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Place

Pool in the Awin Ruy, near its junction with the Glen Roy river in the parish of Lonan, associated with a water-spirit tradition.

W. Walter Gill described the pool as shut in on its northern side by a high concave wall of rock, with the stream falling into water screened by small timber. It was usually called simply “the Nikkesen”.

The Nikkesen was said to appear either as a horse or pony, like the Glashtyn or Cabbyl-ushtey, or as a handsome young man. In the latter form he drew people, particularly young women, into his dwelling beneath the pool. A small stream entering from the south was identified as the route by which he brought them to the water.

Their bodies were said never to have been recovered. At full moon the Nikkesen was instead believed to lead his victims in a singing and dancing procession around the small meadow below the pool, watched by people from the slopes above.

Gill also recorded another Nikkesen's Pool in the upper Groudle River, although he said the details of that tradition had probably been forgotten.

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