The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SINGING SANDS

AT MANY POINTS ON OUR SEACOAST AND ON THE SHORES OF THE
GREAT LAKES, THE BEACH SAND HAS, IN SMALL TRACTS,
VERY CURIOUS PROPERTIES. IN CERTAIN PLACES THE DRY
SAND BETWEEN THE WATERLINE AND EXTREME HIGH-TIDE
MARKS YIELDS A PECULIAR SOUND WHEN STRUCK OBLIQUELY
BY THE FOOT, OR EVEN WHEN STROKED BY THE HAND;
. . . THE SOUNDS PRODUCED BY FRICTION, AS DESCRIBED
RESEMBLE SOMEWHAT THE DISTANT BARKING OF A DOG,
AND MAY BE REPRESENTED BY THE SYLLABLE GROOSH . . . .
UNDER FAVORABLE CIRCUMSTANCES THEY MAY BE HEARD 100
FEET. ONLY DRY SAND HAS THIS PROPERTY. . . .
SANDS HAVING THIS PECULIARITY ARE SOMETIMES CALLED
'SINGING SANDS.'

Where learned: LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ; WASHINGTON DC

Date learned: 03-00-1968

View just this record