16 Jan 1976
Glanyrafon,
Hayscastle Cross,
Haverfordwest, Pembs.
Many thanks for your letter. A strange new development
has taken place over the Loch Ness monster which has caused
me to postpone the GOBLIN UNIVERSE with Colin wilson for
the time being. He still has the draft copy and seems to
find it very interesting.
If you ever read my first book on the monster (THE
GREAT ORM: Faber, 1968) you will realize that I suggested
it was a worm. This seems to be correct. You may have seen
Dr Robert Rines showing his blur y pictures on TV before
Christmas. I met him once. Friends at Loch Ness Were shown
original transparencies by Rines which they examined under
a glass minutely. A drawing I possess made by an animal
artist who has seen the things is identical to the photos.
There is an additional factor. In 1972 Kines photographed
a peculiar thing down in Loch Ness that no biologist could
identify. I have now tentatitively identified it with an
aquatic worm larva known as a trochophore (see for instance
Kaestner's INVERTEBRATE BIOLOGY, Vol 1) These beastly animels
seem to be feeding on the sedimentary deposits. I am now
trying to get Rines to catch a trochophore by net. In the
meantime I'm working on A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE LOCH NESS
MONSTER.
Many people might say that this quite removes the
paranormal connotation but I don't think so. There are
factors still unexplained. We know, for instance, that some
probable all - psychical phenomena requires physical energy.
This is supplied by mediums, the percipient and teenage kids
in the case of poltergeists.
My estimation is that these are probably the largest
and most primitive animals on earth end widespread along
the continental shelves. Could the Blacks use them to
charge their psychic batteries? They represent raw biological
energy in bulk. And we know UFOs love diving into the sea.
I am a great student of folklore and there is a
continuous tradition that such monsters are evil running
all the way Assyria and Egypt right up to about 1700 in
Scotland, at these exentures. It may be merely
their disgusting appearance. It remains a fact that Alastair
Crowley picked a house beside Loch Ness to experiment with
rituals.
It don't propose to delve too far into this in the
natural history book however.
My own feeling is that history IS shaped. The Duke
University work proved that some precognition is a fact.
Nostradamus proved, at least with some of his quatrains,
that precognition works hundreds of years ahead. Some
scientists are already changing their world-view at least
in physics.
I am not sure that I go along with the argument that
external interference can ever be detectable. Burt and yall
Watson think there is a screen which allows only certain know-
ledge to filter through. One can only hope so. Think what
the CIA or KGB would do if they had the power to read
people's minds or render themselves invisible. Puch a screen
might save us from our own folly. The bomb has only
produced stalemate.
Po let me have a copy of your alternative history
bulletin when it appears. Theoretical argument is important
but it must always be pointed by actual illustrations or
experiences from named witnesses otherwise one makes small
impact.
You mention terminal exams but I'm not clear whether
you are an undergrad or a tutor or, if the former, whether you
are doing a degree in history.
Until this Loch Ness worm thing is resolved we are
still in the dark about what is organically involved in
that quarter. I believe Rines can do it if he is left alone.
Everyone is trying to clutter the act including Pir feter
fetuous Pcott and his absurd "plesiosaurs".
Can you quote me a verse or two from "The Well Below
The Valley" and "The Rose and the Lindsay" have never
heard of them. Pre they folk songs?
Norwegian folklore categorized these various beings
long ago under such names as Fuldre-folk (The Hidden People)
Jotun (giants related the Trolls), Oskorei and Trolls (evil
spirits and demons) and Underjordiske (Those under the
ground). Ground' could refer to mound (disc-mound?) There
have certainly been very many disc sightings in Scandinavia.
I suggest you assemble all the material you can let
have and send it for study say sometime over the next year.
e can then discuss end amplify as required etc.
I ought to go up and see Dr Rines at Toch Ness this
ummer but the place turns me off after recent experiences.
Sincerely,
F. W. Holiday