The Mysteries of All Nations: Rise and Progress of Superstition, Laws Against and Trials of Witches, Ancient and Modern Delusions Together with Strange Customs, Fables, and TalesGrant, James (Archaeologist)
History
The Mysteries of All Nations: Rise and Progress of Superstition, Laws Against and Trials of Witches, Ancient and Modern Delusions Together with Strange Customs, Fables, and Tales
Grant, James (Archaeologist)
Occultism; Superstition; Trials (Witchcraft)
Tales are related in the Scotch Highlands of witches being mortally
worried by dogs while they (the witches) appeared in the likeness of a
hare. They are so similar in all essential particulars, that one is
inclined to think that they are different versions of the same story.
Here, at all events, is one version:--A hunter, one early morning,
observed an old woman prowling about a glen in a suspicious manner.
Wishing to know what she was about, he watched her movements, and
succeeded in getting so near her that he was able to recognise her
features. She was a near neighbour of his own, held in good repute by
all in the district. Observing him approaching, the old woman walked
away quickly, to avoid him recognising her; but, as the hunter was
likely to overtake her, she transformed herself into the likeness of a
hare, and darted away at great speed. The hunter's dog gave chase,
and, after a long run, seized her. At that instant a shriek arose
that made the hills echo and re-echo. Hurrying forward to call off his
dogs, the hunter came within a few paces of the spot where the
struggle was going on, when a raven rose from the ground and flew
away, croaking angrily. A pool of blood marked the place, and his two
dogs lay dead. On returning home, he learned that the old woman whom
he had seen transformed into a hare lay dangerously ill in her house.
At night she died. The same night another neighbour of the woman was
returning home, whistling to keep up his courage, for he had to pass
the old parish church and burying-ground, and walk through a wood, the
favourite resort of witches and evil spirits. As the deep shadows of
the forest were beginning to conceal the moon from view, he was
startled by the appearance of a woman running in the direction of the
church. She asked if she could reach it by twelve o'clock. He answered
that he thought she could if she ran fast. His impression was that the
voice, face, and figure were those of the woman the hunter had
surprised in the morning. A little farther on he met two hounds
coursing along at great speed. In a few minutes he met a black man
riding on a black horse. The horseman inquired whether the traveller
had seen a woman, and two dogs pursuing her. On replying in the
affirmative, the horseman asked a second question, whether he thought
the dogs would overtake her before she went the length of the old
church? With a faltering voice he said it was likely they would. The
frightened traveller, more dead than alive, observed that the black
man had eyes like balls of fire, and that his horse breathed smoke and
flame. As swift as his feet could carry him, the pedestrian hastened
homeward, trusting that the terrors of the night were past, yet
fearing and trembling exceedingly. Having to pass the old woman's
house, and seeing a light, he went in, and then learned that she was
dead. He had no doubt that the human-like figure he saw running on
foot towards the church was the spirit of the departed witch, and that
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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