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THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 13
FAIKIES IN THE HIGHLANDS.
A BELIEF in fairies prevailed very much in the Highlands of old, nor at
this day is it quite obliterated. The gently rising conical hills were as-
signed them as dwellings, and these were namd sometimes Sin-shill, the
habitation of a multitude, or Sitheanan Sith, peace and dunan, a
mound. This name was derived from the practice of the Druids, who
were wont occasionally to retire to green eminences to administer justice,
establish peace, and compose differences between parties. As that vener-
able order taught a Saoghal, or world beyond the present, their followers,
when they were no more, fondly imagined that the seats where they exercised
a virtue so beneficial to mankind were still inhabited by them in their
disembodied state and though inclined still to peace (hence named Daoine-
Sithe, or men of peace), they have become not absolutely malevolent but
peevish and repining, envying mankind their more complete and substantial
enjoyment. They are supposed to enjoy in their subterraneous
recesses a sort of shadowy happiness a tinsel grandeur which, however,
they would willingly exchange for the more solid joys of mortality.
Those grassy eminences where they celebrate their nocturnal festivities
" by the light of the moon," are mostly by the sides of lakes and rivers,
and by the skirts of th u ,se many are still afraid to pass after sunset.
About a mile beyond the source of the Forth above Loch Con there
is a place called Coire Shithean, orthe cove of the men of peace, which is still
supposed to be a favourite place of their residence, and on the banks of
the river Beauly there are many favourite spots for fairy homes. It is
believed that if on Halloween any person alone goes round one of these
little hillocks nine times towards the left a door will open by which he
will be admitted into their subterraneous abodes. Many, it is said,
mortal men have been entertained in their secret recesses. These have
been received into the most splendid apartments and regaled with the
most sumptuous banquets and delicious wines, and associated with their
females, who surpass the daughters of men in beauty.
The seemingly happy inhabitants pass their time in festivity and in
dancing to the softest music. But unhappy is the mortal who joins in
their joys or partakes of their dainties. By this indulgence he forfeits for
ever the society of men, and is bound down irrevocably to the condition
of a Sithich, or man of peace, unless released by one possessed of the
countervailing spell. They are supposed to be peculiarly anxious to
strengthen their ranks by the acquisition of beautiful children, maidens,
and wives, and to lose no opportunity of doing so by fair or foul means,
as tradition abundantly has established, a year and a day being, however,
allowed for a return to human society. The wife of a Lothian farmer had
been snatched away by the fairies. During the year which followed she
had repeatedly appeared on Sundays in the midst of her children combing
their hair. On one of these occasions she was accosted by her husband,
when she instructed him how to rescue her at the next Hallow-eve proces
ion. The farmer coned his lesson carefully, and on the appointed
d-i v proceeded to a plot of furze to await the arrival of the procession. It
ciiuie, but the ringing of the fairy bridles so confused them that the train