onable to conclude that the simple stories of the marvellous or
irrational have their origin in 'the qualities of the uncivilized
imagination.'

Thus, with regard to the current superstitions of our peasantry and of
the Highlanders, it is much more rational to consider them, as Dr.
Robert Chambers did, as 'springing from a disposition of the human mind
to account for actual appearances by some imagined history which the
appearances suggest,' than as relics of the old-world mythologies. The
untutored mind disregards the natural, even in these days of applied
science. There is an old weir across the Tweed which the common people,
forgetting the mill, that had disappeared, pointed out as the work of
one of the imps of Michael Scott, the wizard. Wherever there are
three-topped hills there is sure to be a legend of the work of this same
Michael, or some other wizard. In the same way, deep, clear lakes exist
in various parts of the country, concerning which traditions survive of
cities lying at the bottom, submerged for their wickedness, or by the
machinations of some evil spirit. Old buildings exist in many parts in
such unfavourable situations that popular tradition can only account for
the singularity by the operation of some unfriendly spirit transporting
them from their original locality. Large solitary rocks off the coast,
or on hilltops, have been deposited where they are by witches. Water
springing from a rock by the roadside has always been the result of the
stroke of some magician or saint. Large depressions on hillsides are
generally the footprints of giants, like the mark left by Buddha's foot
as he ascended to heaven, still to be seen on a hill in Ceylon. The
circular green marks in the fields are the rings drawn by the fairies
for their midnight dances, and a scaur or cliff bearing the marks of
volcanic action or of lightning is invariably associated with some tale
of diabolic fury. Almost every reader can add instances of natural
appearances or effects idealized by the workings of the imagination of
uncivilized or uncultivated minds.

II.

One of the most common forms of these idealized phenomena is that known
as the 'Fairy-ring,' about which Nether Lochaber has said, in the
Highlands of Scotland, 'We can perfectly understand how in the good old
times, ere yet the schoolmaster was abroad, or science had become a
popular plaything, people--and doubtless very honest, decent people,
too--attributed those inex