preface

by

alice, countess amherst.

the writer of this book lived for many years in the welsh colony, patagonia, where he was the pioneer of the anglican church. he published a book dealing with that part of the world, which also contained a great deal of interesting matter regarding the little known patagonian indians, ideas on religion and customs, etc. he returned to wales in 1891; and after spending a few years in his native land, went out to a wild part of western australia, and was the pioneer christian worker in a district called colliefields, where he also built a church. (no one had ever conducted divine service in that place before.)

here again, he found time to write his experiences, and his book contained a great deal of value to the folklorist, regarding the aborigines of that country, quite apart from the ordinary account of missionary enterprise, history and prospects of western australia, etc.

in 1901, mr. ceredig davies came back to live in his native country, wales.

in cardiganshire, and the centre of wales, generally, there still remains a great mass of unrecorded celtic folk lore, tradition, and custom.

thus it was suggested that if mr. ceredig davies wished again to write a book—the material for a valuable one lay at his door if he cared to undertake it. his accurate knowledge of welsh gave him great facility for the work. he took up the idea, and this book is the result of his labours. [vi]

the main object has been to collect “verbatim,” and render the welsh idiom into english as nearly as possible these old stories still told of times gone by.

the book is in no way written to prove, or disprove, any of the numerous theories and speculations regarding the origin of the celtic race, its religion or its traditions. the fundamental object has been to commit to writing what still remains of the unwritten welsh folk lore, before it is forgotten, and this is rapidly becoming the case.

the subjects are divided on the same lines as most of the books on highland and irish folk lore, so that the student will find little trouble in tracing the resemblance, or otherwise, of the folk lore in wales with that of the two sister countries.

alice amherst.

plas amherst, harlech,

north wales, 1911.