|
|
Click
on image for a larger view
Salkey,
Andrew, ed. Caribbean Folk Tales and Legends. London: Bogle-L’Ouverture
Publications, 1980
This
creature is believed to be a witch or sorceress, who enjoys human
and preys especially on infants. Also referred to in days gone by as
“Old Suck”, Ol' Hige preys whilst people are sleeping; flying in
the form of an owl, shedding her skin and sucking their breath. It
is also believed that the Ol' Hige figure contributed to the
retention of keeping ninth nights in Jamaica when a baby was born:
ensuring that mother and infant will not be troubled by Ol’ Hige
in the future. She is also present in West Africa among the Yoruba
and other societies in
the Diaspora.
|