Shetland Ballad

Abstract

Lieutenant F.W.L. Thomas, a hydrographer for the Royal Navy, communicated an unpublished ballad hailing from Shetland. He took down the dictation of the story from an old lady who lived in the district of Snarra Voe. The ballad concerns the story of a selkie, and Lieut. Thomas takes great care in elucidating the kinds of beliefs locals told about such creatures. He also provides a very detailed description of the various places mentioned in the ballad.