English mythology, pleasing pleasing
Just learnt of the existence of The Devil's Punch Bowl in Surrey. And indeed, the ones in Ireland, Canada and America. The devil sure did throw some wild parties, if the booze had to be served in a massive natural hollow in the earth*. And indeed, seemed to be bubbling over the rim when mist pools out of the 'bowl'. Very Grotbags, that. Nice touch.
Some people think the mist is how it got its name. Others are a bit more ticklish inventive. So either the devil:
As yet, have found no stories suggesting the devil is behind the process of erosion-instigated clay/sandstone basins. Tch.
* Putting me in mind of the giant's bath from a story in this book by Margaret Mahy. In which a family buy a house that had been owned by a giant, and it's all been converted back to people size apart from the bathtub. Which is so big you can go swimming in it. As the family do. Each time using a sliver of magical soap left behind in the soap dish, which turns the water crazy things like strawberry juice...
** Maybe of their own accord, but maybe there were put up to it by St Dunstan. What is he like, eh? When he's not shoe-ing the fellow like a horse with iron, he's shooing him off! Ha!
*** Though 'devil' was used as a substitute synonym for 'giant' by some Christian teachers, trying to tidy the existing stories about the country into something more...palatable.
Some people think the mist is how it got its name. Others are a bit more ticklish inventive. So either the devil:
- was so startled by cocks crowing** when he was engaged in the dastardly scheme of FLOODING SUSSEX that he jumped up and landed in Surrey, and made a massive hole where he landed
- was trying to annoy Thor by throwing mud at him, all scooped out of that hollow
- had nothing to do with it as it was actually two squabbling giants*** who were wrenching up clods of earth to throw them at the other (a story with the added bonus of explaining the Isle of Wight as a shot that missed)
As yet, have found no stories suggesting the devil is behind the process of erosion-instigated clay/sandstone basins. Tch.
* Putting me in mind of the giant's bath from a story in this book by Margaret Mahy. In which a family buy a house that had been owned by a giant, and it's all been converted back to people size apart from the bathtub. Which is so big you can go swimming in it. As the family do. Each time using a sliver of magical soap left behind in the soap dish, which turns the water crazy things like strawberry juice...
** Maybe of their own accord, but maybe there were put up to it by St Dunstan. What is he like, eh? When he's not shoe-ing the fellow like a horse with iron, he's shooing him off! Ha!
*** Though 'devil' was used as a substitute synonym for 'giant' by some Christian teachers, trying to tidy the existing stories about the country into something more...palatable.