Amongst the swirling currents and white capped blue-green waters, just where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean, close by St. Giles and near to Misty Marble Island, past Anse Gouleme and Anse Brisant, towards the Bird of Paradise Island and down the coast past Speyside to Fat Hog Bay, it is remembered from long ago that this was where the mermaids came to play. Tobago mermaids are male and live in the deep, deep sea. They mate with the fairymaids of the rivers and the secret mountain pools, riding upon the crest of waves, they are handsome men like kings of old or warriors of long ago, beplumed and richly garbed. They may grant a wish, transform mediocrity into genius and conger wealth and power. Sometimes the water people seek relationships with mortals.
Some men are particularly attractive to the fairy maids, especially men with smooth skin.
Fairymaids are said to be beautiful. With long lush hair and one tiny foot in the shape of a deer s hoof, a fairymaid may use her power to turn a man s head. She may steal his shadow and leave him quite demented. In which case, accompanied by friends and family and with the help of a workman , he must go to the river and address the water pleading for the restoration of his lost shadow. This done, he must leave the water s edge and not look back.