A MAN WHO WAS FOUND AMONG THE FAIRIES AT CAE CEFN PANTYDWR.
This story which is similar to some of the tales I have already given as located in other parts is as follows:—
A certain man of Llanedi, on one occasion long ago, went away to another neighbourhood, leading by the “penwast” (collar) a very wild and unmanageable horse; and in order to be sure not to lose his hold of the animal, the man tied the end of the collar round the middle. So both man and horse went together and got lost. After much searching the horse was found without the collar, but nothing was heard of the man. After giving up searching for him as hopeless, they at last consulted a “Dyn Hysbys,” (a conjuror or a wise man). The wise man directed them to go on a certain night into a field known as Cae Cefn Pantydwr, about forty yards from the road where the Fairies could be seen dancing, and the lost man among them, with the “penwast” still around his waist, which would enable them to know him; and the way to get him out of the Fairy Ring was to watch him coming round in the dance, and take hold of the collar when an opportunity offered itself, and drag the man out boldly. They did so, and the man was rescued. Ever since then people dreaded going to that field after dark, especially children.
In some parts of Carmarthenshire, Fairy Rings are known as “Rings y Gwr Drwg” (the rings of the Old Gentleman), suggesting that the Fairies had some connection with the evil one.