VIII.

For the prototype of the dragon-haunted caves and treasure-hills of Wales, we must look to the lightning caverns of old Aryan fable, into which no man might gaze and live, and which were in fact the attempted explanation of thunderstorms, when the clouds appeared torn asunder by the lightning.

Scholars have noted the impressive fact that the ancient Aryan people had the same name for cloud and mountain; in the Old Norse, 'klakkr' means both cloud and rock, and indeed the English word cloud has been identified with the Anglo-Saxon 'clud,' rock.[194] Equally significant here is the fact that in the Welsh language 'draig' means both lightning and dragon.

Primeval man, ignorant that the cloud was in any way different in structure from the solid mountains whose peaks it emulated in appearance, started back aghast and trembling when with crashing thunders the celestial rocks opened, displaying for an instant the glowing cavern whose splendour haunted his dreams. From this phenomenon, whose goblins modern science has tamed and taught to run errands along a wire, came a host of glittering legends, the shining hammer of Thor, the lightning spear of Odin, the enchanted arrow of Prince Ahmed, and the forked trident of Poseidon, as well as the fire-darting dragons of our modern folk-lore.

[Illustration: {THISTLE DECORATION.}]

FOOTNOTE:

[194] Max Mueller, 'Rig-Veda,' i. 44. And see Mr. Baring-Gould's 'Curious Myths of the Middle Ages,' etc.

INDEX

A.

Aberdovey, the Bells of, 339, 344

Aderyn y Corph, the, 212

All Fools' Day, 274

All Hallows, 280

Alluring Stone, the, 367

American Ghost Stories, 139, 185

Angels, Apparitions of, 208

Animals' Terrors at Goblins, 171

Annwn, the World of Shadows, 7, 34

Antic Spirits, 180

Aphrodite, the Welsh, 350

Apple Gift, the, 253

Arian y Rhaw, 333

Arthur, the Mythic and the Historic, vii.

Arthur's Dog, 363 " Pot, 369 " Quoits, 370 " Round Table, 369 " Seat, Bed, Castle, Stone, etc., 369

Ascension Day, Curious Superstition concerning, 25

Aura, the Human, its Perception by Dogs, 172

Avagddu, 219

Avalon, 8

B.

Ball-playing in Churchyards, 272

Bangu, the, 340

Banshee, the, 212 " " in America, 247

Banwan Bryddin, the Stone of, 374

Barnwell, Rev. E. L., cited, 324

Baron's Gate, Legend of the, 127

Barry Island, Mysterious Noises on, 353

Basilisks in Mines, 27

Beer-drinking at Funerals, 322

Bells, Superstitions concerning, 339 " of Aberdovey, 339, 344 " " St. Cadoc, 339 " " Rhayader, Legend of the, 341 " " St. Illtyd, 342 " " St. Oudoceus, 343

Beltane Fires, 278

Bendith y Mamau, 12

Betty Griffith and the Fairies, 115

Birds of Rhiannon, the, 91

Blabbing, Penalty of, 119

Black Book of Carmarthen, the, 350 " Maiden of Caerleon, the, 219 " Man of Ffynon yr Yspryd, 178 " Men in the Mabinogion, 178

Blue Petticoat, Old Elves of the, 132

Bogie, the, 32

Boxing-day, 295

Branwen, Daughter of Llyr, 91

Bread and Cheese in Fairy Mythology, 44

Brownie, the, 186

Bundling, or Courting Abed, 300

Buns, 267

Burial Customs, 321

Bush of Heaven, Legend of the, 73

Bute, the Marquis of, cited, 136

Bwbach, the, 30 " and the Preacher, the, 30