CHAPTER IV. MOUNTAIN FAIRIESThe Gwyllion--The Old Woman of the Mountain--The Black Mountain
Gwyll--Exorcism by Knife--Occult Intellectual Powers of Welsh Goats--
The Legend of Cadwaladr's Goat
I.
THE Gwyllion are female fairies of frightful characteristics, who haunt lonely roads in the Welsh mountains, and lead night-wanderers astray. They partake somewhat of the aspect of the Hecate of Greek mythology, who rode on the storm, and was a hag of horrid guise. The Welsh word gwyll is variously used to signify gloom, shade, duskiness, a hag, a witch, a fairy, and a goblin but its special application is to these mountain fames of gloomy and harmful habits, as distinct from the Ellyllon of the forest glades and dingles, which are more often beneficent. The Gwyllion take on a more distinct in
