Welsh Folk-Lore | Page 2

an isolated Welsh parson far removed from books
and libraries. To him I am indebted for the perusal of many MSS. To
the Rev. David James, formerly Rector of Garthbeibio, now of Pennant,

and to his predecessor the Rev. W. E. Jones, Bylchau; the late Rev.
Ellis Roberts (Elis Wyn o Wyrfai); the Rev. M. Hughes, Derwen; the
Rev. W. J. Williams, Llanfihangel-Glyn-Myfyr, and in a great degree to
his aged friend, the Rev. E. Evans, Llanfihangel, near Llanfyllin, whose
conversation in and love of Welsh literature of all kinds, including old
Welsh Almanacks, was almost without limit, and whose knowledge
and thorough sympathy with his countrymen made his company most
enjoyable. To him and to all these gentlemen above named, and to
others, whose names appear in the body of this work, the writer is
greatly indebted, and he tenders his best thanks to them all.
The many books from which quotations are made are all mentioned in
connection with the information extracted from their pages.
Welsh Folk-lore is almost inexhaustible, and in these pages the writer
treats of only one branch of popular superstitions. Ancient customs are
herein only incidentally referred to, but they are very interesting, and
worthy of a full description. Superstitions associated with particular
days and seasons are also omitted. Weather signs are passed over, Holy
wells around which cluster superstitions of bye-gone days form no part
of this essay. But on all these, and other branches of Folk-lore, the
author has collected much information from the aged Welsh peasant,
and possibly some day in the uncertain future he may publish a
continuation of the present volume.
He has already all but finished a volume on the Holy Wells of North
Wales, and this he hopes to publish at no very distance period.
The author has endeavoured in all instances to give the names of his
informants, but often and again, when pencil and paper were produced,
he was requested not to mention in print the name of the person who
was speaking to him. This request was made, not because the
information was incorrect, but from false delicacy; still, in every
instance, the writer respected this request. He, however, wishes to state
emphatically that he has authority for every single bit of Folk-lore
recorded. Very often his work was merely that of a translator, for most
of his information, derived from the people, was spoken in Welsh, but
he has given in every instance a literal rendering of the narrative, just as

he heard it, without embellishments or additions of any kind
whatsoever.
ELIAS OWEN
Llanyblodwel Vicarage, St. Mark's Day, 1896.

INDEX
Aberhafesp, Spirit in Church of 169 Angelystor, announcing deaths 170
AEschylus' Cave-dwellers 113 Annwn, Gwragedd 3 134 Annwn, Plant
3 Antagonism between Pagan faiths 160 161 181 Animal Folk-Lore
308-352 Ass 337 Bee 337-340 Birds Singing 310 Flocking 310 Blind
worm 352 Cat 321 323 340-342 Cow 129-137 342 Crow 304 314-315
Crane 321 Crickets 342-3 Cuckoo 317-321 Cock 310 321 Duck 321
Eagle 321 Flying Serpent 349 Frog 281 Fox 193 Goose 304 305 312
Goatsucker 322 Haddock 345 Hare 343-345 Heron 321 323 Hen 305
322 Hedgehog 345 Horse 346 Jackdaw 324 Ladybird 347 Magpie
324-327 Mice 348 Mole 348 Owl 304 327 Peacock 327 Pigeon 327
Pigs 348 Raven 304 328 Rook, Crow 304 314 316 316 Robin
Redbreast 329 332 Seagull 329 330 Sawyer, Tit 331 Snakes 348-350
Slowworm 352 Sheep 351 Swallow 330 331 Swan 331 Swift 331
Spider 351 Squirrel 351 Tit-Major 331 Woodpigeon 333-336
Woodpecker 336 Wren 331-333 Yellowhammer 337
All Hallow Eve, Nos Glan Gaua 95 Spirits abroad 138-9 168-70
Divination on 280-1 286 288-9 Apparitions 181-209 293-297 Applepip
divination 290 Arawn 128 Avanc 133
"Bardd Cwsg, Y" 144 284 285 Baring-Gould--Spirit leaving body 293
Piper of Hamelin 307 Beaumaris spirit tale 293 Bell, Hand, used at
funerals 171-2 Corpse 172 Passing 171-2 Veneration for 172 Devil
afraid of 171 Ringing at storms 173 Spirits flee before sound of 173
Bella Fawr, a witch 223 Betty'r Bont, a witch 236 240 Belief in
witchcraft 217 Bennion, Doctor 216 Bees, Buying a hive of 337
Swarming 338 Strange swarm 339 Deserting hive 339 Hive in roof of

house 339 Informing bees of a death 339 Putting bees into mourning
340 Stolen 340 Bendith y Mamau 2 Bible, a talisman 151 245 248
Bible and key divination 288 Bingley's North Wales--Knockers 121
Birds singing in the night 305 before February 310 Flocking in early
Autumn 310 Feathers of 310 Blindworm 352 Boy taken to Fairyland 48
Brenhin Llwyd 142 Bryn Eglwys Man and Fairies 36 "British Goblins,"
Fairy dances 94 97 "Brython, Y," Fairies' revels 95 Burne's, Miss,
Legend of White Cow 131-2 Burns, Old Nick in Kirk 168 Nut
divination 289
Canwyll Corph, see Corpse Candle, Canoe