![Page 51 from THE HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF MAN (Dublin, 1780):
[…] resembling a compleat young Woman, but below that, all Fish, with Fins, and a huge spreading Tail. she was carried to a House, and used very tenderly, nothing but Liberty being denied. But tho' they set before her the best Provision the Place afforded, she could not be prevailed on to eat or drink, neither could they get a word from her, tho' they knew these Creatures were not without the Gift of speech, having heard them talk to each other, when sitting regaling themselves on the sea-side. They kept her in this Manner three Days, but perceiving she began to look very ill with fasting, and fearing some Calamity would befal the Island if they should keep her till she died, they agreed to let her return to the Element she liked best, and the third Night set open their Door; which, as soon as she beheld, she raised herself from the Place where she was then lying, and glided with incredible swiftness, on her Tail, to the sea-side. They followed at a Distance, and saw her plunge into the Water, where she was met by a great Number of her own species, one of whom asked what she had observed among the People on Earth; nothing very wonderful answer'd she, but that they are so very ignorant, as to throw away the Water they boil their Eggs in. This Question, and her reply, they told me, was distinctly heard by those who stood on the shore to watch what passed.
As I had not yet attained a thorough Knowledge of the superstition of these People, nor the passionate Fondness for every thing that might be termed, The Wonderful; I was excessively surprized at this Account, given with so serious an Air, and so much, and solemnly averred for Truth. I perceived they were not a little disgusted at my want of Faith, but to make a Convert of me, they obliged me to listen to another, as odd an Adventure as the former, which they assured me was attested by a whole ship's […]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:vmd2oqboco524fhpqdu7pnbn/bafkreie7yso4wpwhqlu6wqroqnuglveh3vntj6agqk5ktbpnzfix5uajt4)
Page 51 from THE HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF MAN (Dublin, 1780):
[…] resembling a compleat young Woman, but below that, all Fish, with Fins, and a huge spreading Tail. she was carried to a House, and used very tenderly, nothing but Liberty being denied. But tho' they set before her the best Provision the Place afforded, she could not be prevailed on to eat or drink, neither could they get a word from her, tho' they knew these Creatures were not without the Gift of speech, having heard them talk to each other, when sitting regaling themselves on the sea-side. They kept her in this Manner three Days, but perceiving she began to look very ill with fasting, and fearing some Calamity would befal the Island if they should keep her till she died, they agreed to let her return to the Element she liked best, and the third Night set open their Door; which, as soon as she beheld, she raised herself from the Place where she was then lying, and glided with incredible swiftness, on her Tail, to the sea-side. They followed at a Distance, and saw her plunge into the Water, where she was met by a great Number of her own species, one of whom asked what she had observed among the People on Earth; nothing very wonderful answer'd she, but that they are so very ignorant, as to throw away the Water they boil their Eggs in. This Question, and her reply, they told me, was distinctly heard by those who stood on the shore to watch what passed.
As I had not yet attained a thorough Knowledge of the superstition of these People, nor the passionate Fondness for every thing that might be termed, The Wonderful; I was excessively surprized at this Account, given with so serious an Air, and so much, and solemnly averred for Truth. I perceived they were not a little disgusted at my want of Faith, but to make a Convert of me, they obliged me to listen to another, as odd an Adventure as the former, which they assured me was attested by a whole ship's […]
From THE HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF MAN (Dublin, 1780): a mermaid, caught by fishermen but eventually released, tells her own people what humans are like:
“…they are so very ignorant, as to throw away the Water they boil their Eggs in”
#WyrdWednesday #folklore #C18
archive.org/details/hist...
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