The Mewlips

[Encaitare]

But also remember that the Hobbits used to live in the vale of Anduin, which was closer to the Dead Marshes. The tale might have originated there.

::smacks self on forehead:: I'd forgotten about that, so you may be correct after all!

davem -- Thanks for the link!

Bethberry-- It's the same in the Reader. I did get a few laughs out of the preface, but I was a little disappointed to find that the "origin" of the Mewlips poem (#9) was not given.

mark12_30's seems to make the most sense, although the very name of the Mewlips has gotten me thinking of them as little skulking catlike creatures, that walk upright but sort of crouched over, all black and nasty, rather than the ghostly Barrow-wights. It probably is just more of a distorted tale, though, as mark says.