Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 6 1888.djvu/140

 132 extempore effusion in verse, which either contains some trait of satire, or is calculated to excite a roar of laughter.~(Pp, 403-407.)

The people of Feroe have so-called hulde-folk, who reside in the fields; are of large stature, wear a grey dress, and on their heads black hats. These beings possess large fat cows and sheep, and also dogs; which, though invisible, are sometimes, but very seldom, seen by the inhabitants. They are fond of Christian women as well as of children, and often carry the latter away, leaving their own in their stead. Nikar is a supposed being which resides in the fresh waters or lakes, drags people into them, and drowns them. Niägruisar (hobgoblins) are small beings in the human form, with red caps on their heads which bring good fortune to the place where they have taken up their abode. Vattrar are good beings, which reside for the most part in churchyards. Marra lie upon people when asleep, and almost suffocate them; but if they are able to pronounce the name of Jesus they immediately betake themselves to flight; they may be driven away also by keeping a knife in the house, and by repeating certain words which I do not at present remember. In the seventeenth century, when Debes wrote his Feroa Resarata, several of the inhabitants had been carried away by these evil spirits, some of whom never appeared, but the greater part of them were again found, or returned home of their own accord. People may be carried away in this manner either by these evil spirits or by Satan himself. In the course of the last century these islands were pretty free from such terrible events, but not entirely; for when I left Feroe there was still living in Osteroe a man little more than forty years of age, who, when a child about three years old, was carried away from his father's house, without any one knowing whither, or in what manner; but after a search of two days the child was found asleep on a rock, at the distance of about two miles from its home. This circumstance is confirmed by the testimony of many persons now living; but it is not known what kind of a spirit could have carried this child to such a distance from the place of its residence.

Witches sometimes think proper to ride on the backs of the cows, which produce in them a disease called trolri. And when a cow has