HOBGOBLINS, MONSTERS, GIANTS, MERMAIDS, APPARITIONS, &C.
THE distinction between Fairies proper and Hobgoblins seems to be
mainly that the former are nimble, merry, and clever, and the latter
heavy, plodding, and stupid. The characteristics of the two creatures
called, in the Isle of Man, the _Phynnodderee_ and the _Glashtin_,
or _Glashan_, are certainly of the lower, rather than of the higher,
class. For, as will be seen from the tales given concerning them, they
combine the attributes of the Scotch Brownie, and of the Scandinavian
Troll, though the _Glashtin_ seems to be a water-horse also. (see p.
54.) The Brownies are sturdy Fairies, who, if well fed and kindly
treated, will do a great deal of work; and the Trolls are beings who
unite preterhuman strength with demoniac malice. They are bigger
and stronger than men, with fiendish tempers, and are of deformed
and hideous appearance. They dwell in rocks and caverns. In their
intercourse with men they are usually cruel and mischievous, and take
vengeance if they have been slighted or insulted. But sometimes they
can be thankful and reward such kindnesses as they may have received
from men, and even do them services of their own accord. Whoever is
fortunate enough to do a Troll a service is sure to be lucky for
the rest of his life. They know things man does not, such as the
whereabouts of hidden treasure, though, generally speaking, they are
stupid and devoid of reasoning powers. They hate Christianity and the
sound of church bells, so much so, that any one pursued by a Troll can
get rid of him by ringing the church bells. Trolls were probably once
well-known by name in Man, as they still survive in place-names such as
Trollaby.
The _Phynnodderee_ is defined by Cregeen[43] as a “satyr”, and he
quotes the following text to show that his name is used in the Manx
Bible in that sense:—_Hig beishtyn oaldey yn aasagh dy cheilley marish
beishtyn oaldey yn ellan, as nee yn phynnodderree gyllagh da e heshey_:
“The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of
the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow” (Isaiah 34, 14). The
popular idea of the _Phynnodderee_ is that he is a fallen Fairy, and
that in appearance he is something between a man and a beast, being
covered with black shaggy hair and having fiery eyes. Many stories are
related by the Manx peasants of his prodigious strength. He may be
compared with the _Gruagach_, a creature about whom Campbell writes as
follows:—“The _Gruagach_ was supposed to be a Druid or Magician who had
fallen from his high estate, and had become a strange hairy creature.”
The following story is told about one of these:—“The small island of
Inch, near Easdale, is inhabited by a brownie, which has followed the
MacDougalls of Ardincaple for ages, and takes a great interest in them.
He takes care of their cattle in that island night and day, unless
the dairy-maid, when there in summer with the milk cattle, neglects
to leave warm milk for him at night in a knocking-stone in the cave,
where she and the herd live during their stay in the island. Should
this perquisite be for a night forgot, they will be sure in the morning
to find one of the cattle fallen over the rocks with which the place
abounds. It is a question whether the brownie has not a friend with
whom he shares the contents of the stone, which will, I daresay, hold
from two to three Scotch pints.”
The following account is given of the _Phynnodderee_ in prose and
verse by Mrs. E. S. Craven Green:—“Once upon a day, an Elfin Knight
fell in love with one of the daughters of Mann, as she sat in her
bowery home beneath the blue tree of Glen Aldyn. Offering to abandon
the Fairies for a domestic life with this sweet nymph, and absenting
himself from Fairy-Court during the celebration of the ‘Rehollys vooar
yn ouyr,’ or royal high harvest festival (kept by the Fairies with
dancing in the merry Glen Rushen), he so offended the little people
that the Elfin King expelled him from Fairy Hall, and cursed him with
an undying existence on the Manx mountains in the form of a satyr,—thus
metamorphosed he became a strange, sad, solitary wanderer, known as the
Phynnodderee. We compassionate his misfortune, as it fell upon him in
consequence of his true love for a Manx maiden.”
“His was the wizard hand that toil’d,
At midnight’s witching hour;
That gather’d the sheep from the coming storm
Ere the shepherd saw it lower.
Yet asked no fee save a scatter’d sheaf
From the peasants’ garner’d hoard,
Or cream-bowl kissed by a virgin lip
To be left on the household board.”
The _Glashtin_ or _Glashan_ is defined by Cregeen[44] as “a goblin, a
sprite.” The popular idea of him is that he is a hairy goblin or sprite
of somewhat similar characteristics to the _Phynnodderee_. He is said
to frequent lonely spots, and is useful to man, or otherwise, as the
caprice of the moment leads him. In addition to the above, we have
Monsters called _Tarroo-Ushtey_, or “Water-Bull”, and _Cabbyl-Ushtey_,
or “water-horse”, sometimes called the _Glashtin_. These would seem to
be analogous to the Irish _Phooka_, who is said to appear sometimes as
a bull and sometimes as a horse, and to the Scandinavian _Nykr_, or
_Vatna-Hestr_, “river-sprite” or “water-horse.” The _Vatna-Hestr_ is
supposed to live either in salt or fresh water, and to associate with
ordinary cattle. In 1859 it was reported that an animal of this kind
was to be seen in a field near Ballure Glen, and hundreds of people
left Ramsey in order to catch a sight of it, but they were doomed to
disappointment. The people about Glen Meay believed that the glen below
the waterfall was haunted by the spirit of a man who one day met the
_Glashtin_, or _Cabbyl-Ushtey_, and, thinking it was an ordinary horse,
got upon its back, when it ran off and disappeared in the sea, and the
rider was drowned.
Campbell says that in the Western Highlands and Islands, and the Isle
of Man, there is a whole series of tales which relate to water-horses,
and which show that people still firmly believe in their existence. He
proceeds: “In Sutherland and elsewhere many believe that they have seen
these fancied animals. I have been told of English sportsmen who went
in pursuit of them, so circumstantial were the accounts of those who
believed they had seen them. The witnesses are so numerous, and their
testimony agrees so well that there must be some old deeply-rooted
Celtic belief which clothes every dark object with the dreaded form of
the _each uisge_.... The bay or grey horse grazes at the lake-side, and
when he is mounted, rushes into the loch and devours his rider. His
back lengthens to suit any number; men’s hands stick to his skin; he
is harnessed to a plough, and drags the team and the plough into the
loch, and tears the horses to bits; he is killed and nothing remains
but a pool of water; he falls in love with a lady, and when he appears
as a man and lays his head on her knee to be dressed, the frightened
lady finds him out by the sand in his hair ... and when he sleeps she
makes her escape. He appears as an old woman, and is put to bed with
a bevy of damsels in a mountain shealing, and he sucks the blood of
all, save one, who escapes over a burn, which, water-horse as he is,
he dare not cross.... These tales and beliefs have led me to think
that the old Celts must have had a destroying water-god, to whom the
horse was sacred, or who had the form of a horse.” He also says that
the water-bull is known all over the islands. “There are numerous lakes
where the water-bulls are supposed to exist, and their progeny are
supposed to be easily known by their short ears. When the water-bull
appears in a story he is generally represented as friendly to man.”
We have also Spirits or Fiends, who are for the most part of evil and
malicious natures, such as the _Buggane_, the famous _Moddey Dhoo_, or
black dog, the _Cughtagh_, who was a spirit whose abode was in caves
by the sea, and whose voice was the soughing of the wavelets, and the
_Keimagh_ who haunted the Churchyard stiles (_Keim_) and guarded the
graves. _Giants_, who performed superhuman feats, abound, as in all
Celtic lands. The _Mermaid_, too, was well-known. She had no special
name in Manx, being called simply _Ben-varry_, or “Woman of the sea”,
and had the same form, half fish, half woman, as represented in the
tales of other countries. She was generally of an affectionate and
gentle disposition, though terrible when angered, and she was greatly
given to falling in love with young men. Of her mate, the _Merman_,
_Dooiney-varrey_, “Man of the sea”, or _Phollinagh_, as he is variously
called, less is known. Such are the names of the various dwellers in
Fairy-land, most of whose characteristics will be illustrated by the
following stories:—
HOBGOBLINS.
THE PHYNNODDEREE.
A gentleman having resolved to build a large house and offices on his
property, a little above the base of Snafield Mountain, at a place
called Tholt-e-will, caused the requisite quantity of stones to be
quarried on the beach, but one immense block of white stone, which
he was very desirous to have for a particular part of the intended
building, could not be moved from the spot, resisted the united
strength of all the men in the parish. To the utter astonishment,
however, of all, not only this rock, but likewise the whole of the
quarried stones, consisting of more than an hundred cart-loads, were
in one night conveyed from the shore to the site of the intended
onstead by the indefatigable _Phynnodderee_, and, in confirmation of
this wonderful feat, the white stone is yet pointed out to the curious
visitor.
The gentleman for whom this very acceptable piece of work was
performed, wishing to remunerate the naked _Phynnodderee_, caused a few
articles of clothing to be laid down for him in his usual haunt. The
hairy one, on perceiving the habiliments, lifted them up one by one,
thus expressing his feelings in Manx:
“Bayrn da’n chione, dy doogh da’n chione,
Cooat da’n dreeym, dy doogh da’n dreeym,
Breechyn da’n toin, dy doogh da’n toin,
Agh my she lhiat ooilley, shoh cha nee lhiat Glen reagh Rushen.”
“Cap for the head, alas! poor head,
Coat for the back, alas! poor back,
Breeches for the breech, alas! poor breech,
If these be all thine, thine cannot be the merry Glen of Rushen.”
Having repeated these words, he departed with a melancholy wail, and now
“You may hear his voice on the desert hill
When the mountain winds have power;
’Tis a wild lament for his buried love,
And his long-lost Fairy Bower.”
Many of the old people lament the disappearance of the _Phynnodderee_,
for they say, “There has not been a merry world since he lost his
ground.”
The _Phynnodderee_ also cut down and gathered meadow grass, which would
have been injured if allowed to remain exposed to the coming storm.
On one occasion a farmer having expressed his displeasure with the
Phynnodderee for not having cut his grass close enough to the ground,
the hairy one in the following year allowed the dissatisfied farmer to
cut it down himself, but went after him stubbing up the roots so fast
that it was with difficulty the farmer escaped having his legs cut
off by the angry sprite. For several years afterwards no person could
be found to mow the meadow, until a fearless soldier from one of the
garrisons at length undertook the task. He commenced in the centre of
the field, and by cutting round as if on the edge of a circle, keeping
one eye on the progress of the _yiarn foldyragh_, or scythe, while the
other
Was turned round with prudent care
Lest Phynnodderee catched him unaware.
He succeeded in finishing his task unmolested. This field, situate in
the parish of Marown, hard by the ruins of the old Church of Saint
Trinian’s, is, from the circumstance just related, still called _yn
lheeanee rhunt_, or the Round Meadow.—_Train._
He is said to have borrowed a sickle and to have cut down two fields
of corn in the parish of Bride in the course of one night. Among the
many stories of his having brought sheep home for his farmer friends,
there is an often told one of his having, on one occasion, brought home
a hare among the rest, and of his having explained that the _loghtan
beg_, or “little native sheep” (_i.e._, the hare) had given him more
trouble than all the rest, as it made him run three times round
Snaefell before he caught it.—_Oral._
In the following curious old song the doings of the _Phynnodderee_ are
thus commemorated:—
The Phynodderee went to the meadow
To lift the dew at gray cock-crow,
The maiden-hair and the cattle-herb,
He stamped them under both his feet.
He was stretching out on the ground of the meadow,
He threw the grass on the left-hand,
He caused us to wonder last year,
And this year he is far better.
He was stretching out on the ground of the meadow,
Cutting the herbs in bloom,
The bog-bane herb in the rushy curragh,
As he went out it was all shaking.
The scythe he had was cutting everything,
Skinning the meadow to the sods,
And, if a leaf were left standing,
He stamped it down with his heels.
(The same in Manx.)
Yn Phynnodderree hie dy’n lheeanee,
Dy hroggal druight y vadran glass,
Luss-y-voidyn as luss-yn-ollee
V’eh dy stampey fo e ghaa chass.
V’eh sheeney magh er laare yn lheeanee,
Cheaayn faiyr er y cheu chiare,
Hug y yindys orrin nuirree,
As t’eh ny bleeaney foddey share.
V’eh sheeney magh er laare yn lheeanee,
Ghiarey yn lussey ayns y vlaa,
Lubber-lub ayns y curragh shuinagh,
Myr v’eh goll va ooilley craa.
Yn yiarn va echey y ghiarey ooilley,
Scryssey yn lheeanee rise y foaidyn,
As, my va rybbag faagit shassoo,
V’eh cur stampey lesh e voydyn.
In the same song the vengeance of the water-bull and the _Glashtin_ is
invoked upon some person unknown:—
What if the spotted water-bull,
And the Glashtin take thee,
And the Phynnodderee of the glen, waddling
To throw thee like a bolster against the wall?
Cred dy jinnagh yn tarroo-ushtey spottagh,
As yn Ghlashtin oo y ghoaill,
As yn Phynnodderee ny glionney, sprangagh
Clooisagh y yannoo jeed noi’n voal.
As an instance of the strength of the Phynnodderee, it was stated
he met a blacksmith one night as he was going from his shop, and on
accosting him, and requesting to shake hands, the blacksmith gave him
hold of the iron sock of a plough which he happened to have with him,
and the strange visitor instantly squeezed it just as though it were a
piece of clay.
THE GLASHTIN, OR GLASHAN.
With regard to this creature, Campbell relates the following, which was
told him by a woman who lived near the Calf of Man, who said:—
“Well, you see, in the ould times they used to be keeping the sheep in
the folds, and one night an ould man forgot to put them in, and he sent
out his son, and he came back and said the sheep were all folded, but
there was a year-old lamb, _oasht_, playing the mischief with them,
and that was the Glashan. You see they were very strong, and when they
wanted a stack threshed, though it was a whole stack, the Glashan would
have it threshed for them in one night. And they were running after the
women. There was one of them once caught a girl, and had a hould of
her by the dress, and he sat down and he fell asleep, and then she cut
away all the dress, you see, round about, this way, and left it in his
fist, and ran away; and when he awoke, he threw what he had over his
shoulder, this way, and he said something in Manx. Well, you see, one
night the ould fellow sent all the women to bed, and he put on a cap
and a woman’s dress, and he sat down by the fire, and he began to spin;
and the young Glashans they came in, and they began saying something in
Manx that means ‘Are you turning the wheel? are you trying the reel?’
Well the ould Glashan he was outside, and he knew better than the young
ones; he knew it was the ould fellow himself, and he was telling them,
but they did not mind him, and so the ould man threw a lot of hot
turf, you see it was the turf they burned then, over them, and burned
them; and the old one said (something in Manx). You’ll not understand
that now?” “Yes I do, pretty nearly.” “Ah, well, and the Glashans went
away, and never came back any more.” “Have you many stories like that,
guid wife?” “Ah!” said she, “there were plenty of people that could
tell those stories once. When I was a little girl I used to hear them
telling them in Manx over the fire at night; but people is so changed
with pride now that they care for nothing.”
In commenting on the _Glashan_ story, he says “Now, here is a story
which is all over the Highlands in various shapes. Sometimes it is a
Brollichan, son of the Fuath, or a young water-horse transformed into
the likeness of a man, which attacks a lonely woman and gets burned or
scalded, and goes away to his friends outside.... The Glashan, as I
found out afterwards, frequented neighbouring farms till within a very
late period.”
MONSTERS.
THE WATER-BULL; OR, TARROO-USHTEY.
Among the prodigies of Nature, I know none which more justly may be
called so, at least, of those which I am convinced of the truth of,
than that of the Water-Bull, an amphibious creature which takes its
name from the so great resemblance it has of that beast, that many of
the people, having seen him in a field, have not distinguished him
from one of the more natural species. A neighbour of mine, who kept
cattle, had his fields very much infested with this animal, by which
he had lost several cows; he, therefore, placed a man continually to
watch, who bringing him word that a strange bull was among the cows, he
doubted not but it was the Water-Bull; and having called a good number
of lusty men to his assistance, who were all armed with great poles,
pitch forks, and other weapons proper to defend themselves, and be the
death of this dangerous enemy, they went to the place where they were
told he was, and ran altogether at him; but he was too nimble for their
pursuit; and after tiring them over mountains and rocks, and a great
space of stony ground, he took a river, and avoided any further chase
by diving down into it, though every now and then he would show his
head above water, as if to mock their skill.—_Waldron._
Another account of the _Tarroo-Ushtey_ was obtained more than a hundred
years later:—
A few years ago, the farmer of Slieu Mayll, in the Parish of Onchan,
was, on a Sunday evening, returning home from a place of worship, when
at the _garee_ of Slegaby, a wild looking animal, with large eyes,
sparkling like fire, crossed the road before him and went flapping
away. This he knew to be a _Tarroo-Ushtey_, for his father had seen
one at nearly the same place. Over the back of this animal he broke
his walking stick—so lazy was it to get out of his way. This man’s
brother had also seen a _Tarroo-Ushtey_, at Lhanjaghyn, in the same
neighbourhood. When proceeding to the field, very early one morning in
the month of June, to let the cattle out to feed before the heat of
the day came on, he saw a Water-Bull standing outside the fold. When
the bull that was within with the cattle, perceived him, he instantly
broke through the fence and ran at him, roaring and tearing up the
ground with his feet; but the _Tarroo-Ushtey_ scampered away, seeming
quite unconcerned, and leaping over an adjoining precipice, plunged
into deep water, and after swimming about a little, evidently amusing
himself, he gave a loud bellow and disappeared.—_Train._
This monster was also to be met with, according to Macculloch’s
_Description of the Western Isles_, in Loch Awe and Loch Rannoch.
Campbell, in his tales of the _West Highlands_, says, “There are
numerous lakes where Water-Bulls are supposed to exist, and their
progeny are supposed to be easily known by their short ears. He is
generally represented as friendly to man. His name in Skye is _tarbh
eithre_.”
THE BUGGANE OF ST. TRINIAN’S
Was the most notorious of these fiends in Man. The following story
is told of him:—This religious edifice (St. Trinian’s) is said to
have been erected in fulfilment of a vow made by a person when in a
hurricane at sea, but, according to tradition, it was never finished.
This was through the malice of a mischievous _Buggane_, or evil
spirit, who, for want of better employment, amused himself with
tossing the roof to the ground, as often as it was on the eve of being
finished, accompanying his achievement with a loud fiendish laugh of
satisfaction. The only attempt to counteract this singular propensity
of the evil one, which tradition has conveyed to us, was made by
Timothy, a tailor of great pretensions to sanctity of character. On the
occasion alluded to, the roof of St. Trinian’s Church was, as usual,
nearly finished, when the valorous tailor undertook to make a pair of
breeches under it, before the Buggane could commence his old trick. He
accordingly seated himself in the chancel, and began to work in great
haste; but ere he had completed his job, the head of the frightful
Buggane rose out of the ground before him, and addressed him thus—“Do
you see my great head, large eyes, and long teeth?” “Hee! Hee!” that
is, “Yes! yes!” replied the tailor, at the same time stitching with all
his might, and without raising his eyes from his work. The Buggane,
still rising slowly out of the ground, cried in a more angry voice
than before, “Do you see my great body, large hands, and long nails?”
“Hee! Hee!” rejoined Tim, as before, but continuing to _pull out_ with
all his strength. The Buggane having now risen wholly from the ground,
inquired in a terrified voice, “Do you see my great limbs, large feet,
and long ——?” but ere he could utter the last word, the tailor put the
finishing stitch into the breeches, and jumped out of the Church, just
as the roof fell in with a crash. The fiendish laugh of the Buggane
arose behind him, as he bounded off in a flight, to which terror lent
its utmost speed. Looking behind, he saw the frightful spectacle close
upon his heels, with extended jaws, as if to swallow him alive. To
escape its fury Timothy leaped into consecrated ground, where, happily,
the Buggane had not power to follow; but, as if determined to punish
him for his temerity, the angry sprite lifted its great head from its
body, and with great force pitched it to the feet of the tailor, where
it exploded like a bomb shell. Wonderful to relate, the adventurous
Timothy was unscathed; but the Church of St. Trinian remained without a
roof.—_Train._
Another _Buggane_ is said to haunt the precipitous mountain of
_Slieauwhallian_, whence his screams are sometimes heard; but a third
fiend, of similar origin, who was formerly supposed to frequent the
_Gob-ny-scuit_, “mouth of the spout”, a small waterfall, in the Parish
of Maughold, has disappeared. Terrible wailings were heard at times
from this unfortunate spirit. Even the great fairy doctor of Ballawhane
(Teare) had failed to lay it. But about 50 years ago a Manxman of a
scientific and inquiring mind noticed on examining the rock, over which
the water fell, that these peculiar noises proceeded from it only when
the wind was blowing from a certain point. Further examination showed a
narrow cleft in the rock below the fall through which the wind blew and
caused the sound. Thus was the _Buggane_ disposed of!—Oral.
LEGEND OF THE BLACK DOG, MODDEY DOO.
Whence! and what art thou?—_Milton._
Through one of the old churches in Peel Castle, there was formerly
a passage to the apartment belonging to the Captain of the Guard,
but it is now closed up. An apparition, called in the Manx language,
“The Mauthe Doo”, in the shape of a large black spaniel with curled
shaggy hair, was used to haunt Peel Castle; and has been frequently
seen in every room, but particularly in the Guard Chamber, where, as
soon as candles were lighted, it came and lay down before the fire
in the presence of all the soldiers, who at length, by being so much
accustomed to the sight of it, lost great part of the terror they were
seized with at its first appearance. They still, however, retained a
certain awe, as believing it was an evil spirit, which only waited
permission to do them hurt, and for that reason forbore swearing and
all profane discourse while in its company. But though they endured
the shock of such a guest when altogether in a body, none cared to be
left alone with it. It being the custom, therefore, for one of the
soldiers to lock the gates of the Castle at a certain hour, and carry
the keys to the Captain, to whose apartment, as I said before, the
way led through a church, they agreed among themselves, that whoever
was to succeed the ensuing night, his fellow in this errand should
accompany him that went first, and, by this means, no man would be
exposed singly to the danger; for I forgot to mention that the _Mauthe
Doo_ was always seen to come from that passage at the close of day,
and return to it again as soon as the morning dawned, which made them
look on this place as its peculiar residence. One night, a fellow being
drunk, and by the strength of his liquor rendered more daring than
ordinary, laughed at the simplicity of his companions, and, although
it was not his turn to go with the keys, would needs take this office
upon himself to testify his courage. All the soldiers endeavoured to
dissuade him, but the more they said, the more resolute he seemed, and
swore that he desired nothing more than that _Mauthe Doo_ would follow
him, as it had done the others, for he would try if it were Dog or
Devil. After having talked in a very reprobate manner for some time, he
snatched up the keys and went out of the Guard-room. In some time after
his departure, a great noise was heard, and no one had the boldness
to see what had occasioned it, till the adventurer returning, they
demanded the knowledge of him; but as loud and noisy as he had been at
leaving them, he was now become sober and silent enough, for he was
never heard to speak more; and though all the time he lived, which was
three days, he was entreated by all who came near him, either to speak,
or if he could not do that, to make some signs, by which they might
understand what had happened to him, yet nothing intelligible could be
got from him, only that, by the distortion of his limbs and features,
it might be guessed that he died in agonies more than is common in a
natural death. The _Mauthe Doo_ was, however, never seen after in the
Castle, nor would anyone attempt to go through that passage, for which
reason it was closed up, and another way made.—This happened about
1666.—_Waldron._
“Phantom dogs”, says Campbell, “abound in Celtic stories.” In many
of them the hound or dog plays an important part. “Sometimes he
befriends his master, at other times he appears to have something
diabolical about him; it seems as if his real honest nature had
overcome a deeply-rooted prejudice, for there is much which savours of
detestation, as well as of strong affection. Dog, or son of the dog,
is a term of abuse in Gaelic as elsewhere, though _cuilein_ is a form
of endearment, and the hound is figured beside his master or at his
feet, on many a tombstone in the Western Isles. Hounds are mentioned
in Gaelic poetry and Gaelic tales, and in the earliest accounts of the
Western Isles.”
GIANTS.
THE SPELL-BOUND GIANT.
There is an apartment in Castle Rushen “which has never been opened
in the memory of man.” The persons belonging to the Castle are very
cautious in giving any reason for it; but the natives assign this,
“_that there is something of enchantment in it_.” They tell you that
the Castle was at first inhabited by fairies, and afterwards by giants,
who continued in possession of it till the days of Merlin, who, by
force of magic, dislodged the greatest part of them, and bound the
rest in spells, which they believe will be indissoluble to the end of
the world. For proof of this, they tell you a very odd story. They say
there are a great number of fine apartments underground, exceeding in
magnificence any of the upper rooms. Several men of more than ordinary
courage have, in former times, ventured down to explore the secrets of
this subterraneous dwelling-place, but none of them ever returned to
give an account of what they saw; it was, therefore, judged convenient
that all the passes to it should be kept continually shut, that no more
might suffer by their temerity.
About some fifty or fifty-five years since (1670), a person who had
an uncommon boldness and resolution, never left soliciting permission
of those who had the power to grant it, to visit these dark abodes.
In fine, he obtained his request, went down, and returned by help of
a clue of packthread, which he took with him, which no man before
himself had ever done, and brought this amazing discovery. That, after
having passed through a great number of vaults, he came into a long
narrow place, which the further he penetrated, he perceived he went
more and more on a descent, till having travelled, as near as he could
guess, for the space of a mile, he began to see a little gleam of
light, which, though it seemed to come from a vast distance, yet was
the most delightful sight he had ever beheld in his life. Having at
length come to the end of that lane of darkness, he perceived a very
large and magnificent house, illuminated with a great many candles,
whence proceeded the light just now mentioned. Having, before he
began this expedition, well fortified himself with brandy, he had
courage enough to knock at the door, which a servant, at the third
knock, having opened, asked him what he wanted. “I would go as far as
I can”, replied our adventurer, “be so kind, therefore, to direct me
how to accomplish my design, for I see no passage but that dark cavern
through which I came.” The servant told him he must go through that
house, and accordingly led him through a long entry, and out at the
back door. He then walked a considerable way, and at last he beheld
another house, more magnificent than the first, and the windows being
all open, discovered innumerable lamps burning in every room. Here he
designed also to knock, but had the curiosity to step on a little bank
which commanded a low parlour; on looking in, he beheld a vast table
in the middle of the room of black marble, and on it, extended at full
length, a man, or rather, monster; for, by his account, he could not be
less than fourteen feet long, and ten or eleven round the body. This
prodigious fabrick lay as if sleeping, with his head on a book, and a
sword by him, of a size answerable to the hand which it is supposed
made use of it. This sight was more terrifying to the traveller than
all the dark and dreary mansions he had passed through in his arrival
to it. He resolved, therefore, not to attempt entrance into a place
inhabited by persons of that unequal stature, and made the best of his
way back to the other house, where the same servant re-conducted him,
and informed him that if he had knocked at the second door, he would
have seen company enough, but never could have returned, on which he
desired to know what place it was, and by whom possessed; but the other
replied that these things were not to be revealed. He then took his
leave, and by the same dark passage got into the vaults, and soon after
once more ascended to the light of the sun.—_Waldron._
THE OLD MAN.
Castle Rushen has long been famous in the estimation of the natives
for its subterraneous passages, and there are individuals amongst them
who still believe that they lead to a beautiful country underground,
inhabited by giants. Many attempts, they say, have been made to
explore these passages, but they have been generally unsuccessful.
Once, however, a number banded themselves together, and, having armed
themselves and provided torches, they descended. After proceeding some
way, they came across an old man of great size, with a long beard, and
blind, sitting on a rock as if fixed there. He, hearing them approach,
inquired of them as to the state of the Island, and at last asked
one to put forth his hand, on which one of them presented him with a
ploughshare, when the old giant squeezed the iron together with the
greatest ease, exclaiming at the same time, “There are yet men in the
Isle of Man.”—_W. Harrison._
THE THREE-HEADED GIANT.
Once upon a time there landed at The Lhane a number of Danes, who took
possession of that part of the Island. Amongst them was a huge monster
of a man with three heads, who officiated as their parson, and who was
promptly appointed by them to the Rectory of Andreas, which chanced
to be vacant at that time. He soon began to extort all he could from
the people, making his bands for the tithe corn three times larger
than was customary, and taking the “double penny” for everything. For
a long time he went on in this fashion, till they got used to it, and,
consequently, did not grumble so much as at first. Indeed, they rather
began to like him, as he often gave them a hand at busy times, when
the men were for the most part away at the fishing, and was always
ready to do them a good turn. So things went on till his death, when,
in accordance with his wish, he was carried to the top of Karrin, and
buried there under a big cairn. A long time after this, a man who had
heard about this three-headed creature from the old people, and who
was consumed with a desire to see him, began to open his grave. He had
not dug very far, however, when he was seized with a great pain in his
back, which compelled him to leave off. He managed to get home, but in
three days he was dead. Since then no one has ventured to disturb the
giant’s remains. They say that since the days of the giant the parson
of Andreas has always had three times more pay than the rest.—_Oral._
JACK THE GIANT KILLER.
The title at least of the following is clearly derived from the well
known English tale: There was once a poor woman who lived in a secluded
glen on the eastern side of Slieau-ny-Farrane. Her husband was a
fisherman, who was frequently absent from home for long periods. The
wife had, consequently, not only to attend to domestic matters, but to
see after the children as well, so you may be sure the boys were left
to do much as they pleased. The eldest of them, Juan, was growing into
a stout lad, who was always trying to do some great feat or other. Many
were the battles that he and the old gander had, to see who should be
the master. As he grew bigger he extended his attacks to the cattle, so
that when they saw him coming they endeavoured to get out of the way
of the big stick he always carried with him. In vain did his father
scold him, when he came home from the fishing on a Saturday night, for
he only became the more daring. At last he began to use his stick on
all, whether man or beast, that he met in those parts, and he became
such a terror that they gave him the name of Jack the Giant Killer.
His great strength became so notorious that many came from Laxey side
to try conclusions with him, but they were always worsted. He kept his
old mother well supplied with _purrs_, as they called the wild swine
that were formerely found in the mountains. Now, there was an old boar
_purr_, called the _Purr Mooar_, that had long been a terror to the
district, so much so that it was not considered safe for any one to go
alone over the Rheast, and through Druidale. Even the shepherds with
their dogs were unwilling to face him. This _purr_ Jack determined
to kill, so he armed himself with his thickest stick, and set out
in search of him. After travelling a considerable distance, he made
his way down to a deep glen, through which the water was tumbling
amongst the rocks below the Crammag, where he discovered the boar, it
being a sultry day, luxuriating in the water. No sooner did he see
Jack than he raised himself up, and, with a terrible roar, rushed out
upon him. Jack, nothing daunted, received him with a severe blow upon
the fore legs, which caused him to roll over. Getting up again, he
rushed once more at Jack, who belaboured him with many a heavy blow,
but unfortunately the boar managed to inflict a deep wound in Jack’s
thigh, which laid it open to the bone. Still the conflict went on till
both were well-nigh exhausted and faint from loss of blood, till at
last Jack with one terrible blow shattered the boar’s head, and laid
him dead at his feet. It was with great difficulty that he managed to
crawl home, and it was long before his wounds, which were said to be
of a poisonous nature, healed, and, even when they had healed, he was
obliged to go about with a crutch for the rest of his life. Thus was
the neighbourhood rid of two troubles—Jack and the _Purr Mooar_—for the
one was now harmless and the other dead. This feat was commemorated in
the saying, “Jack the Giant Killer, _varr a vuc_ (_i.e._, killed a pig)
in the river.”—_Oral._
There are many other tales about giants, the accuracy of which is
proved to the satisfaction of the tellers by the existence of large
stones, which are pointed out in various places as having been hurled
by them. There is one in particular, near Jurby Church, which is said
to have been thrown by a giant from one of the mountains after a
companion who had insulted him, but who contrived to escape by swimming
from Jurby to Scotland. The numerous detached rocks at the southern end
of Greeba are satisfactorily accounted for as being the contents of
a creel which a giant had upset there. There was another giant, said
to have been contemporary with St. Patrick, who by his strength and
ferocity became the terror of the whole Island. He used to transport
himself with great ease across the gorge between Peel Castle and
Contrary Head, which is now bridged by a breakwater. On one occasion,
either for amusement or in a fit of rage, he lifted a large block of
granite from the Castle rock, and, though several tons weight, tossed
it with the greatest ease against the acclivity of the opposite hill,
about half a mile distant, where it is to be seen to this day, with a
print of his hand on it. In support of such legends as these the Manx
peasantry formerly showed strangers the giant’s casting stones, which
are two huge monoliths of clay-slate, each ten feet high, between Port
St. Mary and Port Erin; the Fairy Hill; the giant’s grave at the foot
of South Barrule; and a green mound, thirty yards long, outside the
walls of Peel Castle, having the same name.
MERMAIDS.
THE CAPTURED MERMAID.
A mermaid from the water rose,
A woman most fair and lovely.—_Sinclair._
Waldron was surprised to find that the Manx actually believed in
mermaids, and he gave several stories that they told him about them, as
follows:—“During the time that Oliver Cromwell usurped the Government
of England, few ships resorted to this Island, and that uninterruption
and solitude of the sea gave the mermen and mermaids (who are enemies
to any company but those of their own species) frequent opportunities
of visiting the shore, where, in moonlight nights, they have been seen
to sit, combing their heads and playing with each other; but as soon
as they perceived anybody coming near them, jumped into the water,
and were out of sight immediately. Some people, who lived near the
coast, having observed their behaviour, spread large nets made of small
but very strong cords upon the ground, and watched at a convenient
distance for their approach. The night they had laid this snare but one
happened to come, who was no sooner sat down than those who held the
strings of the net drew them with a sudden jerk, and enclosed their
prize beyond all possibility of escaping. On opening the net, and
examining their captive, by the largeness of her breasts and the beauty
of her complexion, it was found to be a female. Nothing could be more
lovely, more exactly formed in all parts above the waist, resembling
a complete young woman, but below that all fish with fins and a huge
spreading tail. She was carried to a house, and used very tenderly,
nothing but liberty being denied. But though they set before her the
best provision the place afforded, she would not be prevailed on to
eat or drink, neither could they get a word from her, tho’ they knew
these creatures were not without the gift of speech, having heard them
talk to each other, when sitting regaling themselves on the seaside.
They kept her in this manner three days, but perceiving she began to
look very ill with fasting, and fearing some calamity would befall the
Island if they should keep her till she died, they agreed to let her
return to the element she liked best, and the third night set open
their door, which, as soon as she beheld, she raised herself from the
place where she was then lying, and glided, with incredible swiftness,
on her tail to the seaside. They followed at a distance, and saw her
plunge into the water, where she was met by a great number of her own
species, one of whom asked what she had observed among the people of
the earth,—‘Nothing very wonderful,’ answered she, ‘but that they are
so very ignorant as to throw away the water they have boiled eggs in.’”
THE MERMAID’S COURTSHIP.
Come to our rich and starry caves,
Our home amid the ocean waves;
Our coral caves are walled around
With richest gems in ocean found,
And crystal mirrors, clear and bright,
Reflecting all in magic light.
A very beautiful mermaid became so much enamoured of a young man who
used to tend his sheep upon the rocks, that she would frequently sit
down by him, bring him pieces of coral, fine pearls, and what were yet
greater curiosities, and of infinitely more value, had they fallen into
the hands of a person who knew their worth, shells of various forms
and figures, and so glorious in their colour and shine, that they even
dazzled the eye that looked upon them. Her presents were accompanied
with smiles, pattings of the cheek, and all the marks of a most sincere
and tender passion. One day throwing her arms more than ordinarily
eagerly about him, he began to be frightened that she had a design to
draw him into the sea, and struggled till he disengaged himself, and
then ran a good many paces from her; which behaviour she resented so
highly, it seems, that she took up a stone, and after throwing it at
him, glided into her more proper element, and was never seen on land
again. But the poor youth, though but slightly hit with the stone,
felt from that moment so excessive a pain in his bowels, that the cry
was never out of his mouth for seven days, at the end of which he
died.—_Waldron._
THE MERMAID’S REVENGE.
There is a tradition that a mermaid becoming enamoured of a young man
of extraordinary beauty, took an opportunity of meeting him one day as
he walked on the shore, and opened her passion to him, but was received
with coldness occasioned by his horror and surprise at her appearance.
This, however, was so misconstrued by the sea lady, that, in revenge
for his treatment of her, she punished the whole Island, by covering
it with mist; so that all who attempted to carry on any commerce with
it, either never arrived at it, but wandered up and down the sea, or
were on a sudden wrecked upon its cliffs, till the incantatory spell or
_pishag_, as the Manxs say, was broken by the fishermen stranded there,
by whom notice was given to the people of their country, who sent
ships in order to make a further discovery. On their landing, they had
a fierce encounter with the little people, and having got the better
of them, possessed themselves of Castle Rushen, and by degrees of the
whole Island.—(_Collins_ in a note to his “Ode to Liberty.”)
Of the dwellings of these creatures under the sea, and of the treasure
they have accumulated there, many tales are told. The notion of a land
under the waves is very widely spread, and common to many nations.
Manxmen formerly asserted that a splendid city, with many towers and
gilded minarets, once stood near Langness, on a spot now covered by
the sea, which, in peculiar states of the atmosphere, might have been
occasionally seen in all its former magnificence.
Waldron gives the following marvellous account of dwellings under the
sea, stocked with treasure, which he was assured had been attested by a
whole ship’s crew, and happened in the memory of some then living, but
at which, nevertheless, “he was exceedingly surprised”:—
DWELLINGS UNDER THE SEA.
There was, about some forty or fifty years since (1676), a project set
on foot for searching for treasures in the sea. Vessels were got ready,
and machines made of glass, and cased with a thick, tough leather, to
let the person down who was to dive for the wealth. One of these ships
happening to sail near to the Isle of Man, and having heard that great
persons had formerly taken refuge there, imagined there could not be a
more likely part of the ocean to afford the gain they were in search
of, than this. They, therefore, let down the machine, and in it the
person who had undertaken to go on this expedition; they let him down
by a vast length of rope, but he still plucking it, which was the sign
for those above to increase the quantity, they continued to do so, till
they knew he must be descended an infinite number of fathoms. In fine,
he gave the signal so long, that at last they found themselves out of
cord, their whole stock being too little for his capacious inquisition.
A very skilful mathematician being on board, said that he knew by the
proportion of the line which was let down, he must have descended
from the surface of the waters more than twice the number of leagues
that the moon is computed to be distant from the earth. But having,
as I said, no more cord, they were obliged to turn the wheel, which,
by degrees, brought him up again; at their opening the machine, and
taking him out, he appeared very much troubled, that his journey had
so soon been stopped, at a period, telling them, that could he have
gone a little further he should have brought discoveries well worth
the search. It is not to be supposed but everybody was impatient to be
informed of what kind they were, and being all gathered about him on
the main deck, as soon as he had recruited himself with a hearty swill
of brandy, he began to relate in this manner:—
After I had passed the region of fishes, I descended into a pure
element—clear as the air in the serenest and most unclouded day,
through which, as I passed, I saw the bottom of the watery world, paved
with coral and a shining kind of pebbles, which glittered like the
sunbeams reflected on a glass. I longed to tread the delightful paths,
and never felt more exquisite delight, than when the machine I was
enclosed in grazed upon it. On looking through the little windows of
my prison, I saw large streets and squares on every side, ornamented
with huge pyramids of crystal, not inferior in brightness to the finest
diamonds; and the most beautiful buildings—not of stone, nor brick, but
of mother of pearl, and embossed in various figures with shells of all
colours. The passage which led to one of these magnificent apartments
being open, I endeavoured with my whole strength to move my enclosure
towards it, which I did, though with great difficulty, and very slowly.
At last, however, I got entrance into a very spacious room, in the
midst of which stood a large amber table, with several chairs round
the same. The floor of it was composed of rough diamonds, topazes,
emeralds, rubies, and pearls. Here I doubted not but to make my voyage
as profitable as it was pleasant, for could I have brought with me but
a few of these, they would have been of more value than all we could
hope for in a thousand wrecks; but they were so closely wedged in, and
so strongly cemented by time, that they were not to be unfastened. I
saw several chains, carcanets, and rings, of all manner of precious
stones, finely cut, and set after our manner, which, I suppose, had
been the prize of the winds and waves. These were hanging loosely on
the jasper walls, by strings made of rushes, which I might easily have
taken down; but as I had edged myself within half a foot of them, I
was unfortunately drawn back, through your want of line. In my return
I met several comely mermen and beautiful mermaids, the inhabitants of
this blissful realm, swiftly descending towards it, but they seemed
frighted at my appearance, and glided at a distance from me, taking me,
no doubt, for some monstrous and new created species.
Here he ended his account, but grew so melancholy, and so much
enamoured of those regions he had visited, that he quite lost all
relish for earthly pleasures, till continual pinings deprived him of
his life; having no hope of ever descending there again, all design of
prosecuting the diving project being soon after laid aside.
APPARITIONS.
Stories of Apparitions and Spirits are common, as would naturally be
expected, among such an imaginative people as the Manx. The following
will suffice as specimens:—
THE APPARITION OF CASTLE RUSHEN.
Be thou a spirit of health, or goblin damn’d!—_Shakspeare._
A mighty bustle they make of an apparition which, they say, haunts
Castle Rushen, in the form of a woman, who was some years ago executed
for the murder of her child. I have heard, not only persons who have
been confined there for debt, but also the soldiers of the garrison,
affirm they have seen it various times; but what I took most notice of,
was the report of a gentleman, of whose good understanding, as well
as veracity, I have a very great opinion. He told me, that happening
to be abroad late one night, and caught in an excessive storm of wind
and rain, he saw a woman stand before the Castle Gate, where being not
the least shelter, it something surprised him, that anybody, much less
one of that sex, should not rather run to some little porch, or shed,
of which there are several in Castletown, than choose to stand still
exposed and alone, in such a dreadful tempest. His curiosity exciting
him to draw nearer, that he might discover who it was that seemed so
little to regard the fury of the elements, he perceived she retreated
on his approach, and at last, he thought, went into the Castle, though
the gates were shut; this obliging him to think he had seen a spirit,
sent him home very much terrified; but the next day, relating his
adventure to some people who lived in the Castle, and describing as
near as he could the garb and stature of the apparition, they told
him it was that of the woman above mentioned, who had been frequently
seen, by the soldiers on guard, to pass in and out of the gates, as
well as to walk through the rooms, though there was no visible means to
enter. Though so familiar to the eye, no person has yet, however, had
the courage to speak to it, and as they say, a spirit has no power to
reveal its mind without being conjured to do so in a proper manner, the
reason of its being permitted to wander is unknown.—_Waldron._
A STRANGE APPARITION.
A clergyman, accustomed to pass some hours every evening in a field
near his house, indulging in meditation and calling himself to an
account for the transactions of the past day, was in this place one
night, more than ordinarily wrapt in contemplation, he wandered,
without thinking where he was, a considerable distance farther than it
was usual for him to do; and, as he told me, he knew not how far the
deep musing he was in might have carried him, if it had not suddenly
been interrupted by a noise, which, at first, he took to be the distant
bellowing of a bull, but, as he listened more heedfully to it, found
there was something more terrible in the sound than could proceed from
that creature. He confessed to me that he was no less affrighted than
surprised, especially when the noise coming still nearer, he imagined
whatever it was that it proceeded from, it must pass him; he had,
however, presence enough of mind, to place himself with his back to
a hedge, where he fell on his knees, and began to pray to God, with
all the vehemence so dreadful an occasion required. He had not been
long in that position, before he beheld something in the form of a
bull, but infinitely larger than ever he had seen in England, much
less in Man, where the cattle are very small in general. The eyes, he
said, seemed to shoot forth flames, and the running of it was with
such force, that the ground shook under it, as in an earthquake. It
made directly towards a little cottage, and there, after most horribly
roaring, disappeared. The moon being then at the full, and shining in
her utmost splendour, all these passages were perfectly visible to our
amazed divine, who having finished his ejaculation, and given thanks to
God for his preservation, went to the cottage, the owner of which, they
told him, was that moment dead. The good old gentleman was loth to pass
a censure which might be judged an uncharitable one; but the deceased
having the character of a very ill liver, most people, who heard the
story, were apt to imagine this terrible apparition came to attend his
last moments.—_Waldron._
BEN VEG CARRAGHAN.—(The Little Woman of Carraghan.)
Once upon a time there was a poor woman of very diminutive stature, who
lived in the neighbourhood of Maughold Head. She earned her livelihood
with her spinning wheel, “going upon the houses” to work with it.
From her cheerful disposition and readiness to do a good turn at all
times, she was always welcome. She received in payment her board and
lodgings, and the “bit of pence.” In this way she travelled and lived
for a considerable length of time, and it became notorious that she had
made “a purse.” Whether it was on this account or not that she was
made away with, has never to this day been known; but certain it is
she has been many times seen sitting on the side of Carraghan mountain
with her wheel on her shoulder, and putting her head on her arm as
if in great trouble. Well it is for those who have occasion to pass
over this mountain that they do not come upon the apparition of this
poor woman, for fear some dire calamity might befall them. A few years
ago a person was returning to his home in the West Baldwin valley,
about two o’clock in the afternoon, when he saw “the little woman”
sitting on her favourite spot. As soon as he came in sight she rose and
endeavoured to go away, but he, being determined to solve the mystery,
started in pursuit with his dogs, and sent three other persons, one
on each side, and one to the top of the mountain. The little woman,
being thus surrounded, made many ineffectual attempts to escape, and at
last came close to one of the men and the dogs. The latter could not
be persuaded to touch her, but seemed in great trouble and shed tears.
It had previously been noticed that, on reaching a small _gill_, she
immediately vanished: and now, on reaching that spot, she disappeared,
and has never been seen since. A man on the Northside afterwards
affirmed that, on the same day, he had observed her hastening over
North Barrule, in the direction of Maughold Head. The man who had been
with the dogs and close to the woman, at once fell ill, and was not
able to do any work for more than six months afterwards.—_Jenkinson._
A LEGEND OF THE SOUND.
Not far from the Sound there is a sea cave, into which one may
penetrate by boat when the weather is fine. It is called _Ghaw kione
doo_, “Black Head Creek.” It is remarkable from a weird story being
attached to it, and also from the fact (?) of an inscription of some
sort being sculptured above its entrance. My informant could not point
out this inscription, but said he “had heard it was somewhere about.”
“Once upon a time” the cave was used by a pirate as a store-place for
the spoils taken in his expeditions. When he last sailed away on an
expedition, from which he never returned, he left one of his crew in
charge of the cave and of the treasure therein. Whether he and his crew
were overwhelmed by a storm, or were suspended from a gallows, the
chronicler knew not; but he proceeded to relate that, after many years
of waiting, the lonely guardian of the treasure cave disappeared also.
“No doubt”, continued my informant, “having been taken sick in the cave
he died there.” At any rate he was never seen again. “An old fisherman
told me”, said he, “that once while he was engaged in ‘laying a bolk,’
close to the cave, he was surprised to see a boat, manned by six
sailors in red caps, come towards land, and rowing to the mouth of the
cave disappear therein. Curious to know who they were and from whence
they came, he followed them into the cave, which has only one entrance,
but found it quite empty.”—_F. Swinnerton._
THE CHASMS.
A respectable landholder and his servant, in the neighbourhood of
Spanish Head, were one day gathering their sheep, somewhere about forty
years ago, when one of the best of them, to escape from a dog by which
it was pursued, bounded into the mouth of that dark pit, he said, at
the brink of which you were so lately standing with listless temerity.
Being then young, and not easily daunted, I determined to descend for
the purpose of recovering my _loughtyn_ pet, notwithstanding the most
urgent remonstrance on the part of my father, who was aware of many
strange incidents that happened there to former adventurers. I caused
myself to be let down, however, into the dark aperture in a basket
attached to a rope, and every rope in the village was knotted, one
to the end of another, and all used in lowering me into the pit, but
just as I reached the bottom of it, I was mortified to hear the last
bleat of my poor sheep, evidently struggling under the knife of the
butcher. As I advanced through a spacious cavern, to a place whence
the sound proceeded, I distinctly heard, in a neighbouring apartment,
human voices in quick conversation, which, with the rattling of knives
and forks, the drawing of corks, the decanting of liquor, and the
uproarious noise which followed, tended to convince me that I was
proceeding towards a company of bacchanalians, for whose gratification
my poor sheep had probably been despatched. Lest, therefore, I should
share the same fate, I made with all possible speed for the mouth of
the cavern; but just as I had set my foot on the sward, as many angry
sounds issued from the pit as if a pack of harriers had been uncoupled
at my heels. My descent and retreat had evidently been discovered by
the gentry below, but not till, thanks to Providence, I was out of
their reach.—_Train._
THE SPIRIT “HOA HOA.”
The disturbed spirit of a person shipwrecked on a rock adjacent to
this coast, wanders about it still, and sometimes makes so terrible a
yelling, that it is heard at an incredible distance. They tell you
that houses even shake with it; and that, not only mankind, but all
the brute creation within hearing, tremble at the sound. But what
serves very much to increase the shock is, that whenever it makes this
extraordinary noise, it is a sure prediction of an approaching storm;
nor does it ever happen, say they, but some ship or other splits, and
its crew thrown up by the waves. At other times, the spirit cries out
only, “Hoa! hoa! hoa!” with a voice little, if anything, louder than a
human one.—_Waldron._
[Footnote 43: Manx Dictionary.]
[Footnote 44: Manx Dictionary.]
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