Considered to be the single most dangerous cryptid in all of Scotland, the Each-Uisge is regarded as one the most terrifying of all the mysterious marine mammals, which reputedly haunt the lakes and rivers of the British Isles.
The ferocity of this legendary beast is considerable even when compared to the carnivorous exploits of the other highland WATER HORSES. In fact, the Each-Uisge is known for devouring it’s victims with a predatory-ecstasy, which borders on the satanic; consuming its prey entirely, with the exception of the liver for which it seems to have developed a distaste.
The typical description of the Each-Uisge is that of a glistening, black horse with a greenish patina, although — much like the ALASTYN and KELPIE — it is renowned for its metamorphic capabilities. It has also been claimed that the epidermis of the Each-Uisge has adhesive properties, which would explain why its victims aren’t able to leap to safety before plummeting into their watery graves.
Unlike the Kelpie, who prefers a habitat of running water, the Each-Uisge makes its home in the calm, almost stagnant lochs and sea inlets of Scotland. That difference aside, the Each-Uisge is said to share the Kelpie’s preferred method of capturing its prey, which entails the tempting of potential victims onto its back by appearing to be a tame mare.
This method seems to create yet another distinction between the This method seems to create yet another distinction between the Water-Horses and other unusual aquatic animals such as the Australian BUNYIP, which seems to prefer to attack its victims outright.
That having been said, there are still other eyewitness accounts that suggest this animal is less like a Water Horse and more like the notoriously vicious “Irish crocodile,” which is more commonly referred to as the DOBHAR-CHU.
Easily the most horrifying Each-Uisge encounter ever chronicled was published in McKay’s, “More West Highland Tales, Volume 2.” According to this antiquated account, there was a blacksmith hailing from Raasay, Scotland who had a terrifying and tragic encounter with the beast.
The story goes that blacksmith had a small herd of cattle, which were tended to by his children. One evening his daughter, who’s turn it had been to watch the herd, did not return home in the evening.
The following morning the blacksmith and his son discovered the eviscerated remains of the young girl. The bloody mess — which consisted primarily of the daughter’s clothes, lungs and heart — was splayed across the rocky shores of a loch that was reputed to harbor an Each-Uisge.
Heartbroken, the blacksmith vowed to avenge his little girl. So, with a minimal amount of mourning, the smith and his son built a makeshift forge on the banks of the loch. The boy stoked the roaring flames, while his father worked throughout the day forging massive, iron hooks, which were said to glow red-hot in the blazing conflagration.
As the sun began to dip low on the horizon, the man and his son placed the carcass of a sheep upon this fire, and it wasn’t long before the scent of the roasting meat wafted out across the mist shrouded waters of the loch.
Suddenly, a massive churning of bubbles arose from the placid water, from which the Water-horse emerged. Described as an “ugly, shaggy yearling,” the animal swiftly snatched the sheep. The Blacksmith and his son wasted no time in plunging their still smoldering hooks into the creature’s flesh.
After a horrific struggle, the men proved victorious and the flesh-eating beast lay dead at their feet. The next day, or so the account goes, there was nothing left of the monster save for a pile of what has been described as a “jelly-like substance,” which the Scotts referred to as “starshine.”
Although this tale has always been associated with the Water-Horse phenomenon, this account of the creature’s decidedly un-horse-like appearance — as well as its penchant for attacking rather than seducing its victims — seems to be yet another indicator that this animal is more likely to be a rogue specimen of BERNARD HEUVELMANS legendary super-otter, the “Hyperhydra egedei.”
