CHAPTER XVII.
There is yet another characteristic of the modern Aino which suggests the dwarf of the British Isles. "Mention must also be made of an anatomical peculiarity of the Aino skeleton, consisting of a remarkable flattening of the arm-and leg-bones."[318] This peculiarity, which is known scientifically as "platycnemism," forms a part of Herr von Siebold's "Ethnologische Studien über die Aino, auf der Insel Yesso."[319] Much may be learned with regard to platycnemism in a paper "On the Discovery of Platycnemic Men in Denbighshire,"[320] by Professors Busk and Boyd Dawkins; and the subject of platycnemism generally has been very fully discussed in Dr. L. Manouvrier's "Mémoire sur la Platycnémie."[321] The question is full of interest; but what we are here concerned with is the fact that, characterizing the dwarfish, hairy Ainos of the nineteenth century, this flattening of the leg-bones is also associated with the dwarfs of Britain. Those cave-dwelling, "platycnemic men" of Denbighshire, though not actually dwarfs, were of no greater height on an average than five feet, or a trifle over. Again, the skeletons found in the underground dwellings of Wiltshire, which have been so closely studied by General Pitt-Rivers, exhibit marked platycnemism in several instances, and of these the average height was 5 ft., 1^.3 (among eleven males), and (among three females) 4 ft., 10.[322] In Wigtownshire, also, the bones of certain cave-men have yielded at least one tibia which has been pronounced to be "highly platycnemic." The locality where these remains were found has been spoken of on a previous page,[323] as a locality famed as the last refuge of the "Pechts," and, at the same time, as a home of the "fairies." These are a few special instances; but if once we recognize the probability that platycnemism was specially a characteristic of "the little people," then there will be small difficulty in accepting as true the forecast with which Mr. Boyd Dawkins concludes his remarks in the paper above mentioned:--"I have not the slightest doubt that platycnemism will be recognized in remains from chambered tombs in many parts of Britain, and that eventually the men found in Denbighshire will be proved to belong to a race that spread over Britain and Ireland, and a large area on the Continent."
The effect of this flattened tibia or leg-bone is to give to the "platycnemic man" an unusual degree of agility. Thus one reads that the Ainos who drew Miss Bird's _kuruma_ raced "for a considerable distance" with some mounted Japanese, drawing the _kuruma_, of course, at the same time. Similarly, the mountain-ponies of the Picts "could hardly excel the speed of the troops on foot."[324] The traditional accounts of the "Fians" have much to say of their marvellous swiftness of foot. The same thing is noted of the Dartmoor _gubbins_ of the sixteenth century: "Such their fleetness, they will outrun many horses."[325] And the earth-dwelling "Red Fairies" of Merionethshire "were also remarkable for their swiftness and agility."[326] There is a Scotch story of a brownie who successfully "herded" a hare; and the lightness of foot of the fairy in general is proverbial. From all these references, then, there is every reason for believing that the little people were "platycnemic men."
This identification of the traditional dwarfs with the Ainos on the one hand and the Eskimos on the other, amounts to an assumption that the dwarfs were not only hirsute like the first of these, and mound-dwellers like the second, but also that, like the extinct _Onkilon_ of Siberia, they were in a distinct sense "sea-folk." In other words, that, while showing a strong _affinity_ with the two modern types chiefly referred to in these pages, they were nevertheless not _identical_ with either. That they were the ancestors of both seems probable, bequeathing to each division some of the qualities and customs of the original stock; which might be described as Aino-Eskimo.
So far as tradition goes, there is every indication that the hairy dwarf was of a sea-faring race. The Gaelic _ur-uisg_ was rightly called a "wild or _shaggy_ man" by Sir Walter Scott, but literally he was a "_water_-man"; which term has many equivalents, such as wasser-man, mer-man, and others. The Guernsey "King of the _Auxcriniers_" previously mentioned,[327] may also denote this identification of the _zee-woner_ with the "shaggy man"; unless the name _auxcriniers_ bears a less obvious meaning than it appears to do. But no better illustration of this union can be found than the historical Picts. Tradition has told us of their shaggy skins, and the "small boats" which they used. And both of these are indicated by the sixth-century Gildas, in his account of the inroads of the Picts and Scots, after the withdrawal of the Romans, where he says:--"Itaque illis ad sua revertentibus, emergunt certatim de curicis, quibus sunt trans Cichicam[328] vallem vecti, quasi in alto Titane incalescenteque caumate de arctissimis foraminum cavernulis fusci vermiculorum cunei, tetri Scotorum Pictorumque greges, moribus ex parte dissidentes, sed una eademque sanguinis fundendi aviditate concordes, furci-ferosque magis vultus pilis, quam corporum pudenda, pudendisque proxima, vestibus tegentes."[329]
There is complete agreement among the commentators of Gildas that the word "curicis" is a Latinized form of the Celtic _curach_, a skin-boat. And the expression "de arctissimis foraminum cavernulis" is singularly confirmative of the assumption that the variety of skin-boat denoted was the narrow kayak with its small round man-hole, and covered "hold," out of which the invading Pict "eagerly emerged" in his haste to attack the Romanized and civilized people in the neighbourhood of the Wall. The reference to their appearance generally is, moreover, very much like the terms used by the Norse writers in speaking of the tenth-century "Skrælings."
That the historical Picts were as "amphibious" as any other "sea-folk" of the kind here discussed, is further testified by such a statement as this:--"They passed their days in the water, swimming in the northern estuaries, or wading with the stream as high as the waist. Dion Cassius adds, with his characteristic vivacity, that they would hide in the mud for days together, with nothing but their heads out of the water."[330] Although the custom of hiding from an enemy in the fashion just described was practised quite recently by the "bog-trotters" in Ireland (see _Rokeby_, Note 2 R), it is doubtful how far these statements ought to be accepted literally. But at least they point to the Picts as a race as much at home on sea as on land; and the reference to their "wading" in the water waist-high is again suggestive of the traditional mer-man or Triton, and the actual Eskimo (as he appears at a distance).
Thus, although the dwarfs of Shetland tradition are separately remembered as "sea-trows" and "hill-trows" (otherwise "hill-people," or "högfolk"), it seems quite evident that these two names simply refer to two different aspects of one race. The memory of them, in connection with their homes in chambered mounds ("hows," "högs," or "pechts' houses"), has gradually become dissociated from the memory of them in their character of sea-rovers, when in their swift "sea-skins" they darted after and easily overtook the heavy wooden boats used by the rival race. Nevertheless, although popular tradition, in thus remembering them, has almost transformed them into an actually amphibious race, it yet asserts that these seafaring "Finns" "are reckoned among the Trows."
* * * * *
Such are some of the deductions to be drawn from a comparison of traditional accounts with those of history, taken in connection with the ethnical features and the customs of certain races of people. There are many more inferences which could be made, but these may reasonably be deferred until the true value of tradition has been tested. The way in which this can be done has been pointed out in the foregoing pages. Should tradition prove itself reliable as a guide to the dwellings of "the little people," then _all_ its statements regarding them will merit the closest consideration.
FOOTNOTES:
[318] This statement, made by Professor Tylor in his Introduction to the "Aino Folk-Tales," is based upon the accounts of others; for a reference to one of which (Von Siebold's) I am indebted to Mr. Tylor.
[319] Berlin, 1881.
[320] Jour. Ethnol. Soc. of London, Jan. 1871.
[321] Paris, 1888.
[322] See General Pitt-Rivers' "Excavations in Cranborne Chase," 1887. (Privately Printed.) II., 206-7.
[323] Page 99. See specially pp. 87-8 of the volume quoted (1885-86) of the Proc. of the Soc. of Antiq. of Scotland.
[324] Elton's "Origins," p. 169; quoted from Dion Cassius.
[325] Fuller, as quoted by Kingsley.
[326] _Scots Magazine_, 1823, Vol. 13, pp. 424-6.
[327] Page 16.
[328] This is variously spelt "Aticam," "Styticam," and "Tithicam" (Petrie's _Monumenta historica Britannica_); and the solutions are as various as the spellings. If by "Tithicam vallem" is denoted the valley of the River Teith, this variant appears preferable to any; and the district referred to would be the whole of the Teith or Forth basin, which at that period was probably a mixture of land and water,--a northern Bedford Level, or fen-country.
[329] Gildas' "De Excidio Britanniæ," Stevenson's edition, London, 1838, pp. 24-25.
[330] Elton's "Origins," p. 169. The first sentence is from Herodian.
APPENDIX A.
THE BRUGH OF THE BOYNE, NEW GRANGE.
The descriptions of the New Grange mound given by Llhwyd and Molyneux are of much importance, since they both belong to about the beginning of the eighteenth century; and as they are not very accessible to the general reader they may suitably be quoted here. The two writers do not altogether agree in their account of the appearance of the chamber, and their theories as to its origin are certainly different; but whatever may be the value of the latter, there can be no doubt that descriptions which were made at a time when the interior of this mound was fresher by two centuries than it now is have a value that is lacking in the descriptions of modern writers, however accurate. The following is
"_An Account of a large Cave nigh_ Drogheda, _by Mr._ Edward Llhwyd."[331]
"The most remarkable curiosity we saw by the way, was a stately mount at a place called _New Grange_ near _Drogheda_; having a number of huge stones pitch'd on end round about it, and a single one on the top. The gentleman of the village (one Mr. _Charles Campbel_) observing that under the green turf this mount was wholly composed of stones, and having occasion for some, employ'd his servants to carry off a considerable parcel of them; till they came at last to a very broad flat stone, rudely carv'd, and placed edgewise at the bottom of the mount. This they discovered to be the door of the cave,[332] which had a long entry leading into it. At the first entering, we were forced to creep; but still as we went on, the pillars on each side of us were higher and higher; and coming into the cave, we found it about twenty foot high. In this cave, on each hand of us, was a cell or apartment, and another went on straight forward opposite to the entry. In those on each hand was a very broad, shallow bason of stone, situated at the edge. The bason in the right hand apartment stood in another; that on the left hand was single; and in the apartment straight forward there was none at all. We observed that water dropt into the right hand bason, tho' it had rain'd but little in many days; and suspected that the lower bason was intended to preserve the superfluous liquor of the upper, (whether this water were sacred, or whether it was for blood in sacrifice) that none might come to the ground. The great pillars round this cave, supporting the mount, were not at all hewn or wrought; but were such rude stones as those of _Abury_ in _Wiltshire_, and rather more rude than those of _Stonehenge_: but those about the basons, and some elsewhere, had such barbarous sculpture (_viz._, spiral like a snake, but without distinction of head and tail) as the forementioned stone at the entry of the cave. There was no flagging nor floor to this entry nor cave; but any sort of loose stones everywhere under feet. They found several bones in the cave, and part of a stag's (or else elk's) head, and some other things, which I omit, because the labourers differed in their account of them. A gold coin of the emperor _Valentinian_, being found near the top of this mount, might bespeak it _Roman_; but that the rude carving at the entry and in the cave seems to denote it a barbarous monument. So, the coin proving it ancienter than any invasion of the _Ostmens_ (_sic_) or _Danes_, and the carving and rude sculpture, barbarous; it should follow, that it was some place of sacrifice or burial of the ancient _Irish_."
From the account given by Dr. Thomas Molyneux,[333] the following extracts may be taken:--
"'Tis situated in the county of _Meath_ and barony of _Slaine_, within four miles of the town of _Drogheda_; from its largeness and make, from the time and labour it must needs have cost to erect so great a pile, we may easily gather 'twas raised in honour of some mighty prince, or person of the greatest power and dignity in his time. I have not heard of any thing of this kind that equals it in _Ireland_: 'tis a thousand foot in the circumference at the bottom, and round the flat surface at the top measures three hundred foot, it rises in the perpendicular about a hundred and fifty foot; and is seated so advantageously upon a rising ground, that it is seen from all parts round at a vast distance, and from its top yields a delightful prospect of all the adjacent country.
Round the bottom of the mount, at some distance from it, are raised in a circular order, huge unwrought stones, rudely expressing pyramids, fixt with their basis in the ground, now at unequal distances, because some I suppose have been removed in length of time, and others faln down; neither do they answer one another in height, some being eleven, others not four foot high;...
The mount it self is composed of small round paving stones, heapt together so as to form a pyramid, within whose center lies a cave that's somewhat round in figure: to this you can only pass through a narrow hole placed on the north[334] side of the mount, so strait, it does allow an entrance but to one man, and that when on his hands and feet: it seems they industriously contrived this hole should lye concealed, for 'twas but lately discovered, and that by accident in removing part of the stones to make a pavement in the neighbourhood.
This strait entrance leads into a narrow gallery of 80 foot in length, 3 foot wide, gradually rising in height, still the further it advances from the narrow passage where you enter, there 'tis about 4 foot high, and from thence rises slowly till it is 10 foot in height: the differing heights in this gallery at several distances from the first entrance, must be occasioned by the passage suiting its figure to the outward conical shape of the mount, which obliged the contriver to make the gallery lower as it was nearer the outside of the pyramid, but the farther it advanced from thence allowed him still to raise its height more, and most of all about the middle of the mount.[335] The walls or sides of this strait gallery are made of large flag stones set broad-ways with their edges close to one another, not hewn or shaped by any tool, but rude and natural, as when they were at first dug from the quarry; they differ in their sizes as the several heights of the gallery require, the top of which is covered over with the same flag stones laid along; some of those in the covering measure full nineteen foot in length.
The furthest end of this long narrow passage lets you into the dark hollow cave, of an irregular figure, nineteen or twenty foot high, and in the middle about ten foot broad. As you enter the vault, on each hand you have a hollow cell or nich, taken out of the sides of the cave, and a third straight before you, these three cells each are about five foot every way, and ten in height: the walls round the circumference of the cave, and of these side apartments are composed like those of the long gallery, of huge, mighty flag stones set end-ways in the ground, of seven or eight foot high; these upright stones support other broad stones that lay along or horizontally, jetting their ends beyond the upright stones; and over these again are placed another order of flat stones in the same level posture, advancing still their edges towards the center of the cave, further than those they rest upon, and so one course above another approaching nearer towards the middle, form all together a rude kind of arch, by way of roof, over the vault below; this arch is closed at top by one large stone that covers the center, and keeps all fixt and compact together: for through the whole work appears no sign of morter, clay, or other cement, to join or make its parts lye firm and close, but where a crevise happens, or an interstice, they are filled up with thin flat stones, split and wedged in, on purpose with that design.
The bottom of the cave and entry is a rude sort of pavement, made of the same stones of which the mount is composed, not beaten or joined together, but loosely cast upon the ground only to cover it. Along the middle of the cave, a slender quarrey-stone, five or six foot long, lies on the floor, shaped like a pyramid, that once, as I imagine, stood upright, perhaps a central stone to those placed round the outside of the mount; but now 'tis fallen down....
When first the cave was opened, the bones of two dead bodies entire, not burnt, were found upon the floor....
In each of the three cells was placed upon the ground a broad and shallow cistern, somewhat round, but rudely formed out of a kind of free-stone; they all were rounded a little at the bottom so as to be convex, and at the top were slightly hollowed, but their cavities contained but little; some of their brims or edges were sinuated or scolopt, the diameter of these cisterns was more than two foot wide, and in their height they measured about eighteen inches from the floor.
The cell that lay upon the right hand was larger, and seemed more regular and finish'd than the rest; for rude as it was, it shewed the workman had spent more of his wild art and pains upon it, than the other two: the cistern it contained was better shaped, and in the middle of it was placed another smaller cistern, better wrought, and of a more curious make; and still, for greater ornament, the stone that lay along as lintal, o'er the entrance of this cell, was cut with many spiral, circular, and waved lines, that with their rude and shallow traces, covered the surface of the stone. This barbarous kind of carving I observed in many other places of this cave, promiscuously disposed of here and there, without the least rule or order; but it was exprest no where with so much industry and profuseness, as on the stones belonging to this cell: yet tho' they were so lavish of their art, not the least footsteps of writing, or any thing like characters were found in the whole work....
* * * * *
But the true genuine figure of the cave, and the description of the niches in its sides, and the long entry leading to it, will be far better understood by a plan which Mr. _Samuel Molyneux_, a young gentleman of the college of _Dublin_, delineated with care and accuracy, upon the place, last summer.[336]
_A_ is the entrance, from _A_ to _B_ the long narrow gallery or passage, eighty foot in length, leading to the cave _C_. _D D D D D_ the great flag-stones that make the sides or wall both of the cave and entrance. _E E E_ the three cells or apartments let into the sides of the cave, for the convenient reception of the three altars or shallow cisterns, _F F F_. _G_ a second altar, raised upon the lower altar in the right hand cell. _H_ a pyramid stone now fallen, but formerly set up erect in the middle of the cave. The situation of the cave, as to its length, stands north and south, its entrance lies directly south; but whether this position may be observed in laying out the caves, and passages that lead to them, in other _Danish_[337] mounts, and so may be some mark or direction to find out the hidden entrance, to other sepulchres of this kind, further enquiry may inform us.
Figure the 7th [reproduced p. 126, _ante_] shows more particularly the manner and contrivance of the altar in the right hand cell, ... expressing all the rudeness of its work, _a a a a_ the upright flag-stones that compose the side-walls. _b b b_ the lintal-stone that's laid a-cross over the entrance of the cell; upon the surface of this stone, the artist has exprest abundance of rude barbarous sort of sculpture, _c c_ a lower altar serving as a basis to _d_, another lesser altar raised upon it."
Dr. Molyneux also describes "two _Roman_ golden coins" (Llhwyd only mentions _one_) which "about ten or twelve years since" were found "near the surface," on the exterior of the mound; but these have practically as little to do with the structure itself as if they had been found in the neighbouring meadow.
In comparing these two eighteenth-century accounts, one observes a few points calling for observation. But, before referring particularly to these, it may be convenient to add some of the statements made by Col. Forbes-Leslie with regard to the same mound. This writer, in his "Early Races of Scotland" (Edin., 1866, Vol. II., pp. 331-341), makes several interesting remarks upon the mound of New Grange, and others of a similar nature, and among his illustrations are two of New Grange, drawn by himself. These, however, do not supply any additional information. On the subject of this and similar mounds, Colonel Leslie remarks thus:--
"Neither historical evidence, nor that derived from an examination of these monuments, appears sufficient warrant for the decision that all these chambers were exclusively intended for places of sepulture. Certainly in some of these chambers the massive materials used in their construction have apparently been designed and employed for other purposes. The following questions are suggested by peculiarities in these specimens of chambered tumuli--Were they intended to be occupied by the living, or as sepulchres for the dead? Were they originally used as temples, and afterwards turned into tombs? Or, on the contrary, although raised for tombs, were they afterwards used as habitations?...
"An examination of the remarkable tumuli above mentioned gives rise to the above questions, and they are not answered by any theories or explanations regarding these monuments which have yet been offered to the public. It may be admitted, although it cannot be proved, that all or most of these monuments have at some period been used as sepulchres, and that the mound of stones or earth in which they are enveloped is sepulchral." But, in a foot-note, Col. Leslie adds: "There is no authentic record of human remains having been discovered either in New Grange, in the tumulus of Gavr-Innis [Brittany], or in that of Maeshow."
* * * * *
"What are usually called sarcophagi in the chamber at New Grange may more correctly be designated as very shallow trays of a circular or rather oval form. In the eastern recess there are two--one placed above another of somewhat larger dimensions, the uppermost being 3 feet long. The position and appearance of all of them are very unlike anything intended for the reception of sepulchral deposits."
... "New Grange cairn is about 70 feet in height, and is said to cover an area nearly two acres in extent. Composed of loose stones, slightly covered with earth and partly overgrown with trees, this mound formerly had little appearance of being artificial, except that at a few yards' distance it was encircled by a line of single stones of great size fixed upright in the ground. The entrance to the chamber in this mound was accidentally discovered in 1699 by labourers who were removing stones to repair a neighbouring road."...
"In each of the three recesses of the chamber were the shallow trays already mentioned, which by different writers have been variously designated as 'basins,' 'rude bowls,' 'urns,' 'typical urns,' 'sarcophagi.'[338] There was one in the northern and one in the western recess, but the most remarkable are two in the eastern recess. The uppermost of these is somewhat oval in shape, slightly concave on its surface, and 3 feet in length: in it are two small artificial cavities. This tray lies on another, which is rather larger and less concave than that which rests on it. The tray in the western recess, although but slightly hollowed, has a well-defined rim on the edge of the upper surface....
"New Grange was first described by Edward Llhuyd the antiquary, who, writing in 1699, makes no mention of any human remains being found in it, but notes 'a great many bones of beasts and some pieces of deers' horns' lying under foot."
It will be seen that these accounts vary in several respects. One curious discrepancy is that relating to the shallow stone "trays" in the recesses of the central chamber. Dr. Molyneux states that the northern recess contained one of these, and his young namesake shows such a "tray" in his plan; and yet Llhwyd, writing twenty-five years earlier, distinctly says that "in the apartment straight forward there was none at all." That this is the case at the present day will be seen from the plan by Mr. W. F. Wakeman. It is noteworthy that Colonel Leslie also gives the number as three; but he speaks in the past tense when referring to the north recess, and he probably only echoes Molyneux. But Llhwyd's statement is so distinct that, considering his priority of date, his version must be accepted as the true one, in spite of the fact that young Molyneux (who, although he is stated to have drawn his plan "on the place," may have supplemented it from memory) represents the inner "apartment" as occupied by one of those "trays."
As for the theories of the two earlier writers, on the subject of the origin and purpose of this "mount," it will be observed they differ widely. Molyneux has no doubt about its being the work of the ninth-century Danes, while Llhwyd, arguing from the discovery of Roman coins on the outer crust, infers that it was erected by "the ancient Irish." Although the coins cannot be held to constitute a strong reason for accepting Llhwyd's conclusions, other good grounds for doing so are obvious to every reader of the foregoing pages.
Again, while Molyneux states very definitely that "when first the cave was opened, the bones of two dead bodies entire, not burnt, were found upon the floor," Llhwyd merely remarks that "they found several bones in the cave, and part of a stag's (or else elk's) head, and some other things," and Forbes-Leslie asserts that "there is no authentic record of human remains having been discovered" in this chambered mound.
All of the writers quoted differ also as to the uses to which this structure was put. It was "some place of sacrifice or burial," according to Llhwyd; Molyneux is sure that it was a "sepulchre"; and Forbes-Leslie regards the whole matter as undecided. But, although the last-named writer is of opinion that this, and similar mounds, may have been dwellings, he nevertheless admits that undoubtedly many of them, if not all, have also been used as places of burial. And these two beliefs are quite reconcilable, if one accepts what Professor Boyd Dawkins refers to as "the hypothesis of the origin of chambered tombs invented by Prof. Nilsson." "Chambered tombs, according to that great authority, were originally the subterranean houses in which the deceased lived, and there the dead were laid literally each 'in his own house.'" Whether human skeletons were really found in "the Brugh of the Boyne" or not, it seems clear that the mound at Dowth was ultimately, at any rate, a place of sepulture. "The most remarkable difference" between it and its more famous neighbour was, says Colonel Leslie, "that in Dowth fragments of burned human bones were discovered." And it is to be noted that tradition speaks of this place as "the cave (or 'weem') of the _grave_ of Bodan, above Dowth:" (_Uaimh Feirt Bodan os Dubath_). Dowth, or Dubath, may have denoted the mound itself; in which case the word signifying "above" or "upon" might refer to an exterior burial, in the "crust" of the mound, of which there are many examples. For instance, although tradition speaks of the Inverness _Tomnahurich_ as an inhabited "brugh," yet its exterior was used as a place of burial at a very early date, as is testified by the discovery, a few years ago, of a stone "kist," containing a human skeleton, buried some feet below the surface of the mound.[339] However, the word _Dubath_ (conjectured on a previous page to have signified _dubh-ath_, "the black ford") probably did not originally denote the mound itself, and _it_ therefore was "above Dubath," and the central chamber of the mound constituted "the weem of the grave of Bodan," who was presumably the owner of the "burned human bones" referred to by Colonel Leslie.
But, while a description of the "Brugh of the Boyne" would be very imperfect without a reference to the subject of burial in chambered mounds, the various traditions which have been collected in these pages (themselves a minute fraction of the whole) show that such mounds, whatever their secondary use, are pre-eminently distinguished in the memory of the people as the _dwelling-places_ of a certain peculiar "underground" race.
FOOTNOTES:
[331] This paper forms the last of "A Collection of such Papers as were communicated to the _Royal Society_, Referring to some _Curiosities_ in Ireland. _Dublin_: Printed by and for George Grierson, at the Two Bibles in Essex-Street, M, DCC, XXVI." (The "Collection" forms Part II. of "A Natural History of Ireland," issued from the same press.)
[332] Either this describes a slab which was subsequently destroyed or carried away, or it relates to the carved slab fixed in the ground below the doorway (as portrayed by Mr. Wakeman, at p. 121, _ante_).
[333] In the volume already referred to as containing Llhwyd's description, and other papers.
[334] A slip for "south."
[335] The writer has evidently overlooked his previously expressed belief that the whole "mount" was artificial; or else he has assumed that the builders _first_ raised a solid "pyramid" of stones, and then burrowed into it; which is obviously absurd.
[336] This tract was published in 1725. The "young gentleman's" illustrations have been re-produced in the present volume, in the plates facing pp. 124 and 126.
[337] Dr. Molyneux assumes throughout that such "mounts" were erected by the Danes; and this origin is very often ascribed to them by Irish and Hebridean tradition. But Lady Ferguson's observation that the "Danes" and the "Dananns" or "Tuatha De Danann," are evidently confounded in the popular memory, is worth considering here. It is clear, at any rate, that the "Danes" of the year 861 who plundered those Boyne mounds cannot have been the people who reared them.
[338] Of all these terms the "shallow tray" (or "saucer," if a new one may be added) is the most appropriate. From the plan of the Dowth mound (_ante_, p. 138) it will be seen that the central chamber there also has one of those large stone "trays." No satisfactory solution has yet been offered of the purposes for which these "trays" were made.
[339] Described in the Edinburgh _Courant_ of January 6, 1886.
APPENDIX B.
THE SKRÆLINGS.
There are many references to the North American Skrælings in Rafn's great work entitled "Antiquitates Americanæ: sive Scriptores Septentrionales Rerum Ante-Columbianarum in America," published under the auspices of the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries (Copenhagen, 1837). This is a collection of the accounts in the old Northern chronicles, relating to the Northmen's (_gamle Nordboers_) voyages of discovery to America, between the tenth and fourteenth centuries. And from these accounts it is seen that the tribes then inhabiting the territories on either side of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and as far south as Massachusetts, were the Skrælings; with whom the Northmen occasionally fought, and at other times traded, giving them pieces of red cloth in exchange for furs.
That the term by which they are chiefly known to modern writers was not the only one given to them by the Northmen is seen from a remark made by one of the chroniclers of Thorfinn Karlsefne, who states that "these people are called Lapps in some books (_thær thjódhir kalla sumir bækr Lappa_)."[340] On the other hand, the map of Olaus Magnus, referred to in the foregoing pages, shows that the northern corner of Norway was then inhabited by a race of _Scric-Finni_, "commonly called 'Screlings,'" who at least were the neighbours of Lapps.
In connection with the North American "Lapps" or "Skrælings," the editor of _Antiquitates Americanæ_ supplies the following note (p. 45):--"Skrælingos appellatos autumat Bussæus ob humilem staturam; quam ob rem et interdum ab Islandis _Smælíngjar_ (homunculi) audiunt. Hæc vero communis appellationis ratio vix esse potest. Arnas Magnæus in collectaneis ad novam editionem Schedarum Arii polyhistoris, vocem _Skrælíngjar_ interpretatur errones, incertum qua ratione, cum ipse nullam attulerit. Suhmius (_Kjöbenhavnske Selskabs Skrifter_, VIII., pag. 81) eos ita propter vilem armaturam appellatos putat. Nonne potius nomen istud ob ora macilenta adepti sunt, ab _at skræla_, arefacere? Nota, Petrum Clausenium Undalinum, in descriptione Norvegiæ, ed. Hafn. 1632, pag. 375-6, hoc nomen scribere _Skregklinge_ et _Skreglinge_, qs. a _skrækja_, clamare, ejulare, cfr. Partic. de Karlsefnio, cap. 10 infra."
Whatever may be the etymology of this word (which in some of its forms approaches the "_Scric_-Finni" of Norway), it is quite clear from the _Antiquitates Americanæ_ that those tenth-century natives of what is now New England and New Brunswick strongly resembled the modern Eskimos. "Hæc descriptio Skrælingorum accurate quadrat in hodiernos Grænlandos sive Eskimoos," is the observation made by the editor (p. 149, _n_.) on a description of some of those people encountered by the Northmen. And, similarly, the note relative to their skin-canoes, or kayaks, is as follows:[341]--"_húdhkeipr_, species navigii, acatium coriaceum vel corio contextum, quo usi sunt indigenæ, ut etiamnunc Grænlandi ex genere Eskimoorum; itaque per carabum redditum, qui secundum Isidorum Hispal. in Orig. Libr. 19, cap. 1. est 'parva scapha ex vimine facta, qui contexta crudo corio genus navigii præbet.'--Vocem illustrat vir doctissimus Gunnar Pauli, f. in annotationibus, insertis indici vocum _Orkneyinga sagæ: 'Húdhkeipr_, navis sutilis, vel, si mavis, corio obducta vel circumdata. Nam phocarum ad hunc usum pelles adhibere Grænlandos notum est, quorum naves _húdhkeipar_ nostratibus olim sunt appellatæ.'"
In these references there is much that is suggestive. One would like to know the occasions on which the Latin term "acatium" was used; and also the circumstances which induced an editor of the _Orkneyinga Saga_ to enlarge upon the appearance of the _húdhkeipr_. Taken in connection with the existence of kayak-using Finnmen, in the Orkney Isles, less than two centuries ago, this latter allusion is very striking. Similarly, an explanation of the term "Skregklinge" or "Skreglinge," occurring in a description of _Norway_, of the year 1632 (above referred to), arouses equal interest in that work.
That the Skrælings, wherever situated, were "pigmies," is evident from the testimony of Olaus Magnus,--and the accounts of the eleventh-century Northmen fully corroborate this. One of their references is as follows: "They were small, ugly men, with horrible heads of hair, great eyes, and broad cheek-bones: (_Their voru smáir menn ok illiligir, ok íllt höfdhu their hár á höfdhi, eygdhir voru their mjök ok breidhir í kinnunum_)."[342] Another description occurs in the _Saga of Thorfinn Karlsefne_ which relates how, in the year 1011 A.D. (three years after his first encounter with the American Skrælings), he and his people arrived at Markland,--a country identified with the modern New Brunswick and other lands lying round the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Here they encountered five Skrælings, one man, two women and two boys: ("... _ok funnu thar Skrælingja 5, ok var einn skeggiadhr; konur voru 2, ok börn tvö_;" in which passage it may be noted that the man was distinguished by the term "bearded,"--_skeggjadhr_). They captured the two boys, "but the others escaped, and sank beneath the ground:" ("_Verosimile est, Skrælingos in cavernas subterraneas se abdidisse_," is the explanation given by the commentator in _Antiquitates Americanæ_).[343] Karlsefne's people took the boys away with them, had them baptized, and taught them Icelandic. These stated that their father and mother (no doubt, the "bearded one" and one of the two women, then lamenting them in their underground dwelling) were respectively named Uvæge and Vethillde;[344] and that their people had no houses, but lived in dens and caves: ("_í hellum edha holum_"). The country of the Skrælings, they said, was governed by two kings or chiefs, one named Avalldamon (or Avalldumon) and the other Valldidida."
It will be seen from these references that although those Skrælings of nine centuries ago are rightly regarded as probable progenitors of modern Eskimos, there were some differences between the two. The term "shaggy" or "bearded," used to distinguish the man from his two female companions, certainly does not indicate that the latter were themselves hirsute. But the previous reference to the "ugly" or "horrible" heads of hair, and the description of their eyes as very large, are two points that seem to denote a race not wholly identical with modern Eskimos.
Moreover, the rapid disappearance of the adults underground, on the occasion when the two boys were captured, is more suggestive of the dwarfs of tradition (such as those who similarly escaped from Suafurlami when he attempted to smite them with his magic sword) than of the Greenlanders of to-day.
Although the accounts of the two boy prisoners might be held to denote that the manners they described were new to the Northmen, yet an incident of earlier date shows clearly that the latter quite understood the subterranean ideas of those North American "Lapps." The incident referred to is this: In the year 1004, Thorwald Ericson and his followers had surprised a small party of nine Skrælings at the entrance to Plymouth Harbour, on the coast of Massachusetts,[345] and of these they killed eight. The ninth sped away in his skin-canoe to the inner end of the bay, out of which there presently emerged an infuriated swarm of kayakkers. But before they appeared, the Northmen had had time to note a group of "hillocks" on the beach (apparently on the interior curve of the promontory terminating in the modern "Gurnet Point,") and these "hillocks" they assumed to be the abodes of the Skrælings.[346] This was seven years before the capture of the boys by Karlsefne's party, and the inference clearly is that they were accustomed to regard kayak-using dwarfs as mound-dwellers. Indeed, the very fact that they styled the natives "Lapps" and "goblins,"[347] as well as Skrælings, shows that they regarded them as belonging to the same race as similar people well known to them in Europe.
FOOTNOTES:
[340] _Antiq. Amer._ p. 182_n_.
[341] P. 43, note _a_.
[342] Pages 180-1. It ought to be added that the version which is given on p. 149 has _svartir_ ("swarthy" or "black") instead of _smáir_. But whichever of these versions has the correct word, the small stature of the Skrælings is beyond dispute.
[343] Page 162, note _a_. The account above referred to is given at pp. 161-2, and again at pp. 182-3.
[344] According to the version on p. 162. That of p. 182 makes both names feminine, and indicates that the boys were not sons of one mother. A footnote on p. 162 gives many variants of these names, _e.g._, Ægi, Ovægi, etc., Weihilldi, Veinhildi, etc.
[345] That, at any rate, is the locality agreed upon by those who have tracked the routes of the Northmen.
[346] _Op. cit._, p. 43.
[347] See p. 144_n._, _ante_.
INDEX.
Aagerup, Denmark: reputed chambered mound near, 155.
Aberfoyle, Perthshire: reputed chambered hill at, 152-3.
Abernethy, Perthshire: Round Tower of, said to have been built by Pechts, 67, 86. A. district a former territory of the Pechts, 150.
Ainos: A dwarfish race, 165; their past history, 165-6; their characteristic hairiness, 166-172; their platycnemism, 176; their speed, 177; their "short, screeching" cry, 168; A's. make use of reindeer, moccasins, "skies," and harpoons, all of which show affinity of custom, if not of blood, with Eskimo families, 169-171.
Alaskan, or Aleutian Eskimos, 9_n_, 22.
All-Hallows. (_See_ Hallowmas.)
_Almhain_ or Allen, Hill of, Kildare: Fin's dwelling at, 56.
_Almhain_ or Almond, Glen, West Perthshire: resort of Fians, 77.
Ardmore, Waterford: Round Tower of, said to have been built in the manner ascribed to the Pechts, 71_n_.
Argyleshire. (_See under_ Mounds.)
Arthur, and "primitive Britons" or "Pechts," 142-3_n_.
Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh, 143_n_.
Aschberg, Casterlé, province of Antwerp. A reputed chambered mound, 86-7, 155.
Ashbury, Berkshire. A chambered mound, 132_n_.
_Auxcriniers_ of Guernsey tradition, 16, 178.
_Baile Thangasdail_, Island of Barra: story of a chambered mound near, 82_n_, 115.
Ballindalloch (near), Banffshire: reputed chambered mound, 117.
Beelsby, Lincolnshire: tradition of dwarfs wearing red caps, 107_n_.
Beltin. A Fian date, 94. A Fairy date, 98.
Ben-cnock, Islay: reputed chambered mound, 114.
Ben Muich Dhui, Aberdeenshire: Dwarfs of, 97.
Bergen, Norway: a celebrated resort of the Shetland Finns, 5, 13: suzerainty of B. over N.E. Scotland, 37. The _Strils_ of B., 7_n_.
Bissau, Aberdeenshire: reputed chambered mound, 117.
Blackwater, Leinster, 92.
Blackwater, Munster, 92, 127.
Blackwater, East Perthshire, 94-5.
Blackwater, West Perthshire, 152.
Bolg. (_See_ Fir-Bolg.)
Braderup, Sylt: the _Pukthal_ at, 87.
Brechin, Forfarshire: Round Tower at B. said to have been built by the Pechts, 72.
Brittany: church in B. said to have been built by Fairies, 85-6; _Feins_ or _Fions_ of B., 85.
_Broch_, _Brog_, etc., 43_n_, 61, 77-79.
Broch of Coldoch, Perthshire: a chambered mound, 119, 149-151, 153.
Brownies, 80, 141-2, 158-164. (_See_ also Fairies, etc.)
Brugh of the Boyne, County Meath, 84, 111, 119-133, 153.
Bugle, Buffalo, or Urus, 80-81_n_, 95.
Buildings said to have been reared in a single night: Abernethy Tower, 85-6; Chapels in Brittany, 85; Castle of the _Gypnissen_, 86.
Burray, Orkney. Finnman's boat once preserved there, 6. All trace of it now lost, 17_n_.
Canoe. (_See_ Skin-Boat.) "Dug-out," 31.
Cassiterides. (_See_ Oestrymnic Isles.)
Cater Thun, Forfarshire: said to be Pictish, 73, 76, 86, 99; alleged to have been built by a witch, and inhabited by Fairies, 99-100: a kettle of gold believed to be hidden there, 150_n_.
Cathair Mhor } Gairloch, Ross-shire: fairy residences, 118. Cathair Bheag }
"Catrail" in S. of Scotland, said to have been built by Pechts, 67.
Cave-Men: in Uist, Hebrides, during 17th century, 29.
"Cavern" at Yester, or Gifford, East Lothian, 143.
Chambered Mounds. (_See_ Mounds.)
Chessmen of Walrus Ivory, found in Hebrides, 32, 158_n_.
Clunie, Perthshire, Castle Hill of: reputed chambered mound, 145-146.
Clydesdale. Pecht's house in C., 66; Glasgow cathedral said to have been built by Pechts, 72; traditional description of dwarfs of C., 97.
Cnock-doun, Islay: reputed chambered mound, 114.
Cnoc Fraing, Inverness-shire: a home of fairies, 146.
_Coir-nan-Uruisgean_, Perthshire, 151-152.
Coldoch _broch_, Perthshire, 119, 149-151, 153.
Colonsay, island of: Macphail of C. and his (?) Finn lover, 15-16; tradition of dwarfs living in C., 147; _Sithean Mor_ and _Sithean Beag_, 147.
Connaught, Fians of, 76, 93.
Corryvreckan, Argyleshire: The (?) Finn woman of C. and her Colonsay lover, 15-16.
Corstorphine Church, near Edinburgh; said to have been built by the "Hottentots," 70-71.
Craig Patrick, Inverness-shire, 149.
Craig y Ddinas, Glamorganshire, 143_n_.
Crocan Corr, Kilbrandon, Argyleshire: reputed chambered mound, 114.
Cromar, Aberdeenshire; underground gallery at, 101.
Crown, Inverness, 149_n_.
Cruachan _rath_: re-built by a servile race, 68_n_, 125_n_, 136, 152_n_; "a party of smiths at work" in its interior, 136.
Cruithne. (_See_ also Picts, etc.) Were pre-Milesian, 51. Were connected with the "Lochlin" territory, 51. Their connection with Feens and Fairies, 128-9.
Cuailgne: Fin's fort on, 75-76.
"Cyclopean" character of Pictish buildings, 73.
Dananns (_Tuatha De Danann_): classed with the Cruithne as of Continental origin, and "pre-Milesian" in settling in British Isles; and consequently to be classed with the Fians, 51. Known also as the _Fir Sidhe_ or Fairies, 126; account of their rivalry with the Milesians, 124-127; description of the dwelling assigned to the King of the Dananns, 120-130 and Appendix A.
Danes; their ravages in the Boyne Valley in 861, when they plundered the underground chambers of the "Fians and Fairies," 81-84.
Danish ballad of dwarfs and colonists, 105-6.
Dartmoor; its gubbins and pixies, 161-2.
Davis Straits. Conjectured by some to be the home of the Orkney Finnmen, 7. Eskimo of D. S. at Leith in 1816, 8, 12.
Deer. (_See_ also Reindeer and Elk.) Hunted in Glenshee, East Perthshire, by the Fians, 94-5; "great-beamed" D., 95; D. milked and used as beasts of burthen, 96.
Denghoog: chambered mound in Sylt, 87, 112-113, 122.
Denmark. (_See_ also Lochlin.) Eckwadt church said to have been built by a "hill-man," 85-86_n_. (_See_ also "Mounds reputed to be chambered.")
Devonshire, 161-2.
_Digh_; an equivalent for _sithean_, 79_n_.
Donegal. Skin-boats used by natives of "The Rosses," 18; Finn Town, D., 23.
Doon, or Doo'n, of Aberfoyle, 152-154.
Doon of Menteith, 144.
Doon of Rothiemurchus, 144-145.
Dornoch Firth: Fairies ferried themselves across D. F. in "cockle-shells," 17, 22.
Dowth, or Dubath; chambered mound, 84, 111, 119, 132-3, 137.
_Drinnich_, or _Trinnich_, a Gaelic term applied to the Picts, signifying "labourers," 71-72.
Drudges. Cruachan _rath_ re-built by an enslaved race, 68_n_, 125_n_, 136, 152_n_. Similar references, 68-74, 151-2. _Gypnissen_, 86.
Druids, 125-127.
Dunnan, in Galloway; a fairy fort, 99.
Dunstanborough Castle, Northumberland, said to have been built by the Picts, 67.
Dwarfs. (_See_ also Pechts or Picts.) D's of Shetland tradition, otherwise Finns, 56; also 59. D's of Scottish tradition generally, otherwise Pechts, 58-60; D's of Highland tradition, 57, 97; D's of Clydesdale, 97. D's of Northumberland, 67, 80, 86, 99. D's of Yorkshire, 100. D's of Lincolnshire, 107_n_. D's of Wales, 160-2. D's of Cornwall, 162. D's of Devon, 161-2. Fin of the Fians a D., 55-56. D's of Brittany (_Fions_, etc.), 85. D's of Antwerp, 86-87. D's of the Netherlands, 86. D's of Denmark and Danish tradition, 85-86_n_, 105-106. D's of Sylt, 87, 112-113. D's of Scandinavia, 91. D's of Germany, 163-4, 172-3. D's of Greenland and North America, 63. D's of Japan, 157, 165 _et seq._ D's of Africa, 157. Great bodily strength ascribed to the Scotch Pechts, 72-73; to the Northumbrian Picts, 67, 73-4; to the dwarfs of Tienen, in the Netherlands, 86. D's at war with each other, and with men, 94_n_. Green the colour of the D's, 97. Tribute exacted by the D's, 97. Magic of the D's, 106. Hidden treasures of the D's, 107_n_, 129_n_, 150_n_. D's as serfs or drudges, 151-2. D's in one aspect civilized, in another savage, 156-7. Hairiness of skin of D's, 157-164, 169_n_.
Eamhain, or Eamhna, 49, 133-4.
Eckwadt, Denmark; residence of a "hill-man" near, 85_n_.
Eday, Orkney: Finnman seen there in 1682, 5.
Edinburgh. Finnman's skiff preserved there 6; Corstorphine church said to have been built by the "Hottentots," 70-71; Pecht lands near E., 68-71; King Arthur and the Pechts believed to have entered a subterranean chamber at Arthur's Seat, 143_n_.
Eilean Suthainn, Loch Maree; a fairy resort, 118.
Elk. Hunted in East Perthshire by the Fians, 94-95; horns of E. found there, 95; _lon-dubh_="black elk," 95.
Erribol, Sutherlandshire: Weem, Pecht's House, or Fairy Hall at, 101.
Eskimos. Compared with Shetland Finns, 7-8; with Pechts, 53, 77-78; with Finns and Lapps, 53; with "Skraelings," Appendix B; with Ainos, 169-171. E. or Skraeling chambered mounds in Greenland, Labrador, and Massachusetts, 62-4, 77-78, 155, and Appendix B. Kayaks: their speed, 8; feat of oversetting kayak, 12. Kayakker, at some distance, resembles triton or mer-man, 13. Open skin-boats of E., 22. Dwarfish stature of E., 63. E's of Alaska, 9_n_, of Greenland, 12-13_n_, 53, 62-4, 142_n_. E. magicians believe they can control the winds, 53, 63. An E. type in modern Britain, 37-8.
Eu, island, Ross-shire; a haunt of 17th c. "pirates," 29.
Evie, Orkney: reputed chambered mounds at, 111_n_.
Fairies. (_See_ Dananns, Fians, Pechts, Dwarfs, &c.) F's inhabited the _bruth_, _sith-bhrugh_ or _sheean_, otherwise the "Pecht's house," 79. F's associated with Pechts, 80; with Fians, 81-84; with Fions, 85. As Dananns (_q. v._), F's associated with Cruithne, 51, 127-129. Builders of a church in Brittany in circumstances suggestive of the Pechts, 85. Inhabitants of the White Cater Thun, an alleged stronghold of the Pechts, 99-100. "Dancing and making merry" in the Orkneys, c. 1700 (cf. Shetland Finns, 3), 14, 111_n_. Frequently seen at Fitty Hill, Westray, at same period, 33. "Fairy Ha'" in Shetland, 104. "In armour" in Orkney, 14; at war with each other in Ireland, 93. Tithes due to F., 97. "Good" F's of christenings, etc., 91-2; "Christian" F's, 85. F's of Clydesdale, 97. F's as serfs or drudges, 151-2.
Fairy Knowe of Aberfoyle, 152-4.
Fairy Knowe beside Broch of Coldoch (itself a _çi-devant_ Fairy Knowe), 119, 149, 151.
Fearna, Weem of, 136-7.
Fens Fiord, Bergen, 7_n_.
Fians, or Feens, or Feinne of Gaelic lore: The Land of the F's, 45. The Well of the F's, 43. The Hillock of the F's, 130. Other F. localities, 46, 49, 51, 52. Dr. Skene's belief as to the historical position of the F's, 46. F's preceded the Milesians in Ireland, 46, 51. F. Confederacy not restricted to Ireland, but included the following divisions:-- F's of England and Wales; of Northern and Central Scotland; and of Lochlin, understood to be the Rhine-Elbe region, 47-51. Irish F's divisible into:-- F's of Connaught and West; F's of Leinster; and F's of Eastern Ulster, 76, 93. F's referred to in Scotland in Perthshire (Glenlyon, Glenal-main-with-Glenshee, and Glenshee or Blackwater) 77, 94-95. Outer Hebrides and part of West Highlands specially the Land of the F., 45. (?) Referred to in Ayrshire, 85. F's exacted tribute from Irish kings, 47. Their ancient rights of hunting and of free-quarters, 94. Overthrow of F's at Battle of Gawra, 47. Vanished glory of the F's, 75-76, 130. Fin, their chief, court dwarf to the king of the "big men," 56. F's as the drudges and serfs of another race, 75. F's inhabited "Pechts' houses," 76-77. F's as builders of stone forts, 75-76. F's regarded as dwarfs, 65. F's associated with Dananns, Fir Sidhe, or Fairies, 51, 81-84. F's regarded as Cruithne or Picts, 51-2, 54. Their assumed identity with historical and traditional Finns, 44-50, 54-5, 65. Their magic identified with that of the Finns, 54. Their "great-antlered deer," 95. Their darts, 54-5. Their swiftness of foot, 177. A descendant of the F., 44.
Fierna, or Fierin, King of the Sidhfir of Munster, 93, 127. His "hillock" near Limerick, 93, 145.
Fin, Finn, or Fionn, a chief of the Feens of Gaelic tradition: Grandson of a Finland woman, 49-50. Described as going in his skin-boat to the Kingdom of the Big Men, where he became the court dwarf, 55-6. A dwarf in a Scotch poem of _ante_ 1600, styled a grandson of F., 65. His stone fort on Cuailgne, 75-6, 93. His "castles" in Glenlyon, Perthshire, 77.
Finland. Alleged to be the home of the Orkney Finnmen (6), of the grandmother of "Fin" (49-50), of the Fomorians (50_n_).
Finn, a chief of the dwarfs of Sylt tradition, 87, 112-113. Chambered mound of Denghoog said to have been his dwelling, 87, 112-113.
Finnmen of Orkney: Used to fish in Orkney waters in 17th century, 5-6. Their seal-skin boats described, 6. The great speed of these skin-boats, 5-6. Specimens of their boats at Burray and Edinburgh, 6, 10, 11_n_, 17_n_. F's said to have come from Finland, 6. Regarded as "barbarous men" by Edinburgh physicians of 1696, 10, 30-31. "The Dart he makes use of for killing fish," 6.
Finns of Shetland tradition: Their "sea-skins or seal-skins," 1. The great speed of these "skins," 4-5. F's said to have come from Norway, and also from "Shool Skerry," 2-4. Sea-rovers or pirates, 3, 34-35 Magicians, soothsayers, and doctors, 1-5. Inter-married with Shetlanders, 1-4, 34-35. Descendants of such marriages "lucky," and proud of their descent, 1, 2, 5. Cattle of the F's, 4. F's regarded as dwarfs, 56, 92. Dancing on the sands "every ninth night," 3 (cf. Fairies, 14, 111_n_.) Identified with Feens, 43-44, 54, 65.
Finns and Lapps: Their territory formerly greater than now, 35. Inter-marriages with non-Finnish races, 39-42. A semi-Finn lord of Orkney, 40-41. F. or L. type in modern Britain, 37-38. F's of Lofoten neighbourhood in 12th century, 21, 39. Boats made by them, 21. Skiffs of modern L's, 22_n_. Swedish-F. settlement in Pennsylvania, U.S. in 17th century, 36-37. "Lapp" natives of North America in 10th century, Appendix B. F's or L's as magicians, "selling winds," etc., 16, 41, 53, 91-92. Identified with Fairies, 96-97; with Feens, 50; with Dwarfs, 129_n_ and Appendix B.
Fions, etc. on the Continent: Fions of Brittany (dwarfs who lived with the fairies), 85. Feins, 85_n_.
Fir-Bolg, or Firbolgs. Cruachan _rath_ re-built by a race of F., 68_n_, 125_n_, 136, 152_n_.
Fitty Hill, Westray. (_See_ Westray.)
Forteviot, Perthshire, 69.
Forth, River. Chambered mounds of Forth valley, ascertained and reputed, 114, 119, 151-154.
Gabhra, or Gawra, Battle of, 47-50.
Gaels. (_See_ Milesians.)
Gairloch, Ross-shire. _Tombuidhe Ghearrloch_, 112; Big and Little "Cathairs" of G., 118; _Sitheanan Dubha_, 118.
Galloway: probable Finns in G., 25; Picts commonly called "Galloway-men," 69-70_n_; last stronghold of Picts in G., 99; stronghold of Fairies in G., 99.
_Garbhcrioch_: translated as "the rough bounds," and defined as the country between Loch Linnhe and the Hebrides, formed a portion of the "Land of the Feens," 45. Called also _Garbh-chnochan_, 118.
Germany. (_See_ under Lochlin.)
Gillesbierg, Denmark: reputed chambered mound, 155_n_.
Glac-an-t-Shithein, Nether Lochaber, 147_n_.
Glasgow Cathedral, said to have been built by the Pechts, 72.
Glenlyon, Perthshire, a home of the Feens, 77.
Glen Odhar, Sutherlandshire: its fairy herds believed to have been reindeer, 97.
Glenshee and Glen Almain, West Perthshire, a home of the Feens, 77.
Glenshee, East Perthshire, a favourite hunting-ground of the Feens, 94.
Glen-na-Shirich, Nether Lochaber, a glen of the Fairies, 147_n_.
Gobban, Goblin, Gubbin, etc., 113, 144_n_, 162_n_.
Gobban Saor (The Noble Smith), 84, 132-3; his chambered mound, 132.
Goblin Hall, East Lothian, 143.
Goblin Knowe (_Cnoc nam Bocan_), Perthshire, 151-152.
Goblins of Greenland, 144_n_.
Gowanree. An enslaved tribe of Firbolgic origin, 68_n_, 125_n_, 136, 152_n_.
Green, the colour of the Fairies or Dwarfs, 97; of the Feens, 97-8; of the Pechts, 99.
Gruids, near Lairg, Sutherlandshire; reputed chambered mound at, 116-117.
Gruinard, Ross-shire: resort of 17th-century pirates, 30.
Gubbins of Dartmoor, 161-2; their swiftness of foot, 177.
Gultebierg, Denmark: a reputed chambered mound, 155_n_.
Gurnett Point, Massachusetts: reputed chambered mound near, Appendix B.
_Gwylliaid Cochion Mowddwy_, an underground race in Wales, 160-1; "their swiftness and agility," 177.
Gypnissen, or Dwarf-women of the Netherlands, 86.
Hadeland, Norway, ruled by a semi-Finn, 40-42.
Hadrian's Wall said to have been built by the Picts, 67.
Hairy Men. (_See_ Shaggy Men, Ainos, etc.)
Halfdan Haleg, a semi-Finn noble: was lord of Orkney for some months: slain at North Ronaldshay, 40-41.
Hallowmas. A Feen date, 94. A Fairy date, 98.
Hebrides: Outer H. regarded as part of the "Land of the Feens," 45. Some parts of H. thickly wooded in 16th century, 105_n_. Raids made by Lewismen on Orkney and Shetland in 15th century, 33-35. Certain Hebrideans not properly subjects of British monarch in 1608, 26-32. Some of the Hebrideans styled "savages" by James I. (28), and by Skyemen (29); and these, or others, referred to as "robbers" or "pirates" by a 17th-century writer (29-30). Chessmen of walrus ivory found in H., 32, 158_n_. Wigwams of Jura islanders in 1772, 24. "The Harrisian physiognomy" and stature, 24.
Hill-men, how-folk, _bergmannetjes_, hog-boys, shag-boys, etc., 85_n_, 107, 111-113.
"Hottentot," builders of Corstorphine church, 70.
Iberians: used skin-boats, 19-20; Iberian type in modern Britain, 38.
Inverness, 146-149.
Jura, island of; wigwams of islanders, 24.
Kaempe Viser, 105.
Kayaks. (_See_ Skin-boats.)
Kempies or Champions, 43.
Kenilworth, Warwickshire; underground dwarfs of, 142-3.
Kettlester, Shetland; remembered as a dwarf abode, 59.
Kildrummy, Aberdeenshire; group of Weems, Pechts' Houses, or Fairy Halls at K., 101.
Kirkcudbright: "_in terra Pictorum_," 69_n_. (_See_ also Galloway.)
Knowth (_Cnoghbha_), County Meath; chambered mound, 84, 132-4, 137, 140, 151_n_.
Kundebye, Denmark; reputed chambered mound at, 155_n_.
Lapps. (_See_ Finns and Lapps.)
Leinster: Feens of, 81-2; Fairies of, 81-2, 92.
_Leum-an-t'-Shithiche_, 147_n_.
Limerick: Knockfierin, 93, 145.
Lincolnshire; shag-boys, fairies and red-caps in, 107_n_.
Lochlin or Lochlan; believed to denote the territory between the Rhine and the Elbe, but also applied to Scandinavia, 49.
Lofoten; Finns or Lapps of L. neighbourhood in 12th century, 21, 39.
Maes-how, Orkney. (_See_ Mounds.)
Magic: of the Shetland Finns, 1-5, 14; of the Norwegian Finns or Lapps, 16, 41, 53; of Manx women, 16; of Picts, 53; of Eskimos, 53, 63; of traditional dwarfs, 91, 106.
Man, Isle of: Inter-marriages of land-folk and sea-folk, 15; witches selling winds to sailors, 16; traditional description of departure of fairies, 17.
Mandans of Upper Missouri; skin-boats of, 18.
Mangelbierg, Denmark. (_See_ Mounds.)
Mer-men and Mer-women. (_See_ Sea-Folk.)
Migvie, Aberdeenshire; Weem, Pecht's House, or Fairy Hall at, 101.
Milesians: A name given to the Gaelic-speaking race, 46, 51; conquered the "Cruithne" or "Pechts" of Scotland in the ninth century, 51; conquered the "Dananns" of Ireland at an earlier period, as described in tradition, 125-126; the possession of a dwarf restricted in Ireland and Gaelic-Scotland to families of Milesian descent, 141-142, 144.
Mounds. Chambered M's of the Pechts described, 61-2, 64; of the Eskimos, 62-3; of both, 77-8. The _sithean_, _sithbhrog_, etc., 78-79. The "Pelasgic arch" of the chambered mound, 62, 78_n_.
Mounds ascertained to be chambered: Brugh of the Boyne, county Meath, 84, 111, 119-133, 153. Dowth mound, County Meath, 84, 111, 119, 132-3, 137. Maes-how, Orkney, 106-110, 113, 114, 121, 153. Mound on Wideford Hill, Orkney, 62. Coldoch "broch," Perthshire, 119, 149-151, 153. Ashbury, Berkshire, 132_n_. Denghoog, Sylt, 87, 112-113, 122. Eskimo Mounds in Labrador and Greenland, 62-4, 155. Mycenæ "treasure house," 153.
Mounds reputed to be chambered: In the British Isles:-- "Some small hillocks" in Evie, Orkney, 111_n_. "Tomhan" near Lairg, Sutherlandshire, 116-117. _Tombuidhe Ghearrloch_, Ross-shire, 112, 114. _Sitheanan Dubha_, Gairloch, Ross-shire, 118. Specimens of the "Cathair Mhor" and the "Cathair Bheag" in the district of Gairloch, Ross-shire, 118. _Tomnahurich_, Inverness-shire, 146-149, 153. _Cnoc Fraing_, Inverness-shire, (? "mountain"), 146. _Shiathan Mor_, Inverness-shire, (? "mountain"), 146. Doon of Rothiemurchus, Inverness-shire, 144-5. _Sithean_ in Corrie-Vinnean, Nether Lochaber, Inverness-shire, 118. _Sithean Mor_ and _Sithean Beag_, in Nether Lochaber, Inverness-shire, 147. "Tulman" near Baile Thangasdail, Barra, Inverness-shire, 115. At Ballindalloch, Banffshire, 117. Bissau, Aberdeenshire, 117. _Sithean Mor_ and _Sithean Beag_, in island of Colonsay, Argyleshire, 147. "Digh" at Borra-cheill, in island of Islay, Argyleshire (? the "_Digh mhòr Thallanta_" of McAlpine's Dictionary), 79_n_. _Ben-cnock_, island of Islay, Argyleshire, 114. _Cnock-doun_, (?) island of Islay, Argyleshire, 114. _Crocan Corr_, Kilbrandon, Lorn, Argyleshire, 114. "Hill" at Muckairn, Argyleshire, 114. "Fairy Knowe" or "Doon" of Aberfoyle, Perthshire, 152-154. "Goblin Knowe" (_Cnoc nam Bocan_), Menteith, Perthshire, 151. "Fairy Knowe" beside Broch of Coldoch, Perthshire, 119, 149, 151. Ternavie, Perthshire, 150-151. "Castle Hill" at Clunie, Perthshire, 145-146. Kenilworth, Warwickshire, 142-143. Knowth (_Cnoghbha_), County Meath, 132-140, 151_n_. _Sidh Nectain_, or Hill of Carbury, (? its summit), W. Meath, 84_n_. Knockfierin, County Limerick, 93, 145. In Denmark:-- Mangelbierg, Hirschholm, Hösterkiöb Mark, 155_n_. Gillesbierg, Hirschholm, Hösterkiöb Mark, 155_n_. Wheel-hill, Gudmandstrup, Lordship of Odd, 155_n_. Steensbierg, Ouröe, Joegerspriis, 155_n_. Kundebye, Holbeck, 155_n_. Gultebierg, 155_n_. Söbierg, 155_n_. Mound (or underground gallery) between Aagerup and Mamp, 155_n_. The residence of a certain "hill-man" near Eckwadt, 85_n_. In Belgium:-- Aschberg, Casterlé, province of Antwerp, 86-7, 155_n_. In North America:-- Group of "hillocks" situated, it is believed, on the northern side of Plymouth Harbour, assumed to be the residences of tenth-century "Skraelings" or "Lapps" of America, Appendix B.
Mounds, and other localities, referred to as homes or resorts of dwarfs, fairies, Feens, gubbins, etc.:-- Norwick, Shetland, 103-4. Unst, Shetland, 106. Villenshaw, (?) Orkney, 105, 116. _Eilean Suthainn_, Loch Maree, 118. _Tobar na Feinne_, 43. _Tobar an t' Shithein_, Nether Lochaber, 147_n_. _Glac an t' Shithein_, Nether Lochaber, 147_n_. _Leum an t' Shithiche_, Nether Lochaber, 147_n_. _Glen-na-Shirich_, Nether Lochaber, 147_n_. _Ruadh na Sirach_, Kerrera, 147_n_. White Cater Thun, Forfarshire, 99, 150_n_. Abernethy, Perthshire, 150. Glenshee (2) and Glen Almond, Perthshire, 77, 94-5. _Coir-nan-Uruisgean_, Perthshire, 151-2. "Cavern" at Yester, 143. Hill-country of Galloway, 115-6. Thorpe, Lincolnshire, 107_n_. Beelsby, Lincolnshire, 107_n_. Mowddwy, Merionethshire, 160-1. _Craig y Ddinas_, Glamorganshire, 143_n_. Nympton, Devonshire, 162. Dartmore, Devonshire, 162. Penzance, Cornwall, 162_n_. _Sith Eamhna_, Armagh, 133-4. Cruachan _rath_, Connaught, 68_n_, 125_n_, 136, 152_n_. Tienen, The Netherlands, 86. (_See_ also "Underground Galleries.")
Mulgrave Castle, Yorkshire, 86, 100.
Munster. Fairies of M., 93.
Netherlands. Resemblance of Tienen dwarfs to Scotch and Northumbrian Picts, 86.
Nine. Shetland Finns held festival every ninth night, 3. "Nine men" apparently the smallest division of a Feenian army, 48.
Norns identified with dwarfs, 91.
Northumberland. Traditional ideas regarding the Picts, 67, 157.
Norway. Finns from N., 2-5; Annual of N., 37; Lofoten Finns, 21, 39; Ringerike, Hadeland, and Thoten governed by semi-Finns, 40-42.
Oestrymnic Isles; skin-boats used by natives of, 19-20.
Oisin, 75-77.
Orkney. Picts were early inhabitants of O., 104; O. governed by a semi-Finn in tenth century, 41. (_See_ also Burray, Eday, Evie, Finnmen, Maes-how, Ronaldshay, Stronsay, Westray.)
Oscar of Emhain, 49.
Pabbay, Hebrides, a haunt of 17th-century pirates, 29.
"Pelasgic arch" of chambered mound, 62, 78_n_, 103, 110-111.
Pickering Castle, Yorkshire, 86, 100.
Picts, Piks, Pechs, Pechts, etc. (_See_ also Cruithne.) P's said to have been first settlers in Orkney and Shetland, 59, 104. Their small boats, 59, 178-179. Their dwarfish stature, 58-60, 65. Their great strength, 60, 66-7, 74. Their mounds or underground houses, 58-66, 77-78. Their method of building, 67. White Cater Thun, Brechin Tower, Abernethy Tower, Glasgow Cathedral, Dunstanborough Castle, the Catrail, the Wall of Hadrian, and many old castles, popularly believed to have been built by P's, 67-74, 99-100. Their last stronghold in Galloway, 99. P's, or Gallowaymen, at the Battle of the Standard, 69-70_n_. P's popularly regarded as magicians and supernatural beings, 53, 79-80, 99. P's associated with Feens, 51, 64-5; with Fions, Feins, and Fairies of Brittany, 85; and with a Danish "hill-man," 85-6_n_. P's as serfs or drudges, 67-74, 76. P's identified by J. F. Campbell with Lapps and Fairies, 96. P's and King Arthur, 143_n_. Hairiness of P's, 157-8. Their swiftness of foot, 177.
Pict or Pecht-land, 52, 68-73.
Pixies of Cornwall and Devon, 162.
"Pucks" of Sylt, 87.
Red-caps. In Sylt, 87. In Lincolnshire 107_n_. (_See_ also 129_n_ and 142.)
Reindeer in Scotland, 96-97.
Ringerike, Norway, 40-2.
Rona, Hebrides, and its "pirates," 29.
Ronaldshay (North), 41.
Ross-shire; in 17th century, 29-30, 45; a legendary mound in, 112.
Samoyeds. Bergen _Strils_ conjectured to have linguistic affinity with S., 7_n_. Skin-boats of S., 18.
Savages: Orkney Finnmen spoken of as S., 10, 30-31. Certain Hebrideans referred to as S., 28, 29, 31. Strathnaver people in 1658 "barbarous," 30. Term "Hottentot" applied to traditional builders in Mid-Lothian, 71.
Sea-Folk. Their inter-marriages with land-folk:-- In Shetland, 1-5, 15; in Hebrides, 15; in Ireland, 2, 15; in Isle of Man, 15; in Wales, 2, 15. Mer-women as wives and mothers of land-folk, 1-5, 13, 15.
Seal-men and Selkie-wives, 1-5, 12, 13, 15_n_, 34_n_.
Seelie court, The, 97.
Seffister, Shetland, and its "trow's door," 59.
Shag-boys, hog-boys, or how-folk, 107.
Shaggy Men. Pechts, 157-8; Traditional dwarfs generally, 158-164; Ainos of Japan, 166 _et seq._
Sheeans or _Sitheanan_. (_See_ Mounds.)
Shetland. Dwarf abodes in S., 59, 102-3, 106. Picts early inhabitants of S., 104. (_See_ also Finns of S.)
Shool Skerry, or Sule Skerry, 3, 34_n_.
Sithe-folk. (_See_ also Fairies.) _Sidhe_ and _Tshud_, 89-90. Seid-men, 90-91. Worship of S., 92. S. of North of Ireland and Munster, 93. Identified with Dananns, 126. Associated with Feens, 128-9. Former high rank, 132.
Skin-boats: "Sea-skin or seal-skin" of Shetland Finns, 1-5, 8. Kayaks of Orkney Finnmen, 5-11, 18-19. Skin-boats of Iberians, Hebrideans, Irish, Welsh, Scotch, Samoyeds, Skraelings, Eskimos, Mandans, 8, 12-13, 18-22. Fin's skin-boat, 55-6. Skin-boat of Picts, 178-9. Skin-boat of North American "Lapps" or "Skraelings," 7, Appendix B.
Skraelings, 7, Appendix B.
Smiths, Underground: The "Noble Smith" and his chambered mound, 132-4; Wayland Smith's chambered mound, 132_n_; Smiths working in "cave" of Cruachan, 136; German traditional idea of such people, 163-4.
Stronsay, Orkney. Finnman seen there about year 1700, 6.
Teith valley. Mounds of, 114. Assumed to be the "vallis" referred to by Gildas, as traversed by the Picts, 178_n_.
Thorpe, Lincolnshire; shag-boys at, 107_n_.
Thoten, Norway, 40-2.
Tialdasund, Norway, 21.
Tienen, Netherlands; dwarfs of, 86.
_Tombuidhe Ghearrloch_; a reputed chambered mound, 112.
Trows, Trolls, or Trollmen. (_See_ Dwarfs.)
Tshuds, 89-90.
Ugrians. (_See_ Finns, Lapps, Skraelings, etc.)
Uist, Hebrides 29.
Ulster. Feens of, 76, 93; Cruithne or Picts of, 93; skin-boats of, 18. (_See_ also Eamhain.)
Underground Chambers. (_See_ also Mounds.) Indications, apart from those of tradition, that these were dwelling-places, 101-2, 113 (fire-place).
Underground galleries, not having mounds over them, 101-4.
Unst, Shetland, 106.
_Ur-uisg_, or Water-man, 142_n_, 158-164, 178-9.
Urus. (_See_ Bugle.)
Valas, or Völvas, 90-2.
Villenshaw: (?) a locality in Orkney, 105.
Walpurgis Night. (_See_ Beltin.)
Weems. (_See_ Mounds and Underground galleries.)
Westray, Orkney. Finnman seen near W. _circa_ 1700, 5, 6, 33-4; Fairies said to be seen at Fitty Hill _circa_ 1700, 33; defeat of Hebrideans at Fitty Hill, 33.
Wideford Hill, Orkney; chambered mound at, 62.
Witchcraft. (_See_ Magic.)
Yorkshire tradition as to "supernatural" labourers at Mulgrave and Pickering Castles, 86, 100.
Zee-Woners. (_See_ Sea-Folk.)
Woodfall & Kinder, Printers, 70 to 76, Long Acre, London, W.C.
....
Transcriber's Note:
Many words in this text have alternate spellings due to language differences or variations within languages.
Original spelling has been preserved, as have any inconsistencies.
Minor punctuation errors have been repaired.
In this etext a superscript character is represented by ^
End of Project Gutenberg's The Testimony of Tradition, by David MacRitchie