The volume compiles oral accounts of the sidhe, or the silent people, detailing their subterranean dwellings, feasts, raids, and the various names used to describe them across the Hebrides. The author examines their interactions with mortals, such as the abduction of women and children, the substitution of changelings, and the methods employed to thwart their thefts through the protective power of iron and oatmeal. Subsequent sections delve into tutelary beings like the Glaistig and the Gruagach, who watch over farms and cattle, offering milk libations in exchange for supernatural assistance.
Another significant portion of the text investigates water-spirits, specifically the water-horse, which lures unwary riders into deep lochs, and the Urisk, a lonely giant inhabiting remote mountain corries. Campbell records tales of their encounters with hunters and herdsmen, emphasizing the concrete details and local variations of oral tradition. Beliefs surrounding animals, such as the mysterious king otter and the lavellan, receive close attention alongside augury, omens, and premonitions.
Miscellaneous superstitions regarding the right-hand turn, or deiseal, baking practices, and boat language illustrate the pervasive influence of folklore on daily Hebridean life. The narrative highlights the delicate balance between fear and ridicule that characterizes the popular view of the supernatural. Campbell avoids literary embellishment, choosing instead to present authentic oral accounts directly from the people who maintained these traditions.
Throughout the collection, the author demonstrates how these beliefs functioned as an explanation for natural phenomena and untoward misfortune in a primitive society. The concluding chapters touch upon imprecations, black magic, and the devil, completing a comprehensive catalogue of Hebridean superstitions that survived into the late nineteenth century.
