Ward & Lock's descriptive and pictorial guide to the Isle of Man ...

From Douglas to Peel. 103!which, in the fine old fairy times, a goblin (supposed tohave been a fairy turned out of the community for misbehaviour)amused himi=elf in his peculiar fashion. He isknown to legend as the PhjTinodderee, or " hairy stocldngs,"from the 'words fi/niioj, hair, and oaslv/rce, stocking. Sometimesthis strange creature—sufficiently punished, Ave shouldthink, for a]l his misdoings, by leaving siiteh a name to posterity— would behave in a good-natured manner, and cut and carryhay which might have suffered from the weather ; but ifinterfered with, or if the manner in which he did his workwas grumbled at, he could be very spiteful indeed. Havingbeen offended in this manner once, he gave such proofs ofhis ill-temper that for several years nobody would ventureto mow the grass. At length a bold man-at-arms fromPeel Castle undertook the task. Setting to work in themiddle of the field, he mowed round and round in circles,keeping one eye on the scythe, and the other on the lookoutfor old Hairy-legs, so that he might not be taken unawares.The field w^as mown in this circidar fashion, and sogained the name of the Round Meadow. The troublesomeelf of bad character has not been heard of since.The land about hero is known as the Curraghglass, or" grey bog." It consists chiefly of peat beds on which bogoakand the remains of the great Irish oak have been found.The road now runs through a valley which looks like acleft in the mountain range. On the left the Sliru Whallinrises to the lieight of 1,086 feet. The slope is a sheer descentto the valley, at an angle of about 40 degrees. We aretold that this mountain-side was very convenient in theold days, when suspected witches were tested by ordeal,from which if they emerged in safety they were at oncefound guilty, and if they were killed, then- innocence wasestablished to the great satisfaction of their survi\ang friends.The mode of dealing with such persons in this localitywas to enclose them in bai-rels filled with nails in the interior,and I'oll them down the mountain-side. Poor wretchesWe comfort ourselves by supposing that this story is nomore true than a hundred other legends that float in theatmosphere of this wonderful little island. There are, however,some persons who believe that the mountain is hauntedby the spirit of one of the " witches," and that her groans ofagony may be heard at midnight.At BaUacrainc is the junction of the high roads to Castletop,Douglas, Piamsey, and Peel; and half a mile farther(eight miles from Douglas) is