Witchcraft and superstitious record in the south-western district of ScotlandWood, J. Maxwell (John Maxwell)
History
Witchcraft and superstitious record in the south-western district of Scotland
Wood, J. Maxwell (John Maxwell)
Folklore -- Scotland; Witchcraft -- Scotland
"Many years ago a drover, while making his way north and crossing that
wild and thinly populated district which lies between the head of the
parish of Parton and the Moor of Corsock had the following uncanny
experience: He had left the Parton district late in the afternoon with the
intention of reaching a farm-house some miles north of the village of
Corsock. By the time he reached the path over Corsock Hill, however, it
had become dark, and occasional flashes of lightning foretold that a storm
was at hand. With loud peals of thunder, vivid flashes of lightning, and a
downpour of rain the storm at last broke. The only shelter near at hand
was some thorn bushes by the roadside, under which the drover crept and
stayed for fully an hour, while the storm raged and the darkness
increased. When the storm had somewhat abated the drover set out once
more, hurrying as fast as the darkness would allow him. He had reached a
very desolate part of the moor when his collie gave a low whine and crept
close to his master's heels. The drover stood up for a moment to try and
find a reason for the dog's behaviour, when down in the glen between the
hills he heard what at first appeared the sound of bagpipes, which
increased quickly to a shrill piercing wailing that struck terror to his
heart, the collie creeping closer and closer to his heel whining in a way
that showed he was as much frightened as his master.
Standing irresolute, a blaze of blue light flashed right in front of him,
in the centre of which appeared the figure of a piper, his pipes standing
like horns against the background of blue light. The figure moved
backwards and forwards playing the wildest of music all the time. It next
seemed to come nearer and nearer, and the drover, now transfixed to earth
with terror, saw that the piper was headless, and his body so thin that
surrounding hills and country could be seen right throught it. A blinding
flash of fire, followed by an ear-splitting clap of thunder, brought
matters to a close for the time being, and the drover fell prostrate among
the heather. When he recovered his senses the strange light had gone, and
with it the headless piper. The storm had cleared off, and in due time he
reached the farm, where he was put up for the night. When he told his
story no one spoke for a moment or two, then the farmer's aged father
broke silence: 'Aye, aye, lad, ye hae seen the ghost o' the piper wha was
murdered on his wey frae Patiesthorn.[44] I hae had the same fearsome
experience myself, tho' its mair than saxty years syne.'"(85)
In the Dundrennan district of Kirkcudbright a persisted belief lingers
concerning a headless lady haunting the Buckland Glen. The following
narrative which has been handed down lends an increased interest to the
tradition:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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