Excepts from FOLKLORE OF SCOTTISH LOCHS AND SPRINGS (1893)

Sailors and fishermen still cherish superstitions of their own. Majesty is not
the only feature of the changeful ocean that strikes them. They are keenly
alive to its mystery and to the possibilities of life within its depths. Strange
creatures have their home there, the mighty sea serpent and the less
formidable mermen and mermaidens. Among the Shetland Islands mer-folk
were recognized denizens of the sea, and were known by the name of Seatrows. These singular beings dwelt in the caves of ocean, and came up to
disport themselves on the shores of the islands. A favourite haunt of theirs
was the Ve Skerries, about seven miles north-west of Papa-Stour. They
usually rose through the water in the shape of seals, and when they reached
the beach they slipped off their skins and appeared like ordinary mortals, the
females being of exceeding beauty. If the skins could be snatched away on
these occasions, their owners were powerless to escape into the sea again.
Sometimes these creatures were entangled in the nets of fishermen or were
caught by hooks. If they were shot when in seal form, a tempest arose as
soon as their blood was mingled with the water of the sea. A family living
within recent times was believed to be descended from a human father and a
mermaid mother, the man having captured his bride by stealing her seal's
skin. After some years spent on land this sea lady recovered her skin, and at
once returned to her native element. The members of the family were said to
have hands bearing some resemblance to the forefeet of a seal. --WORSHIP OF WATER, pp 4-5.
The Church of St. Vigeans, in Forfarshire, is well known to antiquaries in
connection with its interesting sculptured stones. An old tradition relates
that the materials for the building were carried by a water-kelpie, and that
the foundations were laid on large bars of iron. Underneath the structure
was said to be a deep lake. The tradition further relates that the kelpie
prophesied that an incumbent of the church would commit suicide, and that,
on the occasion of the first communion after, the church would sink into the
lake. At the beginning of the eighteenth century the minister of the parish
did commit suicide, and so strong was the superstition that the sacramental
rite was not observed till 1736. In connection with the event several
hundred people took up a position on a neighboring rising ground to watch
what would happen. These spectators have passed away, but the church
remains. --- WORSHIP OF WATER, pp 13.

Not far from the town of Cromarty is St. Bennet's Spring, beside the ruins of
St. Bennet's Chapel. Close to the spot once stood a stone trough, termed The
Fairies' Cradle. Hugh Miller, in his "Scenes and Legends of the North of
Scotland," says that this trough was "famous for virtues derived from the
saint, like those of the well. For, if a child was carried away by the fairies
and some mischievous imp left in its place, the parents had only to lay the
changeling in this trough, and, by some invisible process, their child would
be immediately restored to them. The Fairies' Cradle came to a sudden end
about the year 1745. It was then broken to pieces by the parish minister,
with the assistance of two of his elders, that it might no longer serve the
purposes of superstition." --- STONE BLOCKS AND SAINTS' SPRINGS,
pp 84.
The power of some wells over the lower animals was remarkable. A spring
at Harpham, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, dedicated to St. John of
Beverley, was believed to subdue the fiercest animal. A raging bull, when
brought to it, became as gentle as a lamb. A spring of this kind would
indeed be a great boon in the country to timid, town-bred tourists when
crossing fields where there are cattle. To the margin of such a spring they
could retreat and there feel safe. Black Mere, at Morridge, near Leek, in
Staffordshire, was credited with the power of frightening away animals.
Cattle would not drink its water; and birds would not fly over it. A mermaid
was believed to dwell in its depths. A reminiscence of this belief is to be
found in the name of "The Mermaid," a wayside inn in the neighborhood
frequented by sportsmen. Some wells keep a sharp look-out on the use made
of their water. A certain spring at Gilsland, in Cumberland, wished to
dispense its favours freely, i.e., without making the public pay for them. The
proprietor of the ground, however, resolved to turn, what he counted, an
honest penny, and built a house over the spring for the sale of the water. The
fountain, much aggrieved at this, forthwith dried up. The house, not being
required, was taken down, and the benevolent water once more made its
appearance. --- SOME WONDERFUL WELLS, pp 136-137
A noted demon-steed once inhabited Loch Ness, and was a cause of terror to
the inhabitants of the neighbourhood. Like other kelpies, he was in the
habit of browsing along the roadside, all bridled and saddled, as if waiting
for some one to mount him. When any unwary traveller did so, the kelpy

took to his heels, and presently plunged into deep water with his victim on
his back, Mr. W. G. Stewart, in his "Highland Superstitions and
Amusements," tells a story to show that the kelpy in question did not always
have things his own way. A Highlander of the name of MacGrigor resolved
to throw himself in the way of the water-horse in the hope of getting the
better of him. The meeting took place in the solitary pass of Slochd-Muichd,
between Strathspey and Inverness. The kelpy looked as innocent as usual,
and was considerably startled when MacGrigor, sword in hand, struck him a
blow on the nose. The weapon cut through the bridle, and the bit, falling to
the ground, was instantly picked up by MacGrigor. This was the turning
point of the encounter. The kelpy was powerless without his bit, and
requested to have it restored. Though a horse, the kelpy had the power of
human speech, and conversed, doubtless in excellent Gaelic, with his victor,
using various arguments to bring about the restoration of his lost property.
Finding that these were unavailing, he prophesied that MacGrigor would
never enter his house with the bit in his possession, and when they arrived at
the door he planted himself in front of it to block the entrance. The
Highlander, however, outwitted the kelpy, for, going round to the back of
his house, he called his wife and flung the bit to her through a window.
Returning to the kelpy, he told him where the bit was, and assured him that
he would never get it back again. As there was a rowan cross above the door
the demon-steed could not enter the house, and presently departed uttering
certain exclamations not intended for benedictions. Those who doubt the
truthfulness of the narrative may have their doubts lessened when they learn
that this was not the only case of a water-horse's bit becoming the property
of a human being. The Rev. Dr. Stewart narrates an anecdote bearing on
this. A drover, whose home was in Nether Lochaber, was returning from a
market at Pitlochry by way of the Moor of Rannoch. Night came on ; but, as
the moon was bright, he continued his journey without difficulty. On
reaching Lochanna Guile, he sat down to refresh himself with bread, cheese,
and milk. While partaking of this temperate repast he caught sight of
something glittering on the ground, and, picking it up, he found it to be a
horse's bridle. Next morning he was astonished to find that the bit and
buckles were of pure silver and the reins of soft and beautifully speckled
leather. He was still more surprised to find that the bit when touched was
unbearably hot. A wise woman from a neighboring glen was called in to
solve the mystery. She at once recognized the article to be a water-horse's
bridle, and accounted for the high temperature of the bit on the ground that
the silver still retained the heat that it possessed when in a molten state
below ground. The reins, she said, were made of the skin of a certain

poisonous serpent that inhabited pools frequented by water-horses.

According to her directions, the bridle was hung on a cromag or crook of
rowan wood. Its presence brought a blessing to the house, and the drover
prospered in all his undertakings. When he died, having no children of his
own, he bequeathed the magical bridle to his grandnephew, who prospered
in his turn. --- MORE WATER-SPIRITS, pp 173-176