224 THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



There is a piece of ground at Burrafiord (and 

 another near Norwick) known by that name, which 

 means "field of the dead." The ground is unculti- 

 vated, and the tradition is that no one must put spade 

 in it, or misfortune will certainly befall that indivi- 

 dual Once a woman dared the old belief, and dug 

 up a portion of the death-rig. Shortly afterwards 

 her best cow died. Nothing daunted, the rash dame 

 delved next year, and actually sowed corn on the 

 spot. " Then her husband died, and after that she let 

 the rig alane." 



The supposition is that the death-rigs are battle- 

 fields. 



Swinaness is also considered too sacred to "put 

 spade intil," for there the sea-kings were wont to 

 contend, and many bloody battles were fought there. 

 A man chanced to delve a small bit of verdant turf 

 in Swinaness, wherein he sowed corn in hopes of 

 reaping a rich harvest ; but horrors ! when the corn 

 grew up it was found that the stalks were filled with 

 blood, and the ears dropped salt tears in the place of 

 tender dew. 



Another tradition tells the misadventure of an 

 unfortunate giant : — " Sigger-hill is benorth Colvie- 

 dell, and on the slope there is a large flat stone 

 eight or ten feet square. There was a giant who 

 lived in that neighbourhood called Sigger, and he 

 put a rock in the sea for a craig-seat — that is, a 

 seat where he could place himself conveniently for 

 fishing. But the water was deep, and the giant 



