St. Just people do not seem to have had one of long standing, but they
are favoured with two at present.
Many called them “Santust Fuggans,” and others “Red-tailed Drones.” The
former is given them from the heavy-cakes (fuggan) which they take to
“ball” for a stay-stomach; and the latter from their red working dress
dyed with tin-stuff.
One may remark that what we country folks call “drones” are large wild
bees with orange-coloured or red tails, and never the large male bees
of the hive. When a slice of meat is baked on a “fuggan” it then
becomes a “hoggan.”
Perhaps these peculiar words are old Cornish. A haws is also called a
“hoggan,” but that may be from the Saxon.
It is uncertain how Morvah folks acquired the sobriquet of
“Chick-chacks.” It is very general: consequently one may suppose it to
be of ancient date. Some say it was given because the gabble of old
Morvah people sounded like the chatter of birds commonly called
Chick-chacks, from their cry or note. Morvah Devils is also a common
nickname.