Welsh fairy tale: Giantess's Apron-full

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Title:     Welsh fairy tale: Giantess's Apron-full
Author: P. H. Emerson [More Titles by Emerson]

(Collected and edited by P. H. Emerson)

A huge giant, in company with his wife, travelling towards the island of Mona, with an intention of settling amongst the first inhabitants that had removed there, and having been informed that there was but a narrow channel which divided it from the continent, took up two large stones, one under each arm, to carry with him as a preparatory for making a bridge over this channel, and his lady had her apron filled with small stones for the same purpose; but, meeting a man on this spot with a large parcel of old shoes on his shoulders, the giant asked him how far it was to Mona. The man replied, that it was so far, that he had worn out those shoes in travelling from Mona to that place. The giant on hearing this dropped down the stones, one on each side of him, where they now stand upright, about a hundred yards or more distant from each other; the space between them was occupied by this Goliah's body. His mistress at the same time opened her apron, and dropped down the contents of it, which formed this heap.

NOTES.

Referring to the heaps of stone found on the hill-tops, he gives the fable of the heap found upon _Bwlchy Ddeufaen_, which he says is called _Ban Clodidd y Gawres_--literally, the giantess's apron-full.

"The writer regards such tales as originally intended as hyperboles, to magnify the prowess and magnanimity of renowned persons."

[The end]
P. H. Emerson's short story: Welsh fairy tale: The Giantess's Apron-full

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