wild wales-第44章
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intervene； which it cannot pierce。 The number of those who possess
this gift or power is limited； and perhaps no person ever possessed
it in a perfect degree： some more frequently see coming events； or
what is happening at a distance； than others； some see things
dimly； others with great distinctness。 The events seen are
sometimes of great importance； sometimes highly nonsensical and
trivial； sometimes they relate to the person who sees them；
sometimes to other people。 This is all that can be said with
anything like certainty with respect to the nature of the second
sight； a faculty for which there is no accounting； which； were it
better developed； might be termed the sixth sense。
The second sight is confined to no particular country； and has at
all times existed。 Particular nations have obtained a celebrity
for it for a time； which they have afterwards lost； the celebrity
being transferred to other nations； who were previously not noted
for the faculty。 The Jews were at one time particularly celebrated
for the possession of the second sight； they are no longer so。 The
power was at one time very common amongst the Icelanders and the
inhabitants of the Hebrides； but it is so no longer。 Many and
extraordinary instances of the second sight have lately occurred in
that part of England generally termed East Anglia； where in former
times the power of the second sight seldom manifested itself。
There are various books in existence in which the second sight is
treated of or mentioned。 Amongst others there is one called
〃Martin's Description of the Western Isles of Scotland；〃 published
in the year 1703； which is indeed the book from which most writers
in English； who have treated of the second sight； have derived
their information。 The author gives various anecdotes of the
second sight； which he had picked up during his visits to those
remote islands； which until the publication of his tour were almost
unknown to the world。 It will not be amiss to observe here that
the term second sight is of Lowland Scotch origin； and first made
its appearance in print in Martin's book。 The Gaelic term for the
faculty is taibhsearachd； the literal meaning of which is what is
connected with a spectral appearance； the root of the word being
taibhse； a spectral appearance or vision。
Then there is the History of Duncan Campbell。 The father of this
person was a native of Shetland； who； being shipwrecked on the
coast of Swedish Lapland； and hospitably received by the natives；
married a woman of the country； by whom he had Duncan； who was born
deaf and dumb。 On the death of his mother the child was removed by
his father to Scotland； where he was educated and taught the use of
the finger alphabet； by means of which people are enabled to hold
discourse with each other； without moving the lips or tongue。 This
alphabet was originally invented in Scotland； and at the present
day is much in use there； not only amongst dumb people； but many
others； who employ it as a silent means of communication。 Nothing
is more usual than to see passengers in a common conveyance in
Scotland discoursing with their fingers。 Duncan at an early period
gave indications of possessing the second sight。 After various
adventures he came to London； where for many years he practised as
a fortune…teller； pretending to answer all questions； whether
relating to the past or the future； by means of the second sight。
There can be no doubt that this man was to a certain extent an
impostor； no person exists having a thorough knowledge either of
the past or future by means of the second sight； which only visits
particular people by fits and starts； and which is quite
independent of individual will； but it is equally certain that he
disclosed things which no person could have been acquainted with
without visitations of the second sight。 His papers fell into the
hands of Defoe； who wrought them up in his own peculiar manner； and
gave them to the world under the title of the Life of Mr Duncan
Campbell； the Deaf and Dumb Gentleman： with an appendix containing
many anecdotes of the second sight from Martin's tour。
But by far the most remarkable book in existence； connected with
the second sight； is one in the ancient Norse language entitled
〃Nial's Saga。〃 （3） It was written in Iceland about the year 1200；
and contains the history of a certain Nial and his family； and
likewise notices of various other people。 This Nial was what was
called a spamadr； that is； a spaeman or a person capable of
foretelling events。 He was originally a heathen … when； however；
Christianity was introduced into Iceland； he was amongst the first
to embrace it； and persuaded his family and various people of his
acquaintance to do the same； declaring that a new faith was
necessary； the old religion of Odin； Thor； and Frey； being quite
unsuited to the times。 The book is no romance； but a domestic
history compiled from tradition about two hundred years after the
events which it narrates had taken place。 Of its style； which is
wonderfully terse； the following translated account of Nial and his
family will perhaps convey some idea：…
〃There was a man called Nial； who was the son of Thorgeir Gelling；
the son of Thorolf。 The mother of Nial was called Asgerdr； she was
the daughter of Ar； the Silent； the Lord of a district in Norway。
She had come over to Iceland and settled down on land to the west
of Markarfliot； between Oldustein and Selialandsmul。 Holtathorir
was her son； father of Thorlief Krak； from whom the Skogverjars are
come； and likewise of Thorgrim the big and Skorargeir。 Nial dwelt
at Bergthorshval in Landey； but had another house at Thorolfell。
Nial was very rich in property； and handsome to look at； but had no
beard。 He was so great a lawyer； that it was impossible to find
his equal； he was very wise； and had the gift of foretelling
events； he was good at counsel； and of a good disposition； and
whatever counsel he gave people was for their best； he was gentle
and humane； and got every man out of trouble who came to him in his
need。 His wife was called Bergthora； she was the daughter of
Skarphethin。 She was a bold…spirited woman who feared nobody； and
was rather rough of temper。 They had six children； three daughters
and three sons； all of whom will be frequently mentioned in this
saga。〃
In the history many instances are given of Nial's skill in giving
good advice and his power of seeing events before they happened。
Nial lived in Iceland during most singular times； in which though
there were laws provided for every possible case； no man could have
redress for any injury unless he took it himself； or his friends
took it for him； simply because there were no ministers of justice
supported by the State； authorised and empowered to carry the
sentence of the law into effect。 For example； if a man were slain；
his death would remain unpunished； unless he had a son or a
brother； or some other relation to slay the slayer； or to force him
to pay 〃bod；〃 that is； amends in money； to be determined by the
position of the man who was slain。 Provided the man who was slain
had relations； his death was generally avenged； as it was
considered the height of infamy in Iceland to permit one's
relations to be murdered； without slaying their murderers； or
obtaining bod from them。 The right； however； permitted to
relations of taking with their own hands the lives of those who had
slain their friends； produced incalculable mischiefs； for if the
original slayer had friends； they； in the event of his being slain
in retaliation for what he had done； made it a point of honour to
avenge his death； so that by the lex talionis feuds were
perpetuated。 Nial was a great benefactor to his countrymen； by
arranging matters between people； at variance in which he was much
helped by his knowledge of the law； and by giving wholesome advice
to people in precarious situations； in which he was frequently
helped by the power which he possessed of the second sight。 On
several occasions he set
