One of Williamson's cardinal principles was to respect the wild creatures of nature. Some wildlife (e.g. salmon or rabbits) could be caught for food, while a few others (such as crows that peck out the eyes of lambs) could be killed, but his guiding rule was to leave the creatures of nature alone. Here he tells how his father was once bitten by an adder, but he never sought to harm the snake in return. The tale also illustrates the importance of self-healing among the Travellers. This recording was made by John Niles and a group of volunteer research assistants in the sitting room of a rented house in Auchtermuchty, Fife.
Transcription and commentary: John D. Niles, ‘Webspinner: Songs, Stories, and Reflections of Duncan Williamson, Scottish Traveller’ (University Press of Mississippi, 2022), §6.13.