Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-06-16
rANCIES ABOUT HORSES.
FOLK LORE CONCERNING THE WELL
KNOWN DOMESTIC ANIMAL.

The Horse ~ . water sprite-scctlandr
Water Kelpy-Horses Ridden by witches
and Fairies-various Omens and Ne
liefs--As an Emblem.
In folk lore the horse figures most as
water sprite. Neptune having tradition.
ally created the animal, we should not be
astonished 70 find him powerful at sea.
"Mystic water horses, water bulls. or
cows, are TO be found In the religious sys.
tens of many nations Of old, and they
still haunt the Imagination Of living men
In the shape Of dapple gray stations and
brown steers that still rise from some
German lake" ...
These water horses appear in many
lands. In Iceland, Nick, or Hnickur, also
called by other names, appears as gray
horse with hoofs turned backward. When
the ice splits open In the winter It Is said
to be tho water horse coming up. One
was said to have eight feet and ten heads.
This steed sometimes induces young per-
sons to mount his back when he rushes
into the water, and 1t Is said that he can
be tanned, but his bride must never be
taken of.
In the Orkney islands tho water sprite
comes as . handsome little horse, with
hlS ubIc CONcTcu WIN WccuS. IA Nho
Shetland islands, Shoopultie Is the name
given to him, as we'll as Njuggle or Nick.
An old historical chronicle asserts one
was tanned and worked during the day.
Popular accounts represent him as having
tail like wheel. He Is usually mis-.
chievous, stopping mills, carrying persons
into the sea, etc.
THE WATER KELPY.
c. IL IL a ~
its water kelpy. He would decoy travellers
to mount him, and rush into the water
with them. He could be caught by fling.
ing over his head bride marked with
the sign of the eros. A blacksmith, sus.
picious Of one of these water sprites.
thrust hot iron into its side, reducing II
to heap of starch.
Water horses are called Phookie and
Aughisky In Ireland. and are said to come
up out of the lakes, some of them being
carnivorous. One had serpent's body,
with horses head. In north Germany
Jagowd is the name applied to tho water
horse. One Is said to havo como out Of q
lake, harnessed himself to harrow, and
worried the other horses to death.
Musquito Indians say Wihwin, demon.
appears In the shape of horse. Eastern
lore Is not without Its stories Of water
horses. Ell Kazwini, medieval Arab
writer, says sea horses are larger than
those OF the land, and have cloyen hoofs
anu q small name ana taii.
throughout England ana Scotland 1t
was formerly supposed that horses were
at times ridden by witches and fairies.
1t was said that II the names and tails OF
the horses were found to be plated and
knotted together 1t was q sure sign the
fairies had been riding the steeds To
prevent this, as well as to guard against
the unwelcome visits OF witches, 1t was
the custom to hang about the doors of the
stables and In the stalls and hangers
branches OF ash or yew, hazel or broom.
The horseshoe, nailed up over the door.
was also etficacious here. When the in.
mates Of the stables were found covered
with cold sweat or moisture In the
morning 1t was deemed a sure sign that
witches had ridden them during the
night.
Nor were these beldames satisfied with
the chargers thus surreptitiously pro
cured. 1t was wildly believed, here and
on the continent, that witches were able
to transform persons into horses, and
that such steeds were ridden to the night
ly rendezvous OF these hags.
VARIOUS oMESs.
Thare ara fexv omapa counec{ad with
tho horse Tn YorLs shiro EnnIand a. i.
tborgbt nn,nchv 20 500 nbita hnrsa
Probsbiv here "a a Lav 70 tho conractinr
hetween tho White staed and the iil
omencd rod haired o,rl Tn many narts
of England n ia believed that onv nerson
riding a piebald horse ia able to curo the
whoonin1 conpb.
Around the necl, of n horse IN York.
shire. some wears since. was found q
string tied to n bap made OF the thumb of