Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-12-27
Dog LORE.
An Animal Figuring in the Legends 81 Al
Races.

| An Animal Figuring In the Legends 81 Al
Races.
The folklore of England, Ireland and
Wales is full of stories in which hell
dogs pursue men and beasts, though
they differed in appearance, according
to the country, but all were of great
size and strong beyond nature. Their
eyes shot flames, and their mouths
emitted fire that scorched all approach
ing them, though they could be routed
by a call on the Deity or by the pur-
sued turning on them with cross or
the sign of one
| In Wales they were usually mastiffs
without tails, while in England they
moved in packs and resembled hunting
hounds. In CHARLES Reade's 'Put Your
self in His Place" the author makes
reference to the popular belief in a
mysterious pack, known as the Gabriel
hounds, which flew through the air
in full cry, presaging disaster, and
answering, especiallyto noble families,
the purpose of the Irish Banshee in
foretelling the deaths of the members
In Holland there is legend that death
is always preceded by a pale dog that
runs shutting the ground for spot to
dig the victims grave. 1t was this idea
| that gave rise to the ancient dislike to
a white dog in that country, and If one
of that color was seen near grave
yard it was put to death with silver
bullet, over which prayer had been
said.
In India great god has dogs head
and the Dog Star (Sirius) is so called
from the Egyptians, thinking it gave
notice-being particularly conspicuous
at that season of the year-of the ris-
ing of the Nile, as dog might the APP
proach of danger The Laplanders
gave the bear the name of the dog Of
Cod" and the Norwegians declare that
it has the strength of ten men and the
cunning of twelve.
In oriental religion the noble youths
who slept three hundred years were
guarded in their cavern by dog that
neither ate, drank nor slumbered dur
ing the period of its vigil, and for its
fidelity was given place in paradise
| by Mohammed, whose own dog enjoyed
similar honor. To geographers are
known many islands called after dogs,
among which the best known are the
Isle of Dogs, found in the Thames; the
dog islands, in the Malayan afchipel.
ago, and the Great Dog, thefGeorge
Dog, and the West Dog, lying near
the Islands OK the Virgin, or st.
Thomas.
There is curious legend connected
with an an island on the coast of Kan.
chatka, which is known as the "Island
of the Talking Dogs In prehistoric
times, SO the inhabitants will tell you
the natives of the main land did not
employ dogs to perform any mental la.
Dor, but lived with them on terms Of
equality and drew their sleds them
selves, caught their own game and hunt
ed the walrus alone. The dogs, which
were gifted with speech, grew naughty
and tried to assume dominion over the
men, when the latter, awaking to the
danger, overthrow the animals, at
tempting to enslave them. This in
duced the dogs to abandon the mair
land and establish colony on the is
land referred to, but the game here be
coming scarce from the anger of the
gods, they turned cannibals at last, ant
soon they were all killed except seven
! which survived of all the many which
had rebclled
Then the Kamchatkans sailed overt
the island, which they had not daret
modest before, and attempted to per
suade the dogs to return to them, bu
they refused to comply with the re
quest, asking: "What people are you
We have no knowledge OF you," and il
punishment for this denial the dog-got
took away their gift of speech, leaving
only the bark and whine, when the.
were easily subjugated by the men,
Philadelphia Times.