessor from the -fatal consequences of the “_Fay_,” so long as he retains it about him. - -Having now travelled over the leading traits of the fairy’s character, -publicly and privately, we shall now conclude our treatise of him by -subjoining a few of the most approved cures and safeguards, which -afford protection from his dangerous practices. An abler historian -might be disposed to offer some learned observations on the strange -incongruity of character exhibited by the fairy in the preceding -sketches, and endeavour, if he could, to reconcile them so as to form -any thing like a rational subject. As a plain unvarnished compiler, -however, we have discharged our duty; we have detailed, to the best -of our ability, the fairy’s character, according to the nature of our -materials; and if our delineations are strange and inconsistent, the -fault lies either with the fairy or his professed historians, and not -with the mere machine, _ourself_, the compiler. - -Go to the summit of some stupendous cliff or mountain, where any -species of quadruped has never fed nor trod, and gather of that herb -in the Gaelic language called “_Mohan_,” which can be pointed out by -any “_wise_ person.” This herb you will give to a cow, and of the milk -of that cow you are to make a cheese, and whoever eats of that cheese -is for ever after, as well as his gear, perfectly secure from every -species of fairy agency. - -A piece of torch fir carried about the person, and a knife made of -iron which has never been applied to any purpose, are both excellent -preservatives. - -A piece of cold iron or steel put into the bed of a lady “_uneasy -in her circumstances_” will protect mother and offspring from being -“_Fayed_.” - - - - -PART III. - -Brownies. - - Brownie has got a cowl and coat, - And never more will work a jot. - - - - -BROWNIES. - - -Although this mysterious and very useful agent has now become very -rare among the Highland mountains, it appears that, at one time, he -was the common appendage of every family of rank in those countries. -Hence, his history and character are well known; and his memory still -retains a powerful interest in the minds of the inhabitants. It may -not, therefore, be improper to give a condensed account of the most -prominent traits of the Highland Brownie’s character, to enable the -reader to compare his manners and habits with those of the Brownie of -Bodspeck, or any other Brownie with the manners of whom he may happen -to be acquainted. - -With regard to the Brownie’s origin, it is a point that is involved in -much obscurity. It was always a peculiar trait in his character, that -he never would favour his earthly acquaintances with any information -regarding his own private affairs. From some resemblance the Brownie -bore to the Fairy, joined to a similarity of habits, it was shrewdly -suspected by the more discriminating sort of people, that if he were -not actually a member of the Fairy people, he was, at least, a mongrel -species of them. But on this important topic the sagacious Brownie -himself opened not his mouth; leaving them to argue the matter as they -thought proper. - -In his personal appearance, the Highland Brownie was highly -interesting. His person was not quite so tall as that of the Fairy, but -it was well proportioned and comely; and, from the peculiar brownness -of his complexion, he received the appellation of _Brownie_. - -In his manners and habits he differed widely from all the supernatural -beings of his day; inasmuch as he was laborious and faithful to his -master’s interest--content to labour day and night for no other fee -or reward than a scanty diet, and occasionally a suit of cast-off -apparel. Hence, the possession of so cheap and useful an agent was -an acquisition highly desirable. But he was what neither money nor -interest could procure. Having once united himself to the founder of an -ancient family, he adhered to him and to his issue so long as he had -any lineal posterity; and hence it is, that the Brownie was only found -the heir-loom of an ancient and honourable family. - -Unexampled for his fidelity, he was the indefatigable guardian and -promoter of his adopted master’s interest; and, from his powers of -prophecy and information, his services were truly invaluable. Over the -servants he was always a vigilant and faithful spy, ready to give a -faithful account of their good or bad actions; and hence it followed, -that with these he was very seldom on a good understanding. So that, -if the Brownie was left to the servants’ mercy, he would not, in all -likelihood, fare the better for his fidelity. But if the master had any -regard to his own interest, he was careful to have seen him properly -cared for in his meat and in his drink, which care was rewarded by the -most unlimited devotion to his interest. - -The last two brownies known in this quarter of the Highlands were long -the appendages of the ancient family of Tullochgorm in Strathspey. They -were male and female, and, for aught we know, they might likewise have -been man and wife. The male was of an exceedingly jocose and humorous -disposition, often indulging in little sports at the expense of his -fellow-servants. He had, in particular, a great trick of flinging clods -at the passengers, and from thence he got the name of “_Brownie-Clod_.” -He had, however, with all his humour, a great deal of simplicity about -him, and became, in his turn, the dupe of those on whom he affected -to play. An eminent instance of this appears from a contract into -which he foolishly entered with the servants of Tullochgorm, whereby -he bound and obliged himself to thrash as much corn and straw as two -men could do for the space of a whole winter, on condition he was to -be gratified with an old coat and a Kilmarnock cowl, pieces of apparel -for which, it seems, he had a great liking. While the servants were -reclining themselves at their ease upon the straw, poor Brownie-Clod -thrashed on unremittingly, and performed such Herculean tasks as no -human constitution could bear for a week together. Some time before the -expiry of the contract, the lads, out of pure gratitude and pity, left -the coat and cowl for him on a mow of corn in the barn, on receipt of -which he instantly struck work, and with the greatest triumph at the -idea of taking in his acquaintances, he sneeringly told them, that, -since they were so foolish as to give him the coat and cowl before he -had wrought for them, he would now decline to thrash another sheaf. - - “Huar Prownie coad agus curochd - Agus cha dian Prownie opar tullidh.” - -The female was more pawky in her ways; and, instead of being a -laughing-stock to the female-servants with whom she wrought, she -was a sort of a mistress over them. She was seldom on good terms -with them, in consequence of the fidelity with which she reported -their neglect of duty to their master or mistress. It was her custom -to wear a superabundance of hair, in consequence of which, she was -commonly called “_Maug Vuluchd_,” or “Hairy Mag.” Mag was an honest -and excellent housekeeper, and had the service of the table generally -assigned her, in which capacity she was extremely useful. The dexterity -and care with which she covered the table, always invisible, was -not less amusing to strangers than it was convenient to their host. -Whatever was called for came as if it floated on the air, and lighted -on the table with the utmost ease and celerity; and, for cleanliness -and attention, she had not her equal in this land. - - - - -PART IV. - -Water-Kelpies. - - When thaws dissolve the snawy hoord, - An’ float the jingling icy boord, - The water-kelpies haunt the foord, - By your direction, - And nightly travellers are allur’d - To their destruction. - - BURNS’ _Address to the Deil_. - - - - -WATER-KELPIES. - - -In the former and darker ages of the world when people had not half -the wit and sagacity they now possess, and when, consequently, they -were much easier duped by such designing agents, the “Ech Uisque,” -or _Water-Horse_, as the Kelpie is commonly called, was a well-known -character in those countries. The Kelpie was an infernal agent, -retained in the service and pay of Satan, who granted him a commission -to execute such services as appeared profitable to his interest. He -was an amphibious character, and generally took up his residence in -lochs and pools, bordering on public roads and other situations, most -convenient for his professional calling. - -His commission consisted in the destruction of human beings, without -affording them time to prepare for their immortal interests, and thus -endeavour to send their souls to his master, while he, the Kelpie, -enjoyed the body. However, he had no authority to touch a human being -of his own free accord, unless the latter was the aggressor. In order, -therefore, to delude public travellers and others to their destruction, -it was the common practice of the Kelpie to assume the most fascinating -form, and assimilate himself to that likeness which he supposed most -congenial to the inclinations of his intended victim. The likeness -of a fine riding steed was his favourite disguise. Decked out in the -most splendid riding accoutrements, the perfidious Kelpie would place -himself in the weary traveller’s way, and graze by the road-side with -all the seeming innocence and simplicity in the world. The traveller, -supposing this fine horse to have strayed from his master, and -considering him as a good _catch_ for carrying him a part of the way, -would approach the horse with the greatest caution, soothing it with -_proogy proogy_, and many other terms of endearment, in the event of -his taking to his heels, as wild horses are sometimes apt to do. But -this horse knew better what he was about; he was as calm and peaceable -as a lamb, until his victim was once fairly mounted on his back; with -a fiend-like yell he would then announce his triumph, and plunging -headlong with his woe-struck rider into an adjacent pool, enjoy him -for his repast. The following curious relation, communicated to the -compiler by the celebrated Mr. Wellox, who possesses the precious relic -captured from the kelpie alluded to in the story, will complete all the -information that is necessary regarding this once formidable entrapper -of mankind: - -“In the time of my renowned ancestor, Mr. James Macgrigor, (rest to his -soul!) who was well known to be a good man, and a man of great strength -and courage in his day, there was a most mischievous water-kelpie that -lived in Lochness, and which committed the most atrocious excesses on -the defenceless inhabitants of the surrounding districts. It was the -common practice of this iniquitous agent to prowl about the public -roads, decked out in all the trappings of a riding horse, and in this -disguise place himself in the way of the passenger, who often took it -into his head to mount him, to his no small prejudice; for upon this -the vicious brute would immediately fly into the air, and in a jiffy -light with his rider in Lochnadorb, Lochspynie, or Lochness, where he -would enjoy his victim at his leisure. Filled with indignation at the -repeated relations he had heard of the kelpie’s practices, my ancestor, -Mr. Macgrigor, ardently wished to fall in with his kelpieship, in order -to have a bit of a communing with him touching his notorious practices. -And Providence, in its wise economy, thought it meet that Mr. Macgrigor -should be gratified in his wish. - -“One day as he was travelling along ‘_Slochd Muichd_,’ a wild and -solitary pass on the road between Strathspey and Inverness, whom did -he observe but this identical water-kelpie, browsing away by the -road-side with the greatest complacency, thinking, no doubt, in his -mind, that he would kidnap Mr. Macgrigor as he had done others. But -in this idea he found himself wofully mistaken! For no sooner did Mr. -Macgrigor espy him, than he instantly determined to have a trial of -his mettle. Accordingly, marching up to the horse, who thought, no -doubt, he was just coming to mount him, Mr. Macgrigor soon convinced -him of the contrary by drawing his trusty sword, with which he dealt -the kelpie such a pithy blow on the nose, as almost felled him to the -ground. The stroke maltreated the kelpie’s jaw very considerably, -cutting through his bridle, in consequence of which, one of the bits, -being that which you have just examined, fell down on the ground. -Observing the bit lying at his feet, Mr. Macgrigor had the curiosity -to pick it up, whilst the astonished kelpie was recovering from the -effects of the blow, and this bit Mr. Macgrigor carelessly threw -into his pocket. He then prepared for a renewal of his conflict with -its former owner, naturally supposing the kelpie would return him -his compliment. But what was Mr. Macgrigor’s surprise, when he found -that, instead of retorting his blow, and fighting out the matter to -the last, the kelpie commenced a cool dissertation upon the injustice -and illegality of Mr. Macgrigor’s proceedings. ‘What is your business -with me?’ says he. ‘What is your business with me, Mr. Macgrigor? I -have often heard of you as a man of great honour and humanity; why, -therefore, thus abuse a poor defenceless animal like me, let me be -a horse, or let me be a kelpie, so long as I did you no harm? In my -humble opinion, Mr. Macgrigor,’ continued the kelpie, ‘you acted both -cruelly and illegally; and certainly your conduct would justify me, if -I should return you twofold your assault upon me. However, I abominate -quarrels of this sort,’ says the conciliatory kelpie, ‘and if you -peaceably return me the bit of my bridle, we shall say no more on the -subject.’ To this learned argument of the kelpie Mr. Macgrigor made -no other reply than flatly denying his request, in the first place; -and, in the second place, mentioning, in pretty unqualified terms, -his opinion of his character and profession. ‘It is true,’ replied -the other, ‘that I am what you call a kelpie; but it is known to my -heart, that my profession was never quite congenial to my feelings. -We kelpies engage in many _disagreeable undertakings_. But, as the -proverb says, Necessity has no law; and there is no profession that -a man or spirit will not sometimes try, _for the sake of an honest -livelihood_: so you will please have the goodness to give me the bit of -my bridle.’ Observing the great anxiety evinced by the kelpie to have -the bit of his bridle restored to him, and feeling anxious to learn -its properties, my sagacious ancestor immediately concocted a plan, -whereby he might elicit from the poor dupe of a kelpie an account of -its virtues. ‘Well, Mr. Kelpie,’ says Mr. Macgrigor, ‘all your logic -cannot change my opinion of the criminality of your profession, though, -I confess, it has somewhat disarmed me of my personal hostility to -you as a member of it; I am, therefore, disposed to deliver up to you -the bit of your bridle, but it is on this express condition, that you -will favour me with an account of its use and qualities, for I am -naturally very _curious_, do you know.’ To this proposition the kelpie -joyfully acceded, and thus addressed Mr. Macgrigor: ‘My dear sir, you -must know that such agents as I are invested by our Royal Master with -a particular commission, consisting of some document delivered to us -by his own hand. The commission delivered to a kelpie consists in a -bridle invested with all those powers of transformation, information, -and observation, necessary for our calling; and wherever we lose -this commission, whether voluntarily or by accident, our power is -at an end, and certain annihilation within four and twenty hours is -the consequence. Had it not been that my bridle was broken by your -matchless blow, I must be so candid as to declare, I might have broken -every bone in your body; but now you are stronger than myself, and you -can be half a kelpie at your pleasure: only please to look through the -holes of the bit of the bridle, and you will see myriads of invisible -agents, fairies, witches, and devils, all flying around you, the -same as if you had been gifted with the second-sight, and all their -machinations clearly exposed to your observation.’--‘My dear sir,’ -replied my ancestor, ‘I am much obliged to you for your information; -but I am sorry to inform you, that your relation has so endeared the -bit of your bridle to myself, that I have resolved to keep it for your -sake. I could not persuade myself to part with it for any consideration -whatever.’--‘What!’ exclaimed the petrified Kelpie, ‘do you really -mean, in the face of our solemn agreement, to retain the bit of my -bridle?’--‘I not only mean it, but I am resolved on it,’ replies my -ancestor, who immediately proceeded to make the best of his way home -with the bit. ‘Come, come,’ the Kelpie would perpetually exclaim, ‘you -have carried the joke far enough, you surely do not mean to keep my -bridle?’--‘Time will show,’ was always his laconic answer. The Kelpie -still continued his earnest entreaties, interlarded with anecdotes of -great squabbles which he had formerly had with as powerful characters -as Mr. Macgrigor, and which always ended to his eminent advantage, -but which, he politely insinuated, he would be sorry to see repeated. -But when his grief and solicitude for his bridle began to evince -themselves in a threatening aspect, a single flourish of his trusty -sword disarmed him of all his might, and made him calm as a cat. At -length, when they arrived in sight of Mr. Macgrigor’s house, his grief -and despair for his bridle became perfectly outrageous. Galloping off -before Mr. Macgrigor, the Kelpie told him as he went, that he and the -bit should never pass his threshold together; and, in pursuance of -this assurance, he planted himself in Mr. Macgrigor’s door, summoning -up all his powers for the impending conflict. However, James Macgrigor -resolved, if possible, to evade the Kelpie’s decree; and accordingly -going to a back window in his house, he called his wife towards him, -and threw the bit of the Kelpie’s bridle into her lap. He then returned -to the Kelpie, who stood sentry at his door, and told him candidly he -was a miserable legislator; for that, in spite of his decree, the bit -of his bridle was that moment in his wife’s possession. The Kelpie, now -finding himself fairly outwitted, saw the vanity of contending with -James Macgrigor and his claymore, for what could not be recovered. As -there was a rowan cross above the door, his kelpieship could no more -enter the house than he could pass through the eye of a needle; and he, -therefore, thought it best to take himself off, holding forth, at the -same time, the most beastly language to my ancestor, which he most -sincerely despised.” - - - - -PART V. - -Spunkies. - - An’ oft your moss-traversing spunkies - Decoy some wight that late and drunk is; - The bleezin, curst, mischievous monkies - Delude his eyes, - Till in some miry slough he sunk is, - Ne’er more to rise. - - BURNS’ _Address to the Deil_. - - - - -SPUNKIES. - - -The Spunkie is another of those now-retired ministers, formerly -employed by the Enemy of mankind to accomplish their destruction. -And, in all truth, he could not have taken into his pay a servant -more faithful to his trust than the spunkie. Whenever the traveller -had the misfortune to lose his way, or whenever there was a prospect -of deluding him from it, this vigilant _link-boy_ was ever at hand, -to light him into far worse quarters than even the purlieus of Covent -Garden. - -Suddenly the traveller’s attention was arrested by the most resplendent -light, apparently reflected from a window not far distant; which, -however, as the traveller approached, receded from him like the -rainbow. Still pursuing his course towards it, the wily spunkie -manœuvred so dexterously, that the unhappy wanderer was speedily -decoyed into the nearest moss or precipice. Plunging headlong into some -fatal abyss, the deluded victim never returned to his mourning wife and -family, to relate to them the spunkie’s perfidy. - -Happily now, however, the roads are better, and travellers more -cautious. All the glittering meteors of the spunkie cannot make the -knowing Highlander of the present day turn to the right or to the left. -So that the spunkie has now shut shop, and become bankrupt in his -department. - - - - -PART VI. - -Witchcraft. - - When Satan, for weighty dispatches, - Sought messengers cunning and bold, - He pass’d by the beautiful faces, - And pick’d out the ugly and old. - - VOLLE. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF WITCHCRAFT. - - -We are now come to consider and describe the ancient and well-known -order of Witchcraft; the nature and object of which require very little -explanation in a country where it has been so long established as in -Scotland. Taking a retrospective view of the rise and progress of this -once flourishing institution, we are told it was founded by the Grand -Master, shortly after the creation of the world. That the wickedness -of the inhabitants having kept pace with their increase, Satan found -work multiplying so fast on his hands, that his own spiritual minions, -numerous as they were, became inadequate to their employment. Being -seldom blind to his own interest, the idea of enlisting a few human -instruments to supply their deficiencies naturally suggested itself to -his fertile genius, and such has been the thirst for magic and power, -which has at all times pervaded the old women of those countries, that -he never had great difficulty in procuring abundance of volunteers to -join his banners. - -Having thus established his new order of emissaries, Satan found them -to answer his purposes uncommonly well. They drudged on in his work -so laboriously, and with such good success, that he found them more -profitable tools, for deluding and _hooking-in_ the best portion of -mankind, than his own proper agents, whose means of communication and -seduction were much more confined and disadvantageous. Accordingly, he -has found it his interest to continue the institution to this day. - -It will, no doubt, prove a matter of some astonishment to the amiable -and considerate reader, how any body that has the honour of wearing -a human face could think of espousing so desperate a cause, for the -sake of any gratification which Satan’s kingdom affords. Common fame -errs too much, if he is at all a liberal master to those who are his -servants, for it is said he seldom or never fulfils his conditions with -any one of them. Though mighty forward to enter into pactions, and -extraordinarily liberal in his terms while making a bargain, he is said -to be far less ready to perform his share of the conditions when it is -once concluded; and what is still worse, when he forfeits a penalty, -there is no law that can exact it of him. Accordingly, we have heard of -not a few deluded mortals, who sold themselves to him for sums of money -and other considerations, but never yet heard of his having paid the -purchase money. - -So once fared a poor needy wretch of a Highlandman, that bartered his -soul to Satan for a cow, and who never could get the latter to fulfil -his bargain. It is no doubt true, that after much importunity he did at -length perform his stipulation, in a way not very creditable to him. -Urgently importuned by the disponer to give him his cow, he ultimately -fetched him one, which was but a few hours in his possession, when it -was challenged by a third party as his stolen property; unwilling to -explain how he came by it, the poor fellow was flung into a prison, -and speedily brought before the laird for trial. In this distressing -situation, the disponer was compelled to tell the truth and the manner -he came by the cow, not doubting but that the disclosure would have -at once exculpated him from the charge. But unfortunately for him, -his ingenuous confession failed of its object, and the poor man was -condemned to the _wuddie_, reserving to him such recourse against Satan -as he might be advised to adopt. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -OF THE AGENT’S QUALIFICATIONS, AND CEREMONIES OF THEIR CONSTITUTION. - - -When the candidates for Satan’s employment have, by a course of -probation, given sufficient proofs of their ability for the discharge -of the duties of the profession they are about to adopt, and when they -have arrived at an age befitting the importance of the calling, men -and women are equally eligible, though it is well known that women are -preferred. Their initiation into infernal orders is preceded by the -execution of a formal covenant with Satan, sealed with the mutual blood -of the parties, whereby, for the considerations therein expressed, -Satan engages, on the one hand, to commit to the entrant the various -powers and qualifications which shall be detailed in the following -pages; and, on the other hand, the said entrant binds and obliges -himself, or herself, to apply himself, or herself, faithfully and -diligently in his service, by day and by night, promising to conceal -the secrets of his trade and profession, (much in the style of our -common indentures). The candidates are then inducted into the mysteries -and secrets of their new profession with great pomp, in presence of -the Royal Grand Master, who, set forth in _proprio terrore_, presides -over the ceremony. The place selected for this imposing ceremony is -not unfrequently a spacious lake or pool, the members of the craft in -attendance being furnished with their seaworthy navy, their brooms and -riddles. The following particulars relative to an intended initiation, -which was attempted in Strathdown, “in the memory of the grandmothers -of some people still living,” while it conveys some idea of such a -scene as that to which we alluded, may also prove a warning to those -who may be thoughtlessly led to embrace the profession. - -“In the time of my grandmother, the farm of _Delnabo_ was -proportionally divided between three tenants. At first equally -comfortable in their circumstances, it was in the course of some time -remarked by all, and by none more forcibly than by one of the said -three portioners, that, although superior in point of industry and -talent to his two fellow-portioners, one of the tenants was daily -lapsing into poverty, while his two neighbours were daily improving in -estate. Amazed and grieved at the adverse fortune which thus attended -his family, compared to the prosperous condition of his neighbours, the -wife of the poor man was in the habit of expressing her astonishment at -the circumstance, not only to her own particular friends, but likewise -to the wives of her neighbours themselves. On one of these occasions, -the other two wives asked her what would she do to ameliorate her -condition, if it were in her power? She answered them, she would do any -thing whatever. (Here the other wives thought they had got a gudgeon, -that would snap at any bait, and immediately resolved to make her -their confidant.) ‘Well, then,’ says one of the other two wives, ‘if -you agree to keep our communications strictly secret, and implicitly -obey our instructions, neither poverty nor want shall ever assail you -more.’ This speech of the other wife immediately impressed the poor -man’s wife with a strong suspicion of their real character. Dissembling -all surprise at the circumstance, she promised to agree to all their -conditions. She was then directed, when she went to bed that night, -to carry along with her the floor-broom, well known for its magical -properties, which she was to leave by her husband’s side in the course -of the night, and which would represent her so exactly, that the -husband could not distinguish the difference in the morning. They, at -the same time, enjoined her to discard all fears of detection, as their -own husbands had been satisfied with those lovely substitutes (the -brooms) for a great number of years. Matters being thus arranged, she -was desired to join them at the hour of midnight, in order to accompany -them to that scene which was to realize her future happiness. - -“Promising to attend to their instructions, the poor man’s wife took -leave of her neighbours, full of those sensations of horror which the -discovery of such depravity was calculated to produce in a virtuous -mind. Hastening home to her husband, she thought it no crime to break -her promise to her wicked neighbours, and, like a dutiful and prudent -wife, to reveal to the husband of her bosom the whole particulars of -their interview. The husband greatly commended his wife’s fidelity, -and immediately entered into a collusion with her, which displays no -ordinary degree of ingenuity. It was agreed that the husband should -exchange apparel with the wife, and that he should, in this disguise, -accompany the wives to the place appointed, to see what cantrips they -intended to perform. He accordingly arrayed himself in his wife’s -habiliments, and, at the hour of midnight, joined the party at the -place appointed. The ‘_Bride_,’ as they called him, was most cordially -received by the two Ladies of the Broom, who warmly congratulated -the ‘Bride’ upon _her_ good fortune, and the speedy consummation of -_her_ happiness. He was then presented with a fir-torch, a broom, -and a riddle, articles with which they themselves were furnished. -They directed their course along the banks of the rolling Avon, until -they reached Craic-pol-nain, or the Craig of the Birdspool. Here, in -consequence of the steepness of the craig, they found it convenient to -pass to the other side of the river. This passage they effected without -the use of their navy, the river being fordable at the place. They -then came in sight of Pol-nain, and, lo! what human eye ever witnessed -such a scene before! The pool appeared as if actually enveloped in -a flame of fire. A hundred torches blazed aloft, reflecting their -beams on the towering woods of Loynchork. And what ear ever heard -such shrieks and yells as proceeded from the horrid crew engaged at -their hellish orgies on Pol-nain? Those cries were, however, sweet -music to the two wives of Delnabo. Every yell produced from them a -burst of unrestrained pleasure, and away they frisked, leaving the -amiable _bride_ a considerable way behind. For the fact is, that he -was in no hurry to reach the scene, and when he did reach it, it was -with a determination to be only a spectator, and not a participator -in the night’s performance. On reaching the pool’s side he saw what -was going on,--he saw abundance of hags steering themselves to and -fro in their riddles, by means of their oars the brooms, hallooing -and skirling worse than the bogles, and each holding in her left hand -a torch of fir,--whilst at other times they would swirl themselves -into a row, and make profound obeisance to a large black ugly tyke, -perched on a lofty rock, who was no doubt the ‘muckle thief’ himself, -and who was pleased to acknowledge most graciously those expressions -of their loyalty and devotion, by bowing, grinning, and clapping his -paws. Having administered to the _bride_ some preliminary instructions, -the impatient wives desired him to remain by the pool’s side until -they should commune with his Satanic Highness on the subject of -_her_ inauguration, directing _her_, as they proceeded on their -voyage across the pool, to speed them in their master’s name. To this -order of the black pair the _bride_ was resolved to pay particular -attention. As soon as they were embarked in their riddles, and had -wriggled themselves, by means of their brooms, into a proper depth of -water, ‘Go,’ says he, ‘in the name of the Best.’ A horrid yell from -the witches announced their instant fate,--the magic spell was now -dissolved--crash went the riddles, and down sank the two witches, never -more to rise, amidst the shrieks and lamentations of the Old Thief -and all his infernal crew, whose combined power and policy could not -save them from a watery end. All the torches were extinguished in an -instant, and the affrighted company fled in different directions, in -such forms and similitudes as they thought most convenient for them -to adopt; and the _wily bride_ returned home at his leisure, enjoying -himself vastly at the clever manner in which he had executed the -instructions of his deceased friends. On arriving at his house, he -dressed himself in his own clothes, and, without immediately satisfying -his wife’s curiosity at the result of his excursion, he yoked his -cattle, and commenced his morning labours with as little concern as -usual. His two neighbours, who were not even conscious of the absence -of their wives, (so ably substituted were they by the brooms,) did -the same. Towards breakfast-time, however, the two neighbours were -not a little astonished that they observed no signs of their wives -having risen from bed--notwithstanding their customary earliness--and -this surprise they, expressed to the _late bride_, their neighbour. -The latter archly remarked, that he had great suspicions, in his -own mind, of their _rising_ even that day. ‘What mean you by that?’ -replied they. ‘We left our wives apparently in good health when we -ourselves arose.’--‘Find them now,’ was the reply--the bride setting -up as merry a whistle as before. Running each to his bed, what was the -astonishment of the husbands, when, instead of his wife, he only found -an old broom. Their neighbour then told them, that, if they chose to -examine Pol-nain well, they would find both their dear doxies there. -The grieving husbands accordingly proceeded thither, and, with the -necessary instruments, dragged their late worthy partners to dry land; -and afterwards privately interred them. The shattered vessels and oars -of those unfortunate navigators, whirling about the pool, satisfied -their lords of the manner by which they came to their _ends_; and their -names were no longer mentioned by their kindred in the land. It need -scarcely be added, that the poor man gradually recovered his former -opulence; and that, in the course of a short time, he was comparatively -as rich as he was formerly poor.” - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -OF THE PERSONAL SIMILITUDE OF THE AGENTS OR MEMBERS OF THE CRAFT. - - -It is well known, that no sooner do men or women enter on this -profession, than there is a striking change in their personal -appearance. Their countenances are no longer the emblems of human -nature, but the sign-posts of malice and bad luck. “Looking like a -witch” is a proverb that has been always descriptive of the most -exquisite ugliness; and whoever has seen the frontispiece of a Highland -witch will be satisfied with its force and propriety. - -The face is so wrinkled, that it commonly resembles the channels of -dried waters, and the colour of it resembles nothing so much as a piece -of rough tanned leather. The eyes are small and piercing, sunk into -the forehead, like the expiring remains of a candle in a socket. The -nose is large, prominent, and sharp, forming a bridge to the contacting -chin. These are represented as the amiable features of a witch. The -wizard’s appearance differs very little from that of his amiable sister -the witch, only that his face is covered over with a preternatural -redundance of hair, and that he wears beneath his chin a bunch of hair -in the manner of a goat. - -It has been long a subject of tough controversy to what cause this -striking deformity is justly to be ascribed. Some logicians rationally -enough maintain, that the characteristic deformity of the order arises -from their frequent interviews with Satan; that the tremor of the -limbs, the horror of the aspect, and stare of the eyes, with which they -are always seized during the season of their noviciation, are rendered -habitual to them by the force of custom, which is justly called a -second nature. And, in support of this doctrine, we are told it is a -fact, that, whenever we behold a ghost, or any other _uncanny_ being, -our features become contracted exactly the same way. But, be this as it -may, it is an acknowledged fact, that ugliness was, from the beginning -of their cast, their distinguishing characteristic. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL POWERS AND PRACTICES. - - -On a nearer examination of a witch’s character, we will find her face a -very correct index to her heart. She is the arch-enemy of whatever is -good and amiable. Invested as she is with as ample powers of seduction -and mischief as Satan himself, she is equally expert in accomplishing -the ruin of the soul and body of the objects of her malignity. In -order to convey to the reader an idea of those powers with which she -is invested, and which she never fails to exercise, we shall detail -them in their order, illustrating our statements, as we go along, with -proofs from the best authorities. - -The most formidable of all the powers conferred on a witch consists in -the torture and destruction of human beings by infernal machination. -There are various processes by which those hellish practices are -accomplished, but the most common process is that invented and used by -that eminent and distinguished witch, “_Crea Mhoir cun Drochdair_,” -who was burnt and worried at a stake at Inverness, about two centuries -ago, for bewitching and keeping in torment the body of the provost’s -son. Crea made an effigy of clay and other hellish ingredients, into -which she stuck pins and other sharp instruments. This effigy of the -provost’s son she placed on a spit at a large fire, and by these -cantrips the hag communicated such agonizing torments to the young -gentleman, that he must have had speedily fallen a victim to his -sufferings, had it not been for the happy discovery made by means of a -little grandchild of Crea Mhoir’s, who divulged the whole secret to a -little companion, for the small gratification of a piece of bread and -cheese. But although Crea, honest woman, was long ago disposed of, to -the great comfort and satisfaction of her countrymen, who naturally -enough ascribed to her all the calamities which happened in the country -during her lifetime, she left behind her the immortal fruits of her -genius, for the benefit of her black posterity, in those mischievous -inventions practised by the witches of latter times, who understand the -knack of torturing their unhappy contemporaries in all its branches, as -exemplified in the cases of several worthies noticed in the sequel. - -The next important power of a witch and a warlock consists in their -control over air and water, whereby they raise most dreadful storms and -hurricanes by sea and by land, and thus accomplish the destruction of -many a valuable life, which otherwise might have been long spared. The -following account of the loss of a most excellent gentleman exhibits -too melancholy an instance of the success of their experiments in this -way: - -“John Garve Macgillichallum of Razay was an ancient hero of great -celebrity. Distinguished in the age in which he lived for the -gallantry of his exploits, he has often been selected by the bard as -the theme of his poems and songs. Alongst with a constitution of body -naturally vigorous and powerful, Razay was gifted with all those noble -qualities of the mind which a true hero is supposed to possess. And -what reflected additional lustre on his character, was that he never -failed to apply his talents and powers to the best uses. He was the -active and inexorable enemy of the weird sisterhood, many of whom he -was the auspicious instrument of sending to their ‘black inheritance’ -much sooner than they either expected or desired. It was not therefore -to be supposed, that, while those amiable actions endeared Razay to all -good people, they were at all calculated to win him the regard of those -infernal hags to whom he was so deadly a foe. As might be naturally -expected, they cherished towards him the most implacable thirst of -revenge, and sought, with unremitting vigilance, for an opportunity of -quenching it. That such an opportunity did unhappily occur, and that -the meditated revenge of these hags was too well accomplished, will -speedily appear from this melancholy story. - -“It happened upon a time that Razay and a number of friends planned -an expedition to the island of Lewes, for the purpose of hunting the -deer of that place. They accordingly embarked on board the chieftain’s -yacht, manned by the flower of the young men of Razay, and in a few -hours they chased the fleet-bounding hart on the mountains of Lewes. -Their sport proved excellent. Hart after hart, and hind after hind, -were soon levelled to the ground by the unerring hand of Razay; and -when night terminated the chase, they retired to their shooting -quarters, where they spent the night with joviality, and mirth, little -dreaming of their melancholy fate in the morning. - -“In the morning of next day, the chief of Razay and his followers rose -with the sun, with the view of returning to Razay. The day was squally -and occasionally boisterous, and the billows raged with great violence. -But Razay was determined to cross the channel to his residence, and -ordered his yacht to prepare for the voyage. The more cautious and -less courageous of his suite, however, urged on him to defer the -expedition till the weather should somewhat settle--an advice which -Razay, with a courage which knew no fear, rejected, and expressed his -firm determination to proceed without delay. Probably with a view to -inspire his company with the necessary degree of courage to induce -them all to concur in the undertaking, he adjourned with them to the -ferry-house, where they had recourse to that supporter of spirits under -every trial, the usquebaugh, a few bottles of which added vastly to -the resolution of the company. Just as the party were disputing the -practicability of the proposed adventure, an old woman, with wrinkled -front, bending on a crutch, entered the ferry-house; and Razay, in the -heat of argument, appealed to the old woman, whether the passage of -the channel on such a day was not perfectly practicable and free from -danger. The woman, without hesitation, replied in the affirmative, -adding such observations, reflecting on their courage, as immediately -silenced every opposition to the voyage; and accordingly the whole -party embarked in the yacht for Razay. But, alas! what were the -consequences? No sooner were they abandoned to the mercy of the waves -than the elements seemed to conspire to their destruction. All attempts -to put back the vessel proved unavailing, and she was speedily driven -out before the wind in the direction of Razay. The heroic chieftain -laboured hard to animate his company, and to dispel the despair which -began to seize them, by the most exemplary courage and resolution. He -took charge of the helm, and, in spite of the combined efforts of the -sea, wind, and lightning, he kept the vessel steadily on her course -towards the lofty point of Aird in Skye. The drooping spirits of his -crew began to revive, and hope began to smile upon them--when lo! to -their great astonishment, a large cat was seen to climb the rigging. -This cat was soon followed by another of equal size, and the last by -a successor, until at length the shrouds, masts, and whole tackle, -were actually covered with them. Nor did the sight of all those cats, -although he knew well enough their real character, intimidate the -resolute Razay, until a large black cat, larger than any of the rest, -appeared on the masthead, as commander-in-chief of the whole legion. -Razay, on observing him, instantly foresaw the result; he, however, -determined to sell his life as dearly as possible, and immediately -commanded an attack upon the cats--but, alas! it soon proved abortive. -With a simultaneous effort the cats overturned the vessel on her -leeward wale, and every soul on board was precipitated into a watery -grave. Thus ended the glorious life of _Jan Garbh Macgillichallum_ -of Razay, to the lasting regret of the brave clan Leod and all good -people, and to the great satisfaction of the abominable witches who -thus accomplished his lamentable doom. - -“The same day, another hero, celebrated for his hatred of witchcraft, -was warming himself in his hunting hut, in the forest of Gaick in -Badenoch. His faithful hounds, fatigued with the morning chase, lay -stretched on the turf by his side,--his gun, that would not miss, -reclined in the neuk of the boothy,--the _skian dhu_ of the sharp edge -hung by his side, and these alone constituted his company. As the -hunter sat listening to the howling storm as it whistled by, there -entered at the door an apparently poor weather-beaten cat, shivering -with cold, and drenched to the skin. On observing her, the hairs of -the dogs became erected bristles, and they immediately rose to attack -the pitiable cat, which stood trembling at the door. ‘Great hunter of -the hills,’ exclaims the poor-looking trembling cat, ‘I claim your -protection. I know your hatred to my craft, and perhaps it is just. -Still spare, oh spare a poor jaded wretch, who thus flies to you for -protection from the cruelty and oppression of her sisterhood.’ Moved to -compassion by her eloquent address, and disdaining to take advantage of -his greatest enemy in such a seemingly forlorn situation, he pacified -his infuriated dogs, and desired her to come forward to the fire and -warm herself. ‘Nay,’ says she, ‘in the first place, you will please -bind with this long hair those two furious hounds of yours, for I am -afraid they will tear my poor hams to pieces. I pray you, therefore, -my dear sir, that you would have the goodness to bind them together by -the necks with this long hair.’ But the curious nature of the hair -induced the hunter to dissemble a little. Instead of having bound his -dogs with it, as he pretended, he threw it across a beam of wood which -connected the couple of the boothy. The witch then supposing the dogs -securely bound, approached the fire, and squatted herself down as if -to dry herself. She had not sitten many minutes, when the hunter could -easily discover a striking increase in her size, which he could not -forbear remarking in a jocular manner to herself. ‘A bad death to you, -you nasty beast,’ says the hunter; ‘you are getting very large.’--‘Aye, -aye,’ replied the cat, equally jocosely, ‘as my hairs imbibe the heat, -they naturally expand.’ These jokes, however, were but a prelude to a -more serious conversation. The cat still continuing her growth, had -at length attained a most extraordinary size,--when, in the twinkling -of an eye, she transformed herself into her proper likeness of the -Goodwife of Laggan, and thus addressed him: ‘Hunter of the Hills, your -hour of reckoning is arrived. Behold me before you, the avowed champion -of my devoted sisterhood, of whom Macgillichallum of Razay and you -were always the most relentless enemies. But Razay is no more. His -last breath is fled. He lies a lifeless corpse on the bottom of the -main; and now, Hunter of the Hills, it is your turn.’ With these words, -assuming a most hideous and terrific appearance, she made a spring at -the hunter. The two dogs, which she supposed securely bound by the -infernal hair, sprung at her in her turn, and a most furious conflict -ensued. The witch, thus unexpectedly attacked by the dogs, now began -to repent of her temerity. ‘_Fasten, hair, fasten_,’ she perpetually -exclaimed, supposing the dogs to have been bound by the hair; and so -effectually did the hair _fasten_, according to her order, that it at -last snapt the beam in twain. At length, finding herself completely -overpowered, she attempted a retreat, but so closely were the hounds -fastened in her breasts, that it was with no small difficulty she -could get herself disengaged from them. Screaming and shrieking, the -Wife of Laggan dragged herself out of the house, trailing after the -dogs, which were fastened in her so closely, that they never loosed -their hold until she demolished every tooth in their heads. Then -metamorphosing herself into the likeness of a raven, she fled over -the mountains in the direction of her home. The two faithful dogs, -bleeding and exhausted, returned to their master, and, in the act of -caressing his hand, both fell down and expired at his feet. Regretting -their loss with a sorrow only known to the parent who weeps over the -remains of departed children, he buried his devoted dogs, and returned -home to his family. His wife was not in the house when he arrived, but -she soon made her appearance. ‘Where have you been, my love?’ inquired -the husband.--‘Indeed,’ replies she, ‘I have been seeing the Goodwife -of Laggan, who has been just seized with so severe an illness, that -she is not expected to live for any time.’--‘Aye! aye!’ says he, ‘what -is the matter with the worthy woman?’--‘She was all day absent in the -moss at her peats,’ replies the wife, ‘and was seized with a sudden -colic, in consequence of getting wet feet, and now all her friends -and neighbours are expecting her demision.’--‘Poor woman,’ says the -husband, ‘I am sorry for her. Get me some dinner, it will be right that -I should go and see her also.’ Dinner being provided and dispatched, -the hunter immediately proceeded to the house of Laggan, where he found -a great assemblage of neighbours mourning, with great sincerity, the -approaching decease of a woman whom they all had hitherto esteemed -virtuous. The hunter, walking up to the sick woman’s bed in a rage, -proportioned to the greatness of its cause, stripped the sick woman of -all her coverings. A shriek from the now exposed witch brought all the -company around her. ‘Behold,’ says he, ‘the object of your solicitude, -who is nothing less than an infernal witch. To-day, she informs me, she -was present at the death of the Laird of Razay, and only a few hours -have elapsed since she attempted to make me share his fate. This night, -however, she shall expiate her crime, by the forfeiture of her horrid -life.’ Relating to the company the whole circumstances of her attack -upon him, which were too well corroborated by the conclusive marks she -bore on her person, the whole company were perfectly convinced of her -criminality; and the customary punishment was about to be inflicted -on her, when the miserable wretch addressed them as follows: ‘My -ill-requited friends, spare an old acquaintance, already in the agonies -of death, from any farther mortal degradation. My crimes and my folly -now stare me in the face, in their true colours, while my vile and -perfidious seducer, the enemy of your temporal and spiritual interests, -only laughs at me in my distress; and, as a reward for my fidelity -to his interest, in seducing every thing that was amiable, and in -destroying every thing that was good, he is now about to consign my -soul to eternal misery. Let my example be a warning to all the people -of the earth to shun the fatal rock on which I have split; and as a -strong inducement for them to do so, I shall atone for my iniquity to -the utmost of my ability, by detailing to you the awful history of my -life.’ Here the Wife of Laggan detailed at full length the way she was -seduced into the service of the evil one,--all the criminal adventures -in which she had been engaged, and ended with a particular account of -the death of Macgillichallum of Razay, and her attack upon the hunter, -and then expired. - -“Meanwhile, a neighbour of the Wife of Laggan was returning home late -at night from Strathdearn, where he had been upon some business, and -had just entered the dreary forest of Monalea in Badenoch, when he met -a woman dressed in black, who ran with great speed, and inquired of -the traveller, with great agitation, how far she was distant from the -church-yard of Dalarossie, and if she could be there by twelve o’clock. -The traveller told her she might, if she continued to go at the same -pace that she did then. She then fled alongst the road, uttering the -most desponding lamentations, and the traveller continued his road to -Badenoch. He had not, however, walked many miles when he met a large -black dog, which travelled past him with much velocity, as if upon the -scent of a track or footsteps, and soon after he met another large -black dog sweeping along in the same manner. The last dog, however, was -scarcely past, when he met a stout black man on a fine fleet black -courser, prancing along in the same direction after the dogs. ‘Pray,’ -says the rider to the traveller, ‘did you meet a woman as you came -along the hill?’ The traveller replied in the affirmative. ‘And did you -meet a dog soon after?’ rejoined the rider. The traveller replied he -did. ‘And,’ added the rider, ‘do you think the dog will overtake her -ere she can reach the church of Dalarossie?’--‘He will, at any rate, be -very close upon her heels,’ answered the traveller. Each then took his -own way. But before the traveller had got the length of Glenbanchar, -the rider overtook him on his return, with the foresaid woman before -him across the bow of his saddle, and one of the dogs fixed in her -breast, and another in her thigh. ‘Where did you overtake the woman?’ -inquired the traveller. ‘Just as she was entering the church-yard of -Dalarossie,’ was his reply. On the traveller’s return home, he heard -of the fate of the unfortunate Wife of Laggan, which soon explained -the nature of the company he had met on the road. It was, no doubt, -the spirit of the Wife of Laggan flying for protection from the -infernal spirits, (to whom she had sold herself,) to the church-yard -of Dalarossie, which is so sacred a place, that a witch is immediately -dissolved from all her ties with Satan, on making a pilgrimage to it, -either dead or alive. But it seems the unhappy Wife of Laggan was a -stage too late.” - -There is another power given to them, which is a most mischievous one, -and proves the fruitful source of almost all the crimes and miseries -which deluge the land,--that of sowing the seeds of discord amongst -mankind in public and private life. We will say nothing of the degree -of secret influence which these worthies probably enjoy in overruling -the councils of our nation, and thwarting the judgment of our -ministers, so as to answer their private purposes, as it would be out -of our strict line of delineation. But we speak from the best authority -when we say, that they are the common and secret instigators of those -deplorable quarrels and divisions which sometimes happen between -those who ought to be one flesh. Whenever we see a broken-hearted -wife mourning over the misconduct of her husband, who, once tenderly -affectionate and attentive to the discharge of his domestic duties, -is now changed into the domestic tyrant and whisky-bibber, we need -never hesitate for a moment to pronounce the cause to be witchcraft. -And the same rule holds good in regard to the misconduct of the wife, -_vice versa_. Behold, again, the man of sin, clothed in the garment of -disgrace, that sits “_girnan on the creepy._” Ask him what blind-fold -infatuation could have induced him to have defiled his neighbour’s bed, -and he will tell you, with a groan, it was “_Buchuchd_.”[F] - -Nor are their operations confined to the injury of a person’s spiritual -interest alone--they even descend to the lowest incidents in a man’s -calling. If the reader should see a termagant of a wife raise over -the _caput_ of her poor cuckold of a husband the tongs or spurtle, -demanding of him, with vehement eloquence, the cause of purchasing a -horse or a cow at double its value, his answer to her will certainly -be--“Me ve ar mu Buchuchd.” - -Thus the ruination of our spiritual interest is not enough to satisfy -their inveterate malignity,--they must likewise injure our temporal -interests, which, however incomparable to the former in point of -intrinsic importance, yet cause the sufferer fully as much grief. -Indeed, so dearly do the most of the people of this world love their -temporal means and estate, that we feel fully persuaded, that did -those agents confine their operations to the injury of our spiritual -interests alone, which, as Satan’s instruments, we should naturally -suppose to be their proper line of business, the clamour against their -ruinous and abominable practices would be much less violent than it -is. This much, however, of the Highlander’s liberal disposition the -sly sounding witch is intimately acquainted with, and for this very -reason she redoubles her diligence to cause him all the loss in her -power, as the most effectual way of completing his misery. Hence it -oftens happens, that should a horse, an ox, or a cow, of unequalled -symmetry and beauty, be so unlucky as to attract the favour of its -affectionate owner;--by whatever means the sagacious witch discovers -the secret we know not, but certain annihilation, accomplished by some -means or other, will be the poor animal’s lot. Such a calamity as this -is sufficiently mortifying, but it is a small one when compared to -the loss of a person’s whole stock, which too frequently follows the -loss of one. Having once inserted the infernal pillow into some snug -corner, its influence will give the finishing stroke to all the cattle -and creeping things on a farm. This pillow, not to give it a worse -name, is a little four-cornered _bag_, packed with divers exterminating -diseases, in the familiar likeness of hair, grease, parings of nails, -shoe tackets, salt, powder, and other infernal knick-knacks, too -tedious to be described, which, when thrown into the fire, makes a -noise the like of which has seldom been heard. - -No sooner is this bag deposited in a cleft in the stable or byre than -it commences its destructive career, producing the death of the bestial -in whole lots, until the last hen on the roost will fall a sacrifice to -its deadly influence. Nor is this all; they will attach some infernal -cantrips to the farming-utensils that no good crop will follow their -operations, and what may escape the influence of the _baggie_ is -commonly destroyed by frost, rain, lightning, and other calamities, -which the craft can produce at their pleasure, so that it is unfit for -the use of man or beast. In short, of all the ills incident to the -life of man, none are so formidable as witchcraft, before the combined -influence of which, to use the language of an honest man who had -himself severely suffered from its effects, “the great Laird of Grant -himself could not stand them if they should fairly yoke upon him.” - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -OF THE WITCH’S POWERS OF TRANSFORMATION. - - -Those of our readers who are not very well acquainted with the theory -of witchcraft will not be a little surprised, at the unaccountable -activity of its agents, who are capable of paying not only proper -attention to their own private affairs, but likewise of carrying on -almost all the business of the Evil One in this land. In order to -obviate all surprise on this head, be it remembered, that they are -endowed with as ample powers of transmigration (at their institution -into the craft) as any other of Satan’s spiritual agents; consequently -there is no similitude from their own proper likenesses to that of a -cat or a stone, but they can assume at pleasure. Hence the speed and -privacy with which they attain their evil ends. - -One of the most ordinary disguises of a “_Ban-Buchichd_”[G] is the -similitude of a hare. This transformation she finds exceedingly -convenient while performing her cantrips in the field--bewitching -farming implements--destroying corn and grass--holding communion with -the sisterhood, and similar pieces of business. It enables her to -execute her undertakings with greater expedition, and flee more fleetly -on any emergency, than she could do in any other character. - -A second is the likeness of a cat--by personating which, she procures -admission to the inmost recesses of a house, to deposit her infernal -machinery, without exciting the least suspicions of her real character -and intentions. - -A third is her transformation into a stone, which is a common practice -with the witch in the season of agricultural operations, by which she -is afforded great opportunities of mischief to the farmer’s interest. -The wily witch will penetrate into the ground, and place herself in -the line of the plough, and as it passes her she will creep in betwixt -the sock and the culter. The plough is consequently expelled from the -ground for a considerable space, and a “_bauk_” is the consequence. -For these insidious and barefaced acts of iniquity, the witch, if -discovered, seldom escapes with impunity. Stopping the cattle, the -ploughman will take hold of the stone, bestowing upon it the most -abusive and opprobrious epithets, and dashes her with all his might -against the hardest substance he can find, as a mark of his hatred and -contempt for her character. - -A fourth is her transformation into the shape of a raven; which now -in a great measure supersedes the use of her ancient and renowned -hobby-horse the broom, on which she formerly walloped with such -surprising velocity. This similitude is commonly assumed by her when on -excursions to any distance, to attend the counsels of Satan--to hold -communion with the sisterhood--or to attend some important enterprise. - -The witch likewise assumes the character of a _magpie_ on occasions -of sudden emergency which require immediate conference with a number -of the members of the craft. The likeness of this bird, which is -of a domestic character, and fond of hopping and picking about the -doors, screens the witch from suspicion, as she visits another witch’s -dwelling. Hence, when a number of magpies convene together side by -side on a house-top, it is no wonder that their appearance should -occasionally excite suspicion. But we humbly think that mere suspicion -by no means justifies that hostility of temper which in several -districts the inhabitants are led to entertain against the whole -race of magpies, merely because the witches sometimes assume their -similitude. These suspicions are no doubt a good deal heightened by the -circumstance of the poor magpie’s being a little endowed with the gift -of prophecy. As a foreteller of minor events--such as the coming of -visitors, the change of weather, and such-like little occurrences--the -magpie has never been excelled; and notwithstanding the illiberal -conduct of its human neighbours, those little qualities are always -exerted by the magpie for their comfort and convenience. - -On the morning of that auspicious day on which the factor, the -parson, or any other of the country gentry of equal importance, is -to pay a visit to the lord of the manor on which the magpie may have -pitched her residence, she will approach the house, and, by her -incessant chattering, announce to the inhabitants the coming of the -consequential stranger. The state apartment, perhaps rather deranged, -is consequently arrayed in proper order; and the necessary provisions -to entertain the expected guests are timeously procured, which, but for -the magpie’s generous and ill-rewarded premonition, could not perhaps -be provided for the occasion. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -SAFEGUARDS FROM WITCHCRAFT. - - -As witchcraft is in itself by far the greatest calamity the Highlander -is subject to, so Providence, in its wise economy, has afforded him the -amplest means of guarding against its effects. And if a radical remedy -has not yet been discovered for the evil in all its bearings, it is -only because mankind have not been equally solicitous for the discovery -of it. Adverse to a murmuring discontented spirit, the Highlander -is satisfied with the removal of a share of his grievances. Having -obtained a knowledge of a certain remedy for those practices of the -craft which weigh most heavily on his temporal interests, he is not so -presumptuous as to suppose that Providence is so partial in its favours -as to grant him a remedy for those that affect his immortal interests -also. Satisfied with the benefits he enjoys, he is not clamorous for an -extension of them, leaving the concerns of another world for a season -of more convenience and leisure. - -As a sovereign protection for goods and chattels of every description -from the machinations of those despicable agents, the rowan cross, -of invaluable excellence, has never been known to prove ineffectual. -Its salutary influence on every species of supernatural agents is -well known, and there are none to whom the smell of the rowan is more -obnoxious than the “Ban Buchuchd.” As a proof of its efficacy, we can -produce no better authority than the following affecting story:-- - -“There is, in the vicinity of Forres, an old decayed edifice, -called ‘_Castle Boorgie_,’ in which once lived a rich laird, who -had a beautiful daughter. Seemingly possessed of every engaging -accomplishment, and apparently endowed with the most amiable -disposition, she was the darling of her aged father, whose hopes and -joys were wholly centered in her. One spring morning, as her father -and herself were surveying the delightful prospects which the castle -commanded, the immense number of ploughs at work within the compass -of their vision happened to attract their attention. ‘Father,’ says -this ill-fated, unconscious child, ‘do we not behold a vast number of -ploughs in the widely-extended district now in our view?’--‘Yes, my -love, we do,’ replied the father, ‘and it is a pleasant thing to look -at them.’--‘What reward will you give me,’ added she, ‘if, by a single -word, I shall cause them all stand as immoveable as if the cattle were -transformed into stones?’--‘On that condition,’ replied the astonished -father, ‘the most superb and costly gown in the town of Forres shall -be yours.’--‘It is done,’ says the daughter. Raising her hand, she -muttered an unintelligible sound, and, lo! all the ploughs in the -district, with the exception of a single one, stood stock still and -immoveable.--‘Indeed!’ exclaims the father, ‘you are a rare conjuror, -my dear; but how is that plough in the adjacent park exempted from -the magical effect of your powerful charm?’--‘The cause I can easily -guess,’ says she; ‘there is, in one of the oxen’s bows, a pin of the -rowan tree, the virtue of which defeats all attempts at preternatural -fascination.’--‘Aye, aye,’ says he, ‘all those things are wonderfully -pretty; pray who taught them to you?’--‘My old nurse taught me those -fine things, and am not I greatly obliged to her, sir?’--‘You are, -undoubtedly,’ he replies, ‘and she shall soon have her reward. Oh! my -dear, my only child--support and comfort of my aged head--would to God -you had never been born!’ - -“Summoning immediately a council of his friends, the broken-hearted -parent revealed to them the whole circumstance, and craved -their opinion as to the measures that should be adopted in this -deeply-to-be-deplored case. After due consultation, the council gave it -as their decided opinion, that, concluding that she was irrecoverably -lost to all good in this world, the extension of her life would be only -productive of eternal disgrace and infamy to her friends, while her -spiritual interests would every day be destroyed by accumulating guilt. -Therefore, that her life should be instantly terminated by a private -death; and that the old hag, the author of her ruin, should be publicly -burned under every ignominious circumstance. To this hard decision the -agonised father was persuaded to assent; and a doctor was immediately -dispatched for to Forres, to point out the easiest mode of taking her -life. Bleeding the temporal arteries was the mode of death agreed on, -and the poor innocent victim of the old hag’s depravity was introduced -into a private apartment, in order to undergo the awful operation. On -entering the apartment, her unhappy father burst out into a flood of -tears. Observing his distress, his affectionate little daughter also -fell a crying. ‘What is the matter with you, my dear father?’ says she. -‘Have you received any bad news? Oh! tell me what is the matter with -you, that I may share your sorrows and dry your tears.’ Fearing that -the father’s courage might naturally fail him under so signal a trial, -the friends present instantly seized the astonished dear girl, bound -her hand and foot, and placed her in a vat, and the surgeon inflicted -on her two brows, fair and beautiful as those of an angel, the fatal -wounds. As the blood flowed, the poor affrighted victim perpetually -exclaimed, ‘Do not kill me, do not kill me; what have I done to offend -my dearest father? I am sure I did no harm. For the sake of my dear -mother, who is no more, and for whose sake you loved me so well, do not -let them kill me, my dear father.’ The unhappy father sunk senseless on -the floor, and his expiring child soon closed her eyes on this world, -sighing, with her last breath, ‘My dearest father, do not kill me.’ - -“The old hag was then brought out to the lawn in front of the castle, -and thrown into a huge furnace of tar and other combustibles, amidst -the general execration of the assembled multitude. And it is said, that -while the witch was burning, every crack she gave was as loud as the -report of a war cannon.” - -When, by the neglect of the prescribed safeguards, the seeds of -iniquity have taken root, and a person’s means are decaying in -consequence, the only alternative, in this case, is to resort to that -grand remedy, the “_Tein Econuch_,” or “_Forlorn Fire_,” which seldom -fails of being productive of the best effects. The cure for witchcraft, -called “_Tein Econuch_,” is wrought in the following manner:-- - -A consultation being held by the unhappy sufferer and his friends as -to the most advisable measures of effecting a cure, if this process is -adopted, notice is privately communicated to all those householders -who reside within the nearest two running streams, to extinguish their -lights and fires on some appointed morning. On its being ascertained -that this notice has been duly observed, a spinning-wheel, or some -other convenient instrument, calculated to produce fire by friction, -is set to work with the most furious earnestness by the unfortunate -sufferer and all who wish well to his cause. Relieving each other -by turns, they drive on with such persevering diligence, that at -length the spindle of the wheel, ignited by excessive friction, emits -“_Forlorn Fire_” in abundance, which, by the application of tow, or -some other combustible material, is widely extended over the whole -neighbourhood. Communicating the fire to the tow, the tow communicates -it to a candle, the candle to a fir-torch, the torch to a cartful of -peats, which the master of the ceremonies, with pious ejaculations for -the success of the experiment, distributes to messengers, who will -proceed with portions of it to the different houses within the said two -running streams, to kindle the different fires. By the influence of -this operation, the machinations and spells of witchcraft “are rendered -null and void,” and, in the language of Scots’ law, “of no avail, -force, strength, or effect, with all that has followed, or may follow -thereupon.” - -But should the evil prove so obstinate and deep-rooted as to triumph -over this most commonly efficacious remedy, the dernier resort is an -application to that arch-enemy of Satan, Mr. Grigor Willox Macgrigor, -Emperor of all the Conjurors. - -The name of this gentleman is well known to the inhabitants of the -northern counties of Scotland, as the happy proprietor of that -invaluable and wonderful relic, which the vulgar are sometimes -pleased to denominate “Clach Ghrigair Willock,” alias “_Clach Ban na -Buchuchd_,” but which, in our opinion, deserves a far more dignified, -if not a more appropriate appellation. We humbly submit it should be -called the _Philosopher’s Stone_, not so much out of compliment to its -learned and elegant proprietor--although, by the bye, he is wonderfully -_philosophic_--as out of pure justice to the stone itself; for it -certainly is the best substitute for the grand object of the chemist’s -research that has hitherto been discovered. If the philosopher’s stone -will convert metal into gold, the “warlock’s stone” will convert water -into silver by a process perhaps more round-about, but equally certain. - -The history of such a precious curiosity as this would, no doubt, prove -highly interesting to the “curious reader;” and the writer has to blame -the shortness of his memory for not gratifying him to the utmost of his -wish, Mr. Willox having more than once personally favoured him with a -very eloquent account of it. Suffice it to say, that this stone was -originally extorted by a very ancient ancestor of Mr. Willox from an -amorous slut of a mermaid, who, unfortunately for her, happened to take -a fancy to him, and no wonder, too, if he possessed in any degree the -personal attractions of his lineal posterity. It happened, then, that -this silly fool of a mermaid once thought it proper to throw herself -in this gentleman’s way, expecting, no doubt, very different treatment -from that which she experienced,--when her unnatural sweetheart, -instead of offering her any endearments, most ungraciously chained her -to a post, until she redeemed her liberty by this precious ransom. -This was, no doubt, long, long ago, nobody knows how long, and the -_stone_ has necessarily seen many revolutions of times and masters in -the course of its day. It graced for a long time the warlike standard -of the brave clan Gregor, combining, as the upholsterer says, “great -ornament with much utility;” for, while it served to set off not a -little those splendid banners, it invariably secured their followers -victory over their contending foes. It afterwards returned to the -Willox family, with whom it has continued to the present day. It could -not descend to a race of gentlemen who could do greater justice to its -excellent qualities, and certainly the fault cannot be traced to the -present proprietor, if, during his liferent use of it, the stone has -lost an iota of its former celebrity. - -Whatever might have been the ornamental qualities of this wonderful -_stone_ in the days of yore, it has now no great ornaments to boast of. -It is a plain-looking article, strongly resembling the knob or bottom -of a crystal bottle; and were it not that Mr. Willox solemnly assured -us of his having been told by the great Lord Henderland himself, it -must have at one time composed one of the Pleiades, we should have had -much difficulty in believing it to consist of any other substance; but -who could resist such respectable authority?[H] Although Mr. Willox -informed us that a single collision with the ground would instantly -divest it of all its wonderful virtues, the stone certainly bears _ex -facie_ marks of rough usage, and even such inauspicious accidents as -coming into contact with the ground, or perhaps harder materials, in -its time. However, the _stone_ itself will tell no secrets, and on the -subject of accidents of this sort it is the proprietor’s interest to be -equally mute. - -But whatever may be the nature and qualities of this stone, its virtues -are sufficiently notorious. A single immersion of it into a hogshead -of water instantaneously communicates to it such inconceivable virtue, -that one drop of it is sufficient to cure the most desperate case of -witchcraft in the land. Nor do the prevention and cure of witchcraft -alone constitute the stone’s sole line of business;--for a valuable -reward, there is no secret or calamity natural to man or beast in all -this wide world, but it will reveal or prevent.--_Exemple gratia_: -should some miserable vagabond of a thief, residing within the pale of -Mr. Willox’s celebrity, be so fool-hardy as to lay his dishonest hands -upon the goods or chattels of a neighbour, recovery of the goods, or at -least an exposure of the thief, is the absolute consequence. The loser -of the goods looks about him for his purse, and immediately proceeds to -consult the GRAND ORACLE, Mr. Grigor Willox, as to the person who had -the effrontery to steal his goods. Mr. Willox, willing to afford every -information on reasonable terms, instantly produces the black stocking -containing the stone, a single dip of which clearly developes the whole -circumstance. After a long consultation, involving some inquiries as -to suspected characters, the lynx-eyed Mr. Willox easily recognises -some figures reflected on the vessel containing the water by the stone, -conveying an exact representation of some old hag not very reputable -for her habits, residing in the complainant’s neighbourhood; and thus -all doubt is removed as to his suspicions being too well founded. - -It is no subject for wonder, then, that this Great Oracle should be -so highly prized and suitably encouraged. With commendable regard -to the good of his beloved countrymen, Mr. Willox is in the habit -of _occasionally_ making a tour of pleasure through the counties of -Inverness, Ross, and Caithness, whence, after some weeks’ absence, he -returns home, with the double satisfaction of thinking, that while he -has, in the course of his rambles, conferred the greatest benefit on -suffering humanity, he has, at the same time, a good deal improved -his own pecuniary resources. Those occasional peregrinations of this -gentleman are now become absolutely necessary. Funds are not only very -low in these bad times, but Mr. Willox is convinced more and more, -every day he rises, of the truth of that proverb, “A prophet has no -honour in his own country;” and he therefore finds it no less his -interest than his duty to take a trip, as occasion suggests, to see his -friends in the _Duigh Tua_.[I] For the most part, however, he resides -at his seat of Gaulrig in Strathavon (usually called Strathdown), -where, like the late Doctor Samuel Solomon, inventor and proprietor of -that renovating cordial the Balm of Gilead, he may be consulted, either -personally or by letter post paid, on payment of the usual compliment -of a pound note. Accordingly, there are pilgrimages made to Gaulrig -as well as to Gilead House. It is no rare matter for the inhabitants -of both sides of the Avon to fall in with unfortunate pilgrims, whose -longitude of face and decrepitude of limbs indicate the extent of their -misfortunes and the length of their journey, inquiring the way for -_Taigh Maishter Willack_. - - - - -PART VII. - -Highland Festive Amusements. - - Yes, let the rich deride, the proud disdain, - The simple pleasures of the lowly train; - To me more dear, congenial to my heart, - One native charm, than all the gloss of art. - - GOLDSMITH. - - - - -HALLOWE’EN. - - Ye powers of darkness and of hell, - Propitious to the magic spell, - Who rule in silence o’er the night, - Be present now. - - FRANCES. - - -Of the whole series of annual festivals, Hallowe’en forms the most -important occasion in the Highlands of Scotland. The fascinating round -of varied enjoyments the night presents to the young and juvenile--the -delightful peeps into futurity it affords to the enchanted lover--and -the fond recollections it revives in old age--all conspire to render -its approach more interesting, and its celebration more joyful, -than any other occasion within the compass of the year. Nor is the -happy influence diffused by Hallowe’en confined to the human class -of the inhabitants of the Highlands alone; most of the _supernatural -inhabitants_ are in some degree partakers in the general happiness. -With the fairy community, in particular, it is an occasion of peculiar -grandeur, as the great anniversary on which they are reviewed by _Auld -Nick_, their nominal chief potentate, in person; whilst many others of -the classes treated of in the foregoing pages regard it as a night of -no ordinary pomp and joviality. - -On this occasion of universal hilarity, the natural coldness and -jealousy which generally subsist between the human species and -their supernatural neighbours are changed into perfect harmony and -benevolence. Like two belligerent armies, whose hostility towards each -other is more the offspring of public duty than private resentment, and -who, therefore, during the intervals of war, exhibit in their mutual -intercourse the marks of personal good will; so, in like manner, those -two classes forget for the night all animosity, in their more laudable -zeal to contribute to each other’s gratification. Nay, stern Satan -himself relaxes for this night his avarice; and, alive to no other -object than the promotion of universal enjoyments, dispatches showers -of his emissaries to the several kiln-pots, peat-stacks, and barn-yards -in the Highlands, to afford to those adventurers who desire it a peep -into the secrets of futurity. - -Such a display of seeming benevolence, did it proceed from any other -individual than Satan, could not fail to meet with some share of -applause. But heads of families, whose opinions are entitled to some -respect, have been known to affirm, that Satan’s affected generosity -on this occasion is nothing but a mere stratagem for inveigling the -more effectually the young and unwary into his vile snares, and that -he gets more game by those specious artifices than he could realize by -any other means. Hence it is that the anxious parent this night, -instead of extolling Satan’s generosity, is so intent on magnifying -his perfidy; and in order the better to dissuade his offspring and -family from the dangerous practices of the night, details, without -qualification, his numerous treacheries on similar occasions. - -But these ebullitions of the parent’s jealousy of Satan’s practices -are soon subdued. The big-bellied bottle and bumper-glass will have -a great effect in relaxing his heart of its illiberal suspicions. -Speedily animated by the conciliating qualities of the “_barley-bree_,” -and softened by the recollection of his own youthful frolics and manly -deeds on similar occasions, he no longer regards as a crime those -practices which he recently condemned; and the good-natured matron, -being happy at her husband’s felicity, and averse to chide, they both -tacitly connive at the family’s indulgence in the customary arts of -divination. - -Generally the first spell they try is pulling the stock of kail. -Joining hand in hand they go forth to the kail-yard, previously -blind-folded, lads, lasses, and children, equally anxious to have their -fortunes told as their seniors. Pulling the first stock they meet with, -they immediately return to the light to have an examination of its -qualities; its being large or little, straight or crooked, is prophetic -of the size and shape of its puller’s conjugal companion. If any earth -adheres to the root, it indicates tocher or fortune; and the taste of -the custoc or stem, whether sour or sweet, shows the nature of his -disposition. - -They go next to the barn-yard, and pull each a stalk of oats, and -according to the number of grains upon the stalk the puller will have -a corresponding number of children. It may be observed, that it is -essential to a female’s good fame that her stalk should have the -top-grain attached to it. - -An individual goes to the barn, opens both its doors, then takes the -instrument used in winnowing corn, called a _wecht_, and goes through -all the gestures of letting down corn against the wind. This is -repeated three several times, and the third time an apparition will -pass through the barn, in at the one door and out at the other, having -a retinue emblematical of his or her station in life. - -A person goes privately to _Tor-na-ha_, or the kiln-pot, throws into it -a clew of blue thread, which the person winds into a new clew. Towards -the latter end something will hold the thread, on which the person -demands, “Who holds?” An answer will be returned by the agent below, by -naming the Christian name and sirname of the person’s future spouse. - -A person steals out unperceived to the peat-stack--sows a handful of -hemp-seed, calling out something to the following effect:-- - - “Hemp-seed, I saw thee, - Hemp-seed, I saw thee, - And he who is my true love, - Come after me and pu’ thee.” - -And, on looking over his shoulder, he sees the apparition of the person -invoked in the attitude of pulling the hemp, which had immediately -grown at the magic command. Or, if hemp-seed is not at hand, let -the person take the floor-besom, which he will ride in the manner -of a witch three times round the peat-stack, and the last time the -apparition will appear to him. - -They go one or more to what is called a _dead and living ford_, or, in -other words, a ford which has been crossed by a funeral, and observing -profound silence, dip the sleeve of their shirt in it. On returning -home they go to bed in sight of a fire, and, lying awake in bed, they -will observe an apparition, being an exact similitude of the grand -object in question, turn the shirt-sleeve, as if to dry the other side. - -An individual goes to a public road, which branches in three several -directions, (_i. e._ the junction of three roads,) bearing with him -the cutty or three-legged stool, on which the person seats himself -just on the eve of twelve o’clock; and, as the hour strikes, he hears -proclaimed the names of the several persons who shall die in the parish -before the next anniversary. _Nota._--If the person carries along with -him articles of wearing-apparel, and throws an article away on the -proclamation of each person’s name, it will rescue the person from -his impending fate; and it will be wise to retain one article to the -last, in case his own name may be called, when he has not the means of -redemption at hand. - -These and some other out-of-door spells having been tried, the parties -return to the dwelling-house to burn the nuts. Burning the nuts is a -very popular charm. They name a lad and a lass to each particular nut, -as they lay them in the fire, and, accordingly, as they burn quietly, -or start from beside one another, so the issue of the courtship will be. - -A person takes a candle and goes unattended to a looking-glass--eats an -apple before it, combing his or her hair all the while, occasionally -holding over the shoulder a table-fork with a piece of the apple upon -it, and ultimately the adventurer’s conjugal partner will be seen in -the glass, in the attitude of taking the proffered piece of apple. - -These and some other spells of less note, such as dipping for the -apple, groping for the clean dish, which are generally known, and, -therefore, need not be particularly described, joined to each -individual’s relation of the sights which he saw on the present -and former occasions, together with the reflections they draw from -“narrative old age,” bring the well-buttered sowans, or more favoured -_Banbrishd_[J] upon the table. The _sonsie_ kebbock is roasted at the -fire, and fangs cut down from end to end. Brandered bannocks, and -every other luxury that can be procured, load the hospitable board. -The welcome guests surround it; the silver head is bared with solemn -reverence, and the temperate feast, qualified with a few rounds of -the _Boghtle dhu_, is as much relished as if it consisted of the most -delicious luxuries that crown a monarch’s board. But the hours are too -happy to remain long;--they flee like a shadow, and call the guests to -their respective homes. Each swain and damsel now repose themselves -on their pillows, full of those tender emotions which the night’s -amusements excited, and in their midnight slumbers see those objects -whose image they so ardently wished to see in all their comeliness and -beauty. - - - - -CHRISTMAS. - - The children of years to come shall hear the fame of Carthon, when - they sit round the burning oak, and the night is spent in songs of - old. - - OSSIAN. - - -Christmas Eve is chiefly spent in preparation for the succeeding -days. The housewife is busily engaged in the provision and cooking of -dainties. The flailman still chaps in the barn, desirous of providing -the necessary store of fodder for the Christmas. The herd-boy’s axe -resounds on the fir-stock, determined to prepare plenty of light, and -the gudeman, and others, are abroad on a not less important errand. - -This errand, on which we suppose the gudeman and his assistants -employed, is the procuring of _Calluch Nollic_, or _Christmas Old -Wife_, an indispensable requisite for this occasion; and it will -perhaps puzzle some of our readers to guess the purpose for which -the good woman is wanted. If they suppose it is to contribute to the -hilarity of the time, or to assist in the festive preparations, the -idea is not very erroneous--the old woman does so in a very effectual -manner. But the return she meets with, however warm, will not be -admired by the reader, when he is told that it consists in being -stowed into a cartful of burning peats, with as little ceremony -and feeling as an old broom. This usage, so inconsistent with the -Highlander’s characteristic humanity, she does not, however, regard as -a great punishment, for her feelings are as fire-proof as those of a -Salamander. Indeed, it is no rare sight, though strange it must be, to -see an honest woman, who has undergone the unpleasant process of being -Christmas fire to a circle of unfeeling fellows, perhaps oftener than -once, heartily spinning at her wheel, and gratifying those, it may be, -who had a hand in the unfriendly act, with her marvellous tales. But to -avoid a certain imputation which some may be inclined to fix on us, it -will be proper to explain our meaning. - -The reader will please understand, that this good woman only undergoes -this process by representation. Among those valuable discoveries which -distinguish former ages, that which gave rise to this custom deserves -notice. Some wise-acre, by some lucky chance, discovered, that at this -festive season, when the asperity of his character is probably much -softened, even relentless death himself can be compromised with on very -advantageous terms. By the sacrifice of an old woman, or any other body -whom he wished in a better world, and whom, by the following process, -he chose to send to it, death was debarred from any farther claim to -himself, or his friends, until the return of the next anniversary. He -went to the wood this night, fetched home the stump of some withered -tree, which he regularly constituted the representative of some person -of the description we have mentioned, and whose doom was inevitably -fixed by the process, without resort or appeal. Such a simple mode -of obtaining security from a foe whom every body fears, could not be -supposed to fall into desuetude; and the custom is therefore retained, -whatever faith may exist as to its utility, in some parts of the -country, even to this day. - -But to return to the busy fireside whence we set out, we shall suppose -the goodman and the “_carling_” arrived, and the other members of the -family now relieved from their eager toil, with the old wife in the -centre. The question now is, how the remainder of the night is to be -disposed of? The nature of it requires that it should be spent with -gaiety; and a game at cards, the clod,[K] or the bag, is generally -fixed upon. At the ordinary hour, however, all retire to rest with -minds bent on the morrow’s gratifications, and the house is soon -changed from that scene of bustle and confusion it recently exhibited, -to that of peaceful tranquillity, where nothing is heard but the -slumbering of the inmates, and the growling bark of the faithful -_collie_ on the midden-head. - -At length the brightening glow of the eastern sky warns the anxious -housemaid of the approach of - - CHRISTMAS DAY. - -She rises full of anxiety at the prospect of her morning labours. The -meal, which was steeped in the _sowans-bowie_ a fortnight ago, to make -the _Prechdachdan sour_, or _sour scones_, is the first object of her -attention. The gridiron is put on the fire, and the sour scones are -soon followed by hard cakes, soft cakes, buttered cakes, brandered -bannocks, and pannich perm. The baking being once over, the sowans pot -succeeds the gridiron, full of new sowans, which are to be given to the -family, agreeably to custom, this day in their beds. The sowans are -boiled into the consistence of molasses, when the _Lagan-le-vrich_,[L] -to distinguish it from boiled sowans, is ready. It is then poured -into as many bickers as there are individuals to partake of it, and -presently served to the whole, old and young. It would suit well the -pen of a Burns, or the pencil of a Cruikshank, to paint the scene which -follows. The ambrosial food is soon dispatched in aspiring draughts -by the family, who soon give evident proofs of the enlivening effects -of the _Lagan-le-vrich_. As soon as each dispatches his bicker, he -jumps out of bed--the elder branches to examine the ominous signs of -the day,[M] and the younger to enter on its amusements. Flocking to -the swing, a favourite amusement on this occasion, the youngest of -the family gets the first “_shouden_,” and the next oldest to him, -in regular succession. In order to add the more to the spirit of the -exercise, it is a common practice with the person in the _swing_, -and the person appointed to swing him, to enter into a very warm and -humorous altercation. As the swinged person approaches the swinger, he -exclaims, _Ei mi tu chal_, “I’ll eat your kail.” To this the swinger -replies, with a violent shove, _Cha ni u mu chal_, “You shan’t eat -my kail.” These threats and repulses are sometimes carried to such a -height as to break down or capsize the threatener, which generally puts -an end to the quarrel. - -As the day advances, those minor amusements are terminated at the -report of the gun, or the rattle of the ball-clubs--the gun inviting -the marksman to the “_Kiavanuchd_,” or prize-shooting, and the latter -to “_Luchd-vouil_,” or the ball-combatants--both the principal sports -of the day. A description of either of these sports is unnecessary, as -nothing new distinguishes them from similar amusements in other places; -unless it be a consummate precision in the marksman, and a vigorous -intrepidity in the ball-combatants, that cannot perhaps be equalled by -the peasantry of any other country. - -Tired at length of the active amusements of the field, they exchange -them for the substantial entertainments of the table. Groaning under -the “_sonsy haggis_,” and many other savoury dainties, unseen perhaps -for twelve months before, the relish communicated to the company, by -the appearance of the festive board, is more easily conceived than -described. The dinner once dispatched, the flowing bowl succeeds, and -the sparkling glass flies to and fro like a weaver’s shuttle. As it -continues its rounds, the spirits of the company become the more jovial -and happy. Animated by its cheering influence, even old decrepitude -no longer feels his habitual pains--the fire of youth is in his eye, -as he details to the company the exploits which distinguished him in -the days of “_auld langsyne_;” while the young, with hearts inflamed -with “_love and glory_,” long to mingle in the more lively scenes of -mirth, to display their prowess and agility. Leaving the patriarchs to -finish those professions of friendship for each other, in which they -are so devoutly engaged, the younger part of the company will shape -their course to the ball-room, or the card-table, as their individual -inclinations suggest; and the remainder of the evening is spent with -the greatest pleasure of which human nature is susceptible. Nor -will this happy evening terminate the festivities of this occasion. -Christmas mid-day awakes all but old age, to a renewal of former -hilarity. To age, however, there is no permanent enjoyment ordained -in this sublunary state. The transient gleam of happiness which -animated his feeble frame has given place, with the cause of it, to a -gloom proportionate to his former joys. Headaches, rheumatisms, and -other wonted infirmities, are this day returned with more than usual -virulence. He wakes only to recline his head on a pillow of sorrow, and -to think on the days that are gone. - - - - -NEW-YEAR’S EVE. - - “A gude New Year I wish thee, Maggy.” - - BURNS. - - -The Highlander’s native proneness to festive enjoyments, far from -being cloyed by recent series of feasts and diversions, only receives -from their speedy recurrence an additional excitement. Anxious by all -means to secure this occasion its accustomed share of hilarity, fresh -schemes of amusement are studied and promoted with unabated avidity. -The peculiar character of the time pre-eminently entitles it to every -demonstration of satisfaction which mankind can evince; and it must be -no small stimulus to the Highlander’s laudable zeal, to see that in -this he is imitated by beings whose abilities are far inferior to his -own. - -We presume it is a circumstance that is very little known in other -quarters of the kingdom, that, on this particular occasion, even the -_brute_ creation (if we may use the expression) have an instinctive -knowledge of its auspices. In particular, that admirable object -of Highland curiosity, the “_Candlemas[N] Bull_,” manifests no -small degree of respect for the occasion. This strange and curious -_animal_, which has so long escaped the observation of all the _Saxon_ -naturalists and astronomers that ever lived, has been long since -discovered by our Highland philosophers. We say astronomers! because, -however strange it may appear, this bull forms an object of speculation -connected with their department of science. It must not, however, be -inferred from this circumstance, that it is of that celestial species -of bulls designated by astronomers to distinguish a particular division -of the zodiac; neither is it of that terrestrial species known to -naturalists and cattle-dealers--it is of a species distinct from both. -Partaking together of the aërial and terrestrial nature and qualities, -both the earth and the air are equally its elements. This bull makes -an annual excursion, in some latitude or other, about the twilight of -this night, no doubt in honour of the occasion. He has, it is said, -neither wings nor any other apparent buoyants; but he takes advantage -of the course of the wind, on which he glides along in fellowship with -the clouds, in a manner that would do credit to the best aeronaut -of the day. The particular place of his ascension or descent, which -varies with the direction of the wind, cannot be exactly ascertained. -Nor can we favour the curious with a minute description of its bodily -appearance, since we never had the good fortune to be present when it -was seen. All our informants, however, agree in representing it as of -a very large size, the colour of a dark cloud, and having all the limbs -of a common bull.[O] - -As soon as night sets in, it is the signal for the suspension of -common employments; and the Highlander’s attention is directed to -more agreeable and important callings. Associating themselves into -bands, the men, with tethers and axes, shape their course towards the -juniper bushes, which are as much in request this night as kail is -on Hallowe’en. Returning home with Herculean loads, the juniper is -arranged around the fire to dry till the morning. Some careful person -is also dispatched to the _dead and living ford_, who draws a pitcher -of water, observing all the time the most profound silence. Great care -must be taken that the vessel containing the water does not touch the -ground, otherwise it would lose all its virtues. These and every other -necessary peculiar to the occasion being provided, the inmates retire -to rest for the night, full of the thoughts of the morrow. - -The Highlander’s morning cheer this day is far less palatable than -that with which he is served so comfortably on Christmas-day. But if -it be not so agreeable to his temporal inclinations, it is far more -beneficial to his spiritual interests. The _Lagan-le-vrich_, though -very good in itself as a substantial dish, will do no more than satisfy -for a time the cravings of nature. But the treat of which he partakes -this day extends its effects to the good of both soul and body. This -treat, if we may so call it, is divided into two courses, which are -productive of the following good effects. - -The first course, consisting of the _Usque-Cashrichd_, or water -from the _dead and living ford_, by its sacred virtues, preserves -the Highlander, until the next anniversary, from all those direful -calamities proceeding from the agency of all infernal spirits, -witchcraft, evil eyes, and the like. And the second course, consisting -of the fumes of juniper, not only removes whatever diseases may -affect the human frame at the time, but it likewise fortifies the -constitution against their future attacks. These courses of medicine -are administered in the following manner:-- - -Light and fire being kindled, and the necessary arrangements having -been effected, the high priest of the ceremonies for the day, and his -assistants, proceed with the hallowed water to the several beds in the -house, and, by means of a large brush, sprinkles upon their occupants a -profuse shower of the precious preservative, which, notwithstanding its -salutary properties, they sometimes receive with jarring ingratitude. - -The first course being thus served, the second is about to be -administered, preliminary to which it is necessary to stuff all the -crevices and windows in the house, even to the key-hole. This done, -piles of juniper are kindled into a conflagration in the different -apartments of the house. Rising in fantastic curls, the fumes of -the blazing juniper spread along the roof, and gradually condense -themselves into an opaque cloud, filling the apartment with an -odoriferous fumigation altogether overpowering. Penetrating into the -inmost recesses of the patient’s system, (for _patients_ they may well -be called,) it brings on an incessant shower of hiccupping, sneezing, -wheezing, and coughing, highly demonstrative of its expectorating -qualities. But it not unfrequently happens, that young and thoughtless -urchins, not relishing such _physic_, and unmindful of the important -benefits they reap from it, diversify the scene by cries of suffocation -and the like, which never fail to call forth from the more reflecting -part of the family, if able to speak, a very severe reproof. Well -knowing, however, that the more intense the “_smuchdan_,” the more -propitious are its effects, the high priest, with dripping eyes and -distorted mouth, continues his operations, regardless of the feelings -of his flock, until he considers the dose fully sufficient--upon which -he opens the _vent_, and the other crevices, to admit the genial fluid, -to recover the spirits of the exhausted patients. He then proceeds to -gratify the horses, cattle, and other bestial stock in the town, with -the same entertainment in their turn.[P] - -Meanwhile, the gudewife gets up, venting the most latent embryo of -disease in a copious expectoration; and clapping her hand upon the -bottle _dhu_, she administers a renovating cordial to the sufferers -around her. The painful ordeal is, therefore, soon forgotten, and -nothing is heard but the salutations of the season. All the family -now get up, to wash their besmeared faces and prepare themselves for -the festivities of the day, and for receiving the visits of their -neighbours. These last soon arrive in bodies, venting upon the family -broadsides of salutation peculiar to the day.[Q] Breakfast being served -up, consisting of all the luxuries that can be procured, those of the -neighbours not engaged are invited to partake of it; and the day is -terminated with balls, drinking, card parties, and other sports too -tedious to be mentioned. - - - - -FASTEN’S EVE. - - “And oft I hear your dearest name - Whispered in my troubled dream.” - - -The most substantial entertainment peculiar to this night is the -matrimonial brose, which is a dish, we believe, well known throughout -the country at large. This savoury dish is generally made of the -bree of a good fat jigget of beef or mutton, which, being sometimes -a good while in _retentum_, renders the addition of salt to the meal -unnecessary. Before the bree is put in the bicker or plate, a ring is -mixed with the meal, which it will be the aim of every partaker to -get. The first bicker being discussed, the ring is put into two other -bickers successively; and should any of the candidates for matrimony -find the ring more than once, he may rest assured of his marrying -before the next anniversary. - -The brose, and plenty of other good cheer, being dispatched, the -guests betake themselves to another part of the night’s entertainment. -Soon as the evening circle convenes, the “_Bannich Junit_,” or “sauty -bannocks,” are resorted to. The component ingredients of those -dainties are eggs and meal, and a sufficient quantity of salt, in order -to sustain their ancient and appropriate appellation of “sauty.” These -ingredients, well mixed together, are baked or toasted on the gridiron, -and are regarded by old and young as a most delicious treat; and, as -may be expected, they have a charm attached to them, which enables -the happy Highlander to discover the object of all his spells--his -connubial bed-fellow. - -A sufficient number of those designed for the palate being prepared, -the great or matrimonial bannock is made, of which all the young people -in the house partake. Into the ingredients of it there is some particle -intermixed, which, in the distribution, will fall to the lot of some -happy person, who may be sure, if not already married, to be so before -the next anniversary. - -Last of all are made the _Bannich Bruader_, or dreaming bannocks, to -the ingredients composing which is added a little of that substance -which chimney-sweeps call soot, and which contains some charm of which -we have not yet come to the knowledge. In baking these last bannocks, -the baker must be as mute as a stone--one word would destroy the charm -of the whole concern. One is given to each individual, who slips off -with it quietly to bed; and, reposing his head on his bannock, he will -be gratified by the sight of his beloved in the course of his midnight -slumbers. - - - - -BELTANE EVE. - - “Now the sun’s gone out o’ sight, - Beet the ingle, snuff the light; - In glens the fairies skip and dance, - And witches wallop o’er to France.” - - RAMSAY. - - -Beltane Eve[R] is a night of considerable importance and of much -anxiety to the Highland farmer, as being the grand anniversary review -night, on which all the tribes of witches, warlocks, wizards, and -fairies, in the kingdom, are to be reviewed by Satan and his chief -generals in person, and new candidates admitted into infernal orders. -When such a troop, under such a commander, are let loose upon the -community, it is natural to suppose that much misery and devastation -will follow in their train; and when rewards are only conferred on -those most consummate in wickedness, and those most adept in cutting -diabolical cantrips, it is natural for every honest man to feel -anxious that they may not obtain promotion at his expense. In order, -therefore, to be perfectly secure from the machinations of so dangerous -a society, every prudent man will resort to those safeguards that will -keep them at the staff’s end. Messengers are therefore dispatched to -the woods for cargoes of the blessed rowan tree, the virtues of which -are well known. Being formed into the shape of a cross, by means of a -red thread, the virtues of which too are very eminent, those crosses -are, with all due solemnity, inserted in the different door-lintels -in the town, and protect those premises from the cantrips of the most -diabolical witch in the universe. Care should also be taken to insert -one of them in the midden, which has at all times been a favourite -site of _rendezvous_ with the black sisterhood. This cheaply purchased -precaution once observed, the people of those countries will now go to -bed as unconcernedly, and sleep as soundly, as on any other night. - -While those necessary precautions are in preparation, the matron or -housekeeper is employed in a not less interesting avocation to the -juvenile generation, _i. e._ baking the Beltane bannocks. Next morning -the children are presented each with a bannock, with as much joy as an -heir to an estate his title-deeds; and having their pockets well lined -with cheese and eggs, to render the entertainment still more sumptuous, -they hasten to the place of assignation, to meet the little band -assembled on the brow of some sloping hill, to reel their bannocks, -and learn their future fate. With hearty greetings they meet, and with -their knives make the signs of life and death on their bannocks. These -signs are a cross, or the sign of life, on the one side; and a cypher, -or the sign of death, on the other. This being done, the bannocks are -all arranged in a line, and on their edges let down the hill. This -process is repeated three times, and if the cross most frequently -present itself, the owner will live to celebrate another Beltane day; -but if the cypher is oftenest uppermost, he is doomed to die of course. -This sure prophecy of short life, however, seldom spoils the appetites -of the unfortunate short-livers, who will handle their knives with as -little signs of death as their more fortunate companions. Assembling -around a rousing fire of collected heath and brushwood, the ill-fated -bannocks are soon demolished, amidst the cheering and jollity of the -youthful association.[S] - - - - -CHRISTENINGS. - - “When we sit bowsing at the nappy, - And getting fu’ and unco happy, - We think not on the lang Scots miles, - The mosses, waters, slaps, an’ stiles.” - - BURNS. - - -Having travelled over the prominent features which distinguish public -annual festivities in the Highlands of Scotland, we shall now briefly -direct the reader’s attention to those particular occasions which -only interest private circles of friends; and of all these it may be -said, that the birth and christening of a child forms one of the most -pleasant and important. The fond parent, filled with those visionary -hopes and expectations which the imagination is so apt to conceive as -the portion of those objects most dear to us, fancies he beholds in -his new offspring the future hero or statesman, whose fragile hand may -be destined to wield the sword of a general or the pen of a statesman. -Such is the impression of the Highland parent in particular--an -impression in which he is perhaps confirmed by superior authority. The -great utility and comfort derived from having the assistance of those -wise people, whose experience and judgment enable them to discover -those great destinies in an infant, is abundantly apparent; and of this -capacity most of the Highland matrons are possessed. It is no doubt -this weighty consideration that induces every honest woman to have her -own junto of matron counsellors, whose presence is as indispensable -on the occasion of an accouchement as that of the _accoucheur_. If -the offspring is a son, it is likely those sage physiognomists will -already trace in his infantile lineaments clear signs of that future -greatness which he is destined some happy day to display, as well -as the striking resemblance he bears to his father and mother. The -greatness of such a _blessing_ as this they never fail to impress upon -the overjoyed father, (though, by the bye, he may have had too many -of these blessings before,) who is thus induced cheerfully to devote -more of his little property than he can well afford, to give the -occasion its deserved _eclat_. Filled with pleasure, elated with hope, -Highland hospitality has no bounds--a score of lives are sacrificed at -the shrine of festivity, and all the neighbours and kinsmen invited -to the christening. The day arrived, the little great man destined to -grace some name is arrayed in his robes of state, and confided to the -care of the happy sponsors, who, (should the parson not attend the -feast,) together with the company present, will proceed with him to -the parsonage, to receive the ordinance of baptism. On their return, -the guests assembled will pledge the health of their host and the -_Benheen_, or the sick wife, in overflowing bumpers--not forgetting -young Donald, who, “_may he thrive_,” every body praises for a fine -child. - -The seating and tables being next sorted in some snug place, the feast -commences with a course of savoury soup, which is pronounced good -by all. A succeeding course of broth is still better; and a third -still better than the second. Mutton and beef follow, each good in -its kind. Plenty of fowls, equally delicious, are next ushered in, -calling forth the unqualified praise of the guests, who, upon the -whole, pronounce the banquet the most luxurious which they have seen -for a long time before. The dessert once dispatched, the flowing bowl -succeeds, and the rafters are made again to resound to the healths of -the young hero and his parents. A long catalogue of those toasts and -sentiments most congenial to the feelings of the company are next drank -with the greatest glee; and bowl after bowl is speedily drained “to -_friendship’s growth_,” the effects of which bespeak themselves in the -aspect of the company. - -Enveloped in a cloud of tobacco-smoke, in one corner a hamlet -politician is retailing to his half-attentive neighbour the various -news of the day. Another guest is as warmly engaged in the praise of -his wife, his horses, or his cattle; and another is eagerly soliciting -attention to his improved mode of ploughing his ground, sowing his -turnips, and planting his potatoes. At length, when the house begins to -revolve, each thinks it time to withdraw. The officious midwife then -comes to the door, full of kind inquiries, if each has got his own -plaid, bonnet, and staff; and being rewarded for her attention by the -customary _douceur_, she wishes them all a good night and a pleasant -journey. - - - - -WEDDINGS. - - “Was ne’er in Scotland heard or seen - Sic dancing and deray; - Nouther at Falkland on the green, - Nor Peebles at the play.” - - KING JAMES I. - - -Interesting as a christening undoubtedly is to the parents of the -child, it is, neither in a public nor private sense, so happy an -occasion as that which we are about to describe. If there is any thing -under the sun in which true happiness really consists, we are told it -is in the consummation of a marriage, where the parties, uninfluenced -by sordid motives, are entirely brought together by the magnetic power -of love. Of such a description the Highland marriages are in general. -The lower classes being pretty equal in their circumstances, policy and -interest have less influence in their marriages than is the case with -any other rank of people; and consequently the parties are left more to -the unbiassed dictates of their own voluntary choice. - -When a couple of young lovers propose to get married, the nearest -relations of both parties meet to take the case into consideration; -and, in general, it is no difficult matter for the lovers and their -advocates to get a decision consonant to their inclinations. This is -called the booking (“_leuruch_”) or contract, which is very often -ratified by no other covenant than a few bottles of whisky. If the -parties come to an understanding, the lovers are immediately declared -bride and bridegroom; and some Tuesday or Thursday in the growth of the -moon is fixed upon for the celebration of the nuptials. Meanwhile, to -sustain the dignity of the bridal pair, from motives of policy as well -as of state, they select from their kinsmen two trustworthy persons -each, who are delegated to the other--the male to protect the party -from being stolen, (a practice once common, and not yet extinct,) and -the female to act as maid of honour and lady of the bedchamber on the -bridal occasion. - -A few days prior to the bridal day, the parties, with their attendants, -perambulate the country, inviting the guests, on which occasion they -meet with marked attention from old and young. The invitations are all -delivered to the parties _propria persona_ at their firesides; and if -the wedding is to be a cheap one, a small present is sometimes offered -to the bride, and accepted of. - -On the morning of the wedding-day, some lady, who is above the ordinary -level, and who has been constituted mistress of the ceremonies for the -day, arrives to deck the bride in her splendid habiliments. She is -received by the clean white bride, previously prepared for her by a -ducking in the cold bath; and, retiring to the wardrobe chamber, she is -speedily metamorphosed from a “sonsy country lassie” into a downright -lady--at least, if muslins and ribbons are all that is requisite to -confer this distinction, she is entitled to it. The bridegroom, too, -at his apartments, has his own decorators, who deck him out most -splendidly with marriage favours and other ornaments suitable to the -occasion. - -Meanwhile, repeated vollies of musketry summon the guests to the -wedding. Mounted on his palfry, each “crony” shapes his course to the -house to which he was invited; while droves of youngsters flock along -the road, whose hearts at every shot are bounding with joy. On their -arrival, they are ushered into the breakfasting apartment, to partake -of the forenoon’s entertainment, consisting of good milk porridge and -cream, on which they fare very sumptuously. After this mid-day repast, -they are led to the ball-room, or dancing apartment, to share in its -enjoyment. Here the bride or bridegroom is seated at the upper end of -the ball-room, and receives the company, as they successively arrive, -with great pomp and ceremony; and the dancing and mirth is prolonged -for some hours. - -At the time appointed, the bridegroom selects a party of young men, -who are dispatched to summon the bride and her party to the marriage -ceremony. Their approach is announced by showers of musketry opened -upon them by some of the bride’s men, and returned, most of the guests -being furnished with pistols. The bride’s party accordingly prepare -themselves for the procession. The bride is mounted upon some _canny_ -charger behind an expert rider; drams go round to her health and -prosperity; and, the company being all in readiness, she leaves her -native residence for another, amidst the cheers and _feu-de-joie_ of -the assembly. Marching to the sound of the inspiring bagpipes, and -the discharge of fire-arms, the bride’s party proceed to the place -appointed for the marriage. The bridegroom’s party follow at some -little distance; and both arrived at the appointed place of rendezvous, -the bridegroom’s party stand in the rear till the bride’s party enter -the meeting-house, agreeably to the rules of precedence, which on this -occasion are decidedly in favour of the bride in all the proceedings of -the day. - -Soon as the hymeneal knot is tied, the candidates for the honour of -wonning the kail, as they call it, drive off _pell mell_ for the -bridegroom’s house, horsemen and footmen promiscuously. Both parties, -now mingled together, proceed with multitudinous jovialty towards the -bridegroom’s, the scene of the future festivities of the night. A -volley of fire-arms announces their arrival; and the company assembled -at the door, to welcome the bride, assail her with a basket of the -bridal bread and cheese, the properties of which are well known. The -bridal pair are then seated at the upper end of the banquet, and the -guests are arrayed, according to their quality, around the far-extended -tables, formed of doors, chests, and cart bottoms, sustained by sturdy -supporters of wood or stone; and wooden beams, and deals for chairs, in -common form. The more plebeian part of the guests, freely disposed of -in the stables or byres, make themselves very comfortable with their -cheer. - -Shortly the waiters come round the circle, presenting each with a -spoon, which he must carefully return when done with it. The spoon -is followed with the hardly-contested kail. After this, a remove of -savoury broth is presently brought in; of which all having partaken, -the still more delicious “_hotch-potch_” succeeds. Then follow fowl of -every feather, and every beast and creeping thing-- - - “Hind and fore spalls of a sheep - Drew whittles frae ilk sheath; - Wi’ gravie a’ their beards did creep, - They kempit wi’ their teeth.” - -The dinner being over, the “shemit reel” is the next object of -attention. All the company assemble on the lawn with flambeaux, and -form into a circle. The bridal pair and their retinue then dance a -_sixsome reel_, each putting a piece of silver into the musician’s -hand. Those desirous may then succeed, and dance with the bride and -the two maids of honour, and are gratified at the commencement and -termination of each reel by the usual salutes. - -In the meantime, the stewards of the feast having removed the temporary -erections from the dancing apartments, the shemit reel being over, -the guests re-occupy their seats in the original order, and dancing -and mirth is again resumed. Tartan plaids, spreading in every corner, -invite the fair to take shelter in those most congenial to their -inclinations. The jovial smiling bowl, now reeking in a corner, allures -to its side its votaries--the circling glass adds additional stimulus -to the riotous spirit of the company. In short, pleasure presents -herself for courtship in all her luring forms. - -As the night advances, the company grows still more happy. The numerous -ills of the human lot, which at other times so much afflict them, now -cause them no concern; on the contrary, they are entirely full of its -pleasures. Hence, all the corners of the house, instead of declamations -against the infirmities of age, or the badness of the times, are full -of the happiest communications. Opportunities long sought for declaring -secret friendship have now occurred, and the warmth with which they -are expressed forcibly bespeak their fervency. Two patriarchs “had -long indulged the hope of seeing an honourable alliance betwixt -_their_ families. Both honest and respectable, the union of their -children would be a highly suitable match; and should such a desirable -event ever occur, there was a black stocking in secret, which would -spew on the occasion of the wedding.” In another, you may see two -hearty grey-beards, whose locked hands and contacting noddles show -the closeness of their friendship, relating to each other, with much -complacency, those tales of “_auld langsyne_” in which they themselves -acted so prominent a part. In another corner, the fond lover, with his -dearly beloved locked in his affectionate embrace, melting her heart -with his wooing strains; and in another, the vocal choir, whose throats -of steel vociferate their harmonious ditties on the gratified ears of -the company; while, on the top of a bed, or at the back of the door, -the juvenile part of the guests, assembled in tumultuous rabble, will -also join their voices in the general uproar. - -On the floor the dancers are beyond compare. Fixed with emulation -who shall _win the dance_, every nerve and muscle is put in active -exercise. The lads are gaining greater agility every successive reel; -while, in the language of the poet, - - “The lasses bab’d about the reel, - Gart a’ their hurdies wallop, - And swat like ponies when they speel - Up braes, or when they gallop.” - -This scene lasts for some hours, until the presence of day warns the -bride to prepare for the bedding. Wishing, if possible, to elude the -public gaze, she attempts to steal away privately, when, observed by -some vigilant eye, her departure is announced, and all push to the -bridal chamber. - -The door is instantly forced open, and the devoted bride, divested of -all her braws, and stripped nearly to the state of nature, is placed in -bed in presence of the whole company. Her left stocking is then flung, -and falls upon some individual, whose turn to the hymeneal altar will -be the next. The bridegroom, next led in, is as rapidly demolished, and -cosily stowed along-side of his darling. A bottle and glass being then -handed to the bridegroom, he rewards the friendliness of those who come -forward to offer their congratulations, with a flowing bumper. When the -numerous levée have severally paid their court, they retire, and leave -the young couple to repose. - -On returning to the grand scene of festivity, we shall find that the -aspect of the company there has suffered no small alteration during -our absence. Overpowered by the peculiar influence of the ardent -friendship which fills the elder branches of the company, those -boisterous expressions of esteem which recently occupied them so much, -have declined into the calmest complacency. Overcome by the most -unspeakable sensations, the tongue, which was lately so voluble, has -totally failed. Those legs, which but a few hours ago displayed the -greatest agility, have now refused their office; and the whole machine -is become perfectly unwieldy and unmanageable: - - “In their mawes there was na mank; - Upon the firms some snor’d; - Ithers frae aff the bunkers sank, - Wi’ een like collops scor’d.” - -Seated by the victorious bowl, the _Far Cuil_ is still engaged in his -musical vocation. With bow alternately above and below the strings, -he is earnestly employed at _Tullochgorum_, while cries for the same -spring, proceeding from the dancers on the floor, incessantly ring on -his ears. Insensible to time or measure, some of the young people still -wallop on the floor, and unabated clamour reigns throughout the house. - -Meanwhile, all the avenues leading from the town are thronged with -retiring guests “_careering_” on their way home; and the company is -ultimately reduced to the immediate friends and relations of the -young couple, who wait to offer their morning congratulations. When -the bridal pair are supposed to have reposed themselves sufficiently -long, they are warned to get up, to prepare for the breakfast and the -morning levée. On entering the grand breakfasting parlour, the whole -concourse of friends receive them with showers of compliments and -congratulations, accompanied by such gifts as may be convenient; and -yesterday’s scene of festivity is again renewed, and prolonged for the -day. - - - - -WAKES. - - “But turn to yonder cloister’d gloom, - Where pallid Sorrow leads the way, - To muse upon some hallow’d tomb, - Where Friendship’s dearest relics lie.” - - W. S. - - -Short and unstable are the joys of man!--How often does it happen that -such ardent scenes of pleasure as we have been just endeavouring to -describe are but like the gleam which precedes the storm--a prelude -to direful woe! Oft has the tender parent or loving child, who but -yesterday animated such a scene of festivity, to-day exhibited the most -desponding spectacle which human nature can witness. Those eyes, which -then sparkled at the _pibroch’s_ harmonious sounds, are now sealed for -ever; and his relations and friends are involved in grief more vehement -than their former joys. - -Prone to partake in his neighbour’s joys, the Highlander, on such -occasions as this, is equally ready to share in his sorrows, and will -not grudge to contribute his exertions, by night as well as by day, to -add to his comfort or consolation. On the last offices of friendship -being performed, the body is laid on a bed in that apartment of the -house most commodious and suitable for the company; and the neighbours -immediately collect in bands, to watch over the remains of departed -friendship. During the silent hours of midnight, the solemnity of the -occasion is heightened by the sound of sacred praise, and reading -of the blessed Gospel. Such are now the laudable employments which -have assumed the place of that revelry which formerly disgraced the -Highland wakes, when immoderate drinking, dancing, wanton levity, and -profane amusements, were the prominent features of such an assembly. -It is true, the moderate use of liquor and singing of songs are still -tolerated, but excess on these occasions is now unknown. On the -departure of every group, one of the friends in attendance conducts -them to the melancholy bier, when each generally testifies the ardour -of his friendship by shaking the hand, which now cannot feel his -proffered kindness, and retires full of those solemn reflections which -the scene is calculated to produce. - - - - -FUNERALS. - - “In some fond breast still lives the face, - Its wonted smile, the darling form, - Which awful death cannot efface, - However much it may deform.” - - W. S. - - -On the third day after the defunct’s decease, if the person occupied -no station above the ordinary level, the body will be led to its -destined abode. This sorrowful day is early distinguished by melancholy -arrangements. Verbal warnings having been previously circulated to the -male inhabitants of the district, large and timeous preparations are -necessary for their accommodation and entertainment. While the seating -of the apartments destined to receive the company occupies the men, -the arrangement of the entertainment occupies no less the attention of -the women. In the meanwhile, the relations and family of the deceased -attire themselves in the best mournings their circumstances can afford, -and prepare themselves for going through the duties of the day with -all possible fortitude and decency. The arrival of the wooden house -of death, and the deposition of its inhabitant, early call forth many -a sigh and tear at the parting which is about to take place. But the -closing of the coffin is deferred till the eve of removal. - -About twelve o’clock, the company, or, to speak more properly, the -guests, successively arrive in scattered groups, dressed in all the -variegated colours of the rainbow; and are received by some near -connection of the deceased, who conducts them to the place appointed -for their station. - -With becoming gravity they take their seats, condoling very feelingly -with the present friends on their lamentable loss, and carry on for a -while a conversation very suitable to the business which brought them -together. They are each served, on their arrival, with what is called -a dram of “_dry whisky_,” and some fit person is appointed to keep the -glass in active circulation. To him is also delegated a discretionary -power of imposing extra penalties on late comers, who must compensate -for their absence by drinking a double quantity on their arrival. - -Thus, all equally well plied with the enlivening glass, the solemn -aspect of the company is soon changed into a mixture of sorrow and joy. -The moralist, who so recently uttered such sage reflections upon the -shortness of life and its uncertainty, is transformed by some secret -influence into the sprightly wit, whose humorous jokes and repartees -continually agitate the risible powers of his audience. In short, the -house of mourning is rapidly changing into a house of mirth; and such -would be the opinion of any stranger who might visit the scene. - -As soon as he approaches the door of the _meeting-house_, his ears are -assailed with a confusion of sounds, which conveys to him the idea of -entering a house full of bees. Seated in double rows, extending from -one end of the house to the other, he finds it literally crammed, not -with bees, but Highlandmen of every age and condition. In each end of -the house he sees overflowing bowls, and walking to and fro, a host of -waiters, bearing the full and empty glasses of the company, followed by -others with bread and cheese, which are liberally distributed amongst -the guests. Being seated in the place befitting his rank or station, if -curiosity leads him to a closer examination of the complexion of his -company, he will not be a little amused at the diversity of feelings -and conversation distinguishing the individuals composing it. If the -visitor or stranger whom we have supposed is of a serious cast of -mind, and if he addresses himself to his elbow neighbour on the solemn -character of the occasion, and laments the pitiful state of the family -that may be thus deprived of their parent or provider--perhaps, if he -listens for a moment with counterfeited seriousness, the sprightly -sally of a rustic wit rings upon his ear, and a horse-laugh immediately -shows the spectator he has no great relish for his subject. If, again, -he addresses himself to one of a less jovial temperament, who has not -yet been so much affected by the general _infection_ upon the same -subject, he will perhaps acknowledge the justness of his observations -with a significant shake of the head, declaring at the same time the -poignancy of his sorrow for the deceased, who, “new peace to him, was -the best of souls.” But, at the same time, and in the same breath, he -will make a digression to the alarming depreciation of agricultural -produce, and the consequent inevitable ruin of poor farmers, if they -do not immediately get a reduction of the one-half of their rents; and -the concern he evinces for both matters makes it difficult to determine -which loss he considers the greater calamity. Listening to the various -topics of conversation discussed by the company in general, he will -find _seriousness_ form no part of it. Having already sufficiently -moralized on the _evils_ of life, they are now resolved to confine -themselves entirely to its _goods_. Death, low prices, and high rents, -have now given place to balls, feasts, and diversions. One group is -warmly engaged in scheming a “_dry or wet ball_;” another group is -warmly expatiating upon the good signs of the year, corroborated as -they are by the “_annual prognostic_;” and others are as warmly engaged -in recriminating each other for their notorious gallantries, and the -like; while a good spring, a good harvest, and ready sale to sheep and -cattle, are drunk by all with the greatest enthusiasm. All are become -suddenly acquainted with the proverb, “A pound of care will not pay -an ounce of debt;” and therefore they are determined to spend life in -friendship and good hopes. In obedience to this wholesome resolution, -each crony, as he gives his neighbour the hand, will also give him -the pipe or the “sneeshan mill,” and would be very sorry to see him -ill-used in a “_pley_,” or any such cause, without rendering him a -helping hand. - -As the drinking continues, the company become still more noisy. -Repetitions of toasts, the vacant laugh, and incoherent exclamation, -mingled with a few little oaths, are what perpetually burst upon the -ear; and the sequel of such unhallowed carousals exhibit but too -frequently a scene of the most improper levity.[T] - -Far different, however, are the feelings and conduct of those mournful -individuals who occupy another apartment, where the affectionate widow -or fatherless orphans are now assembled, to take the last and long -farewell of the relics of love. In deep dismay, behold the sorrowing -group bending over the dear remains, absorbed in frantic woe, bathing -with their tears unfeeling death, insensible to all their sorrows. - -When the weeping relatives have severally bade the corpse the last -adieu, by imparting the farewell kiss to the cold and pallid lip of -death, (which, nevertheless, is perhaps the sweetest we ever impart,) -the dearest form is for ever concealed from their view. - - “Long on the lip the kiss will dwell, - And on the ear the mournful sigh, - Which seal’d the last and fond farewell, - And forg’d a bond time can’t untie.” - -The necessary arrangements being effected, the coffin is brought forth, -surrounded by the bereaved friends, and bound on the _hanspecks_ on -some convenient supports at the door; and when time will no longer -permit the guests to indulge in their hilarity, an unwelcome summons -invites them to their duty. Issuing forth tumultuously, they surround -their charge; and all the riders being provided with their horses, the -signal for setting off is given. The female relations, according to the -custom of some countries, get the first lift; and the supports on which -the body was bound being carefully overturned, for some reason best -known to the wise men of the day, the multitudinous procession takes -the road. - -At this moment a scene presents itself to the cool spectator, wholly -without a parallel. The various habiliments of the company--riders and -pedestrians mingled together--the sound of the horses--and the united -clamour of the multitude--are altogether striking. At one time, the -expressions of mirth predominate; while, at others, the heart-rending -lamentations of the female relations of the defunct prevail, and in -their turn vibrate upon the ear. The women, at length unwillingly -disentangled from the body, return home with mournful wailing, and the -procession continues its course to its destination. Too many of the -company are sometimes more intent upon their own pleasures than mindful -of their business, roving about in scattered parties; while others -exhibit, in their attention, a pattern of correctness and decorum; -and, warmly enumerating the good qualities of the deceased, descant on -the happy change he has made--at the same time walking with a careful -step, lest an unfortunate fall beneath the body should doom themselves -to share his enviable lot.[U] - -At length, arrived at the mansions of the dead, the body is -lowered into its drear abode, amidst the sorrowing of some and the -insensibility of others. The slate planted on the grave terminates its -earthly career, and consigns it for ever to the land of forgetfulness. - - “Yet, though consign’d to death’s dark shade, - And ever hid from mortal view, - Still constant Love, by Fancy led, - The dreary scene will oft review.” - - -The End. - - - J. S. WITHERDEN, Lithographic and Letterpress Printer, - Clifford’s Inn Passage, Fleet Street. - - - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[A] Nothing can appear more surprising to the refined reader, than that -any human being, possessing the rational faculties of human nature, -could for a moment entertain a notion so preposterous as that a ghost, -which conveys the idea of an immortal spirit, could be killed, or -rather annihilated, by an arrow, dirk, or sixpence. It was, however, -the opinion of the darker ages, that such an exploit as killing a ghost -was perfectly practicable. A spirit was supposed to be material in -its nature, quite susceptible of mortal pain, and liable to death or -annihilation from the weapons of man. Such an opinion is repeatedly -expressed in several passages of the Poems of Ossian, and in the -doctrine of the _Seanachy_, down to the present day. - -[B] John-o’-Groat’s House, Caithness. - -[C] We are informed that there is a woman still living in the parish -of Abernethy, on whom this experiment was tried. She was found one -night, rather unaccountably, as it appeared to her wise parents, on -the outside of a window. No doubt, therefore, remained, but that she -had been stolen by the fairies, and a stock left as her substitute. It -was, therefore, unanimously resolved to carry the stock to the junction -of the shires of Inverness, Moray, and Banff, where the poor child was -left for a night to enjoy the pleasures of solitude. Being well rolled -up in a comfortable blanket, she sustained no material injury from -this monstrous exposure, and, accordingly, the result proved highly -satisfactory to her enlightened guardians. - -[D] Mine is yours, and yours is mine. - -[E] The goats are supposed to be upon a very good understanding with -the fairies, and possessed of more cunning and knowledge than their -appearance bespeaks. - -[F] Witchcraft. - -[G] A Witch. - -[H] The present Lord Murray is supposed to have been the gentleman who -discovered to Mr. Willox this convenient piece of information regarding -the original nature and use of the _stone_. - -[I] North. - -Since the first publication of this book, the renowned Mr. Mac Grigor -Willox has been laid with his fathers, leaving the stone and bridle -to his son and daughter, as heirlooms for the benefit of posterity. -The goodman died full of years, if not full of any thing else which is -coveted by the people of this world. But by his death it is believed -that the spell which so long bound the northern community to his stone -and bridle has been broken; and it is thought that those precious -relics, which were scarcely “honestly come by,” may be returned to the -kelpie and the mermaid, their original owners, should they or their -representatives be disposed to claim restitution of them. - -The highly curious and interesting collection of Criminal Trials, -recently published by Robert Pitcairn, Esq., affords ample particulars -of the _modus operandi_ by which the workers of Satan in human shape -accomplished their nefarious ends. The reader is particularly referred -to the cases of those witches of quality, Lady Glammis and Lady Munro -of Fowlis, and to the assistant hags of the latter, consisting of -Laskie Loncart, Christy Ross, and others, all highly deserving of -_record_. But Isobel Gowdie, the head witch of Auldearn, who, on her -own confession, was condemned to be “worried and burned at a stake” -in 1662, is the standard authority to refer to on these subjects. It -appears that in those days Auldearn, near Nairn, now the locality of -a virtuous community, was the great nursery that supplied Satan with -_cadets_ for his “Black Watch;” for so numerous were the members of -the craft at that place, according to Isobel Gowdie, that on occasions -of public inspection by the sovereign of the order, they were counted -or told off in _squads_ or “_covines_” (as Isobel called them), to -each of which were appointed two _adjutants_ or _drill-sergeants_, -the brigade-major being a “_well-favoured_” wench of the name of -“_Nannie_,” who occupied the seat of honour at Satan’s _carousals_. On -such occasions of assembly, they dug up graves, possessed themselves -of unchristened infants, using their joints and members in their -incantations. They metamorphosed themselves into the forms of crows, -cats, hares, &c., and played all manners of cantrips on live stock and -farm produce. But it not unfrequently happened that those _amusements_ -turned out but indifferent _sport_ to some of the _probationers_ -concerned,--several worthies, and Isobel Gowdie among the rest, having -had unwittingly become the subjects of the _chase_, at the feet and -mouths of the greyhounds of the day, who have “no respect of persons,” -or the characters in which they enacted their parts. And it would also -appear that the cadets in this Royal Military College formed any thing -but an harmonious society--the Master General, and his _Sappers_ and -_Miners_, often quarrelling about very minor matters, such as titles of -distinction; in the course of which the _master_ often received many -_black names_, and the apprentices many _stripes_. But it would appear -that “one Margaret Wilson in Auldearn” was nearly match for him; for -Isobel Gowdie declares she used to “_bell the cat_” with him stoutly; -“defending herself finely” from the _wool-cards_ and such other sharp -instruments of punishment as he made use of on those occasions. “It was -no doubt one of those ancient _covines_ that encountered Macbeth (not -far from the College) on his way to Forres.” - -But since the days of Isobel Gowdie, Maggy Wilson, Bessy Hay, and Co, -the _union_ has been repealed, without the aid of any great agitator; -for ever since their day, the people in this parish have died a natural -death. But it is still mooted, “_sotto voce_,” that there are still -some roots of the old tree scattered over neighbouring territories -not far from the capital of the Highlands, who have been allowed to -live quite as long as they deserved. And one Isabella Hay, probably -a descendant of her namesake of Auldearn, has for many years levied -_blackmail_ on the inhabitants of Inverness, until having, by her imps, -in autumn 1839, laid her enchantments on the goods and chattels of some -people in Inverness (the author among the number), she was sentenced -in September, 1839, by the Circuit Court of Justiciary--not to the -_stake_, but to a punishment which, however, has served to put an end -to her sorceries. - -Among recent discoveries of the author as charms, or rather -counter-charms against witchcraft, it deserves to be noticed, that if -a knot tied against the sun be made on the tail of a quadruped, it -is secure against the spells of necromancy. It is, or had been till -recently, also a common practice to put a portion of the medicinal -herb or plant called “_saffron_” under the churn while the process -of churning the cream is undergoing, which will prevent the _craft_ -from taking the substance by means of their magical _rope_, by the -operations of which they were wont to extract from a piece of wood -in their own dwellings the soul and substance of what might belong -to parties afar off, and who, without such precaution, might churn -away till doomsday without the appearance of the yellow treasure. And -moistening the mouth of a calf with the extract of the said vegetable, -and setting it to suck a cow whose milk might go to the said _rope_, -will instantly restore it to the proper owner. - -It need scarcely be added, in conclusion, that _scoring_ a witch -crosswise on the forehead, or above her breath, divests her of -all supernatural power. But the laws are now so strong, even at -John-o’-Groat’s house, that the processes of trial by _swimming_ and -_scoring_ cannot now be resorted to, except in _extreme_ cases where -the _subjects_ have not the benefit of _law_ or _clergy_. On a very -recent occasion, however, in Ross-shire, a worthy fisher, whose nets -suffered no small prejudice from the machinations of a neighbour, but -no friend, performed on her, much against her consent, the operation -of _scoring_ on the forehead, for which the sheriff of Ross, in August -1845, sentenced him to undergo a short imprisonment in the gaol of Tain. - -[J] Switched cream. - -[K] The game called “_Clodhan_,” or Clod, is a favourite amusement -with the youth in the Highlands. One of the company goes round the -circle with a clod, or some other article, putting his hand into each -person’s lap or hand, and leaves the clod with one of the number. The -whole circle are then desired to guess the person who possesses the -clod, (he guessing like the rest to prevent suspicion,) when all those -who err are subjected to a small penalty, which shall be afterwards -determined by an appointed judge; and in the meantime, he must deliver -some pledge to enforce his compliance with the arbiter’s decision. When -a sufficient number of pledges are obtained, judgment is pronounced -against their owners, who must redeem them, by doing various little -penances, some of which are sufficiently ludicrous. - -The bag is another popular juvenile amusement. One pops his head into a -bag, holding his hand spread on his back, and the palm uppermost. One -of the company, in rotation, strikes his hand, not unfrequently with -all his might, upon that of the person in the bag, who is desired to -guess who struck him last. If his guessing proves correct, the last -striker then puts his head in the bag in his turn. - -[L] Half-boiled sowans. - -[M] “A black Christmas makes a fat kirk-yard.” A windy Christmas and a -calm Candlemas, or new year, are signs of a good year. - -[N] The term _Candlemas_ is applied to the _New Year_ in the Highlands. -The origin of the term arose from some old religious ceremonies -performed on this occasion by candle-light. - -[O] We are totally unable to account for the origin of this strange -piece of superstition. It is unnecessary to remark, that the object -of this delusion is nothing but a passing cloud, which the perverted -imagination of the original Highlander shapes into the form of a bull. -There is something very ominous as to the art or direction in which the -bull rises or falls--we believe it to be prognostic of its being a good -or bad year. - -[P] It is believed that this extraordinary entertainment is now -administered in no part of the Highlands, except in Strathdown and its -immediate neighbourhood. In that district, however, the inhabitants -generally attend to it, merely, it is believed, from the influence -of inveterate custom, and the author in his day had his share of the -antidote, though it is doubtful whether those rites are now observed in -his native district. - -[Q] The literal expressions used in the salutation applicable to this -day in the Gaelic language the writer could never perfectly comprehend. -The literal translation of the words are, (_Mu nasc choil orst_,) “My -Candlemas bond upon you.” The real meaning of the words, however, is, -“You owe me a New-Year’s gift;” and it is a point of great emulation -who will salute the other first--the one who does so being considered -entitled to a gift from the person so saluted. - -[R] Beltane is derived from two Gaelic words conjoined: “_Paletein_,” -signifying Pale’s fire, and not _Baal’s fire_, as some suppose. The -strange relic of Pagan idolatry which gave rise to this feast was no -doubt introduced into these countries, like many others of our more -prominent superstitions, by the Druids. Pales (of whom we read in the -heathenish mythologies) was the goddess of shepherds, and protectress -of flocks. Her feast was always celebrated in the month of April, on -which occasion no victim was killed, and nothing was offered but the -fruits of the earth. The shepherds purified their flocks with the -smoke of sulphur, juniper, boxwood, rosemary, &c. They then made a -large fire, round which they danced, and offered to the goddess milk, -cheese, eggs, &c., holding their faces towards the east, and uttering -ejaculations peculiar to the occasion. Those interesting relics of the -religious opinions of our ancestors, until of late, remained pretty -entire in some parts of the Highlands. But they have now, however, -declined into those childish ceremonies above described. - -[S] Mr. Pennant, in his Tour, vol. i. p. 111, notices the ceremony of -the Bolteen or Beltane--the cakes baken with scrupulous attention to -rites and forms, and dedicated to birds of prey, &c., or the being -whose agents they were, to propitiate them to spare the lives of -themselves and flocks. Within the last twenty or thirty years these -observances have almost wholly disappeared. But the author himself is -old enough to have reeled his bannock, and dived, by the foregoing -spells, into the secrets of futurity. - -[T] Let not the Highland reader be led to view this description of a -Highland funeral as casting any reflection on his moral or religious -character. Whatever ill-timed levity he may manifest on such an -occasion, the blame must be ascribed, not to him, but to that _evil -spirit_, the usquebaugh, the real cause of it. We cannot, however, help -regretting, that either the ill-judged hospitality of the entertainer, -or his own social habits, should expose him on this particular occasion -to the unruly influence of his demoralising countryman; and we are glad -to add, that of late years much improvement has been effected in the -conduct of Highland funerals--sobriety and decorum being much more the -order of the day. - -[U] A fall sustained by a person, while supporting the body, is ominous -of the person’s speedy death. It may also be remarked, that it is -considered very imprudent to look at a passing funeral from the door of -a house, or from the window having a _stone lintel_. - - - - -TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: - - - Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. - - Superscripted text is preceded by a carat character: M^cGLASHAN. - - Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. - - Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized. - - Archaic or variant spelling has been retained. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS AND -FESTIVE AMUSEMENTS OF THE HIGHLANDERS OF SCOTLAND *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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