The Weekly register., 1844-12-07
n U M b Err 80.
The life and atrocities of sawney
Beane.

were they not attested by public and
other records of UNREASONABLE author
lty The narrative says:
The following narrative presents
such picture of human barbarity. that
were 1t not attested by the most unques-
tIonable historical evidence, it would be-
rejected as altogether fabulous and in
credible.
Sawney Became, was born IN the
county of East Lothian, about eipb,
miles east of Edinburg, in the reign Of
James VI. His father was a hedger,
and ditcher, and brought up his son
TO the same laborous employment
Naturally idle and vicious, he aban.
doned that place, along with a young
woman equally idle and prohigate, and
retired to the deserts of Galloway, and
took up their habtation by the seaside.
The place which Sawney and his wife
selected for their dwelling, was a cave,
about mile in length, and Of consider
| able breadth-so near the sea that the
tide often penetrated into the cave about
two-hundred yards The entry had
many intricate turnings and windings
which led TO the extremity Of the sub
terraneous dwelling, which was sitter
ally the habitation Of horrid cruety.n
Sawney and his wife took shelter in
the cave, and commenced their depre-
dations. Toprevent the possibility Of
detection, they murdered every person
they robbed Destitute also of the
means fobtaIning any other food, they
resolved to live upon human fesh.--
Accordingly, when they had Murdered
any man, woman, or child, they CARR
ed them to their den, quariered them,
sailed and picklel their members, and
dried them for food. In this manner
they lived, carrying on their deprada-
tons 6 murder Til they had eight sons
and six daughters, eighteen grand sons
and fourteen grand-daughters, all the
odsPrlhS OF incest.
But though they soon became numer-
Gus, yet, such was the multitude who
fell into their hands, that they had of
len superabnndance of provisions, and
would, at distance from their own
habitatlon, throw legs and arms of
dried human bodies into the sea by
night. These were often thrown out
by the tide and taken up by the country
people. 10 the great CONSERVATION and
dismay Of all the surrounding inhabit-
ants. Nor could any discover what
! had belallen the many friends, relatives,
and neighhors who had unfortunately
fallen into lhe hands of these merciless
cannibals.
In proportion as Sawney's family in
creased, every one that was able acted
his part in their horrid assassinations.
They would sometimes attack four or
six on foot, but never more than two
upon horseback. To prevent the poss-
Utility Of escape, they would lay an am
bush, in every direction, that ifthey es-
capped those who first attacked, they
might be assaulted with renewed fury by
another party, and inevitably murder
ed. By this means they always Sc
cured their prey and prevented detect
ion.
At last, however, the vast number
: who were slain, raised the inhabitants
Of the country, and all the woods and
lurking places were carefully searched
and though they often passed by the
mouth of the den, it was never once
suspected that any human being resided
there In this state of uncertainty and
suspense, concerning the authors Of
, such frequent massacres, several inno-
cent travellers and inn-keepers, were
: trken upon suspicious, because the per-
S son who was missing, had been seen
: last in their COMPANY, or had last resid-
ed in their l.ouses. The effect of this
: well me2nt e. severe Justice, constrained
: the greeter part Of the inn-keepers in
J, those parts, to abandon such employ
d ments 10 the great Inconvenience of
those who travelled through that dis
G trict.
r. Meanwhile the country became de-
;. populated. aud the whole nation was
: surprised how such numerous and uu-
!, heard ofyillainies and cruelties coult