Observations placeholder

It would appear that in the end the unpleasantness, slyness, egoism, cruelty, dishonesty, possessiveness and selfishness of the incomers so upset the original humans that they could no longer stand them as neighbours.  So they packed their bags and left, with no indication in any of the legends at to where they went.  There are a number of stories which demonstrate just how unpleasant the newcomers were:

Myth 1 - Idyllen, Volkssagen, Legenden und Erzahlungen aus Der Schweitz – Professor J Rud Wyss  1813 Source; Thomas Keightley

“It was related that it was the custom of the Dwarfs to seat themselves on a large piece of rock and thence to look on the haymakers when at work.  But some mischievous [sic] people lighted a fire on the rock and made it quite hot and then swept off all the coals.  In the morning the little people, coming to take their usual station, burned themselves in a lamentable manner.  Full of anger they cried out 'O wicked world, O wicked world!' called aloud for vengeance and disappeared for ever.

Myth 2 - Idyllen, Volkssagen, Legenden und Erzahlungen aus Der Schweitz – Professor J Rud Wyss  1813 Source; Thomas Keightley

“In the summer time the troop of the Dwarfs came in great numbers down form the hills into the valley and joined the men that were at work, either assisting them or merely looking on.  They especially liked to be with the mowers in the hay making season, seating themselves .. in the long thick branches of a maple tree, among the dense foliage.  But one time some mischief loving [again sic] people came by night and sawed the branch nearly through.  The unsuspecting Dwarfs as usual sat on it... and the branch snapped in two, the Dwarfs were thrown to the ground.  When the people laughed at them they became greatly incensed and cried out;

O how is heaven so high
And perfidy so great
Here today and never more

And they were never seen again

The general impression one gets from reading the myths is that they migrated slowly northwards, towards Iceland and Scandinavia as the legends in these countries are fresher than those further south in Germany and Switzerland for example. The following is an extract from a story about the migration of the Dwarfs from Hesse on the Schwalm in Germany and a mountain nearby called the Dosenberg.  A farmer helps them carry all their freight over the river using his wagon, a task which takes him all  night.  The story may be allegorical, but the principle of disappearance is valid

 Grimm's Deutsche Sagen [Source Thomas Keightley]

“Then said the Dwarf 'It is enough now, you shall see what you have been carrying'.  He bade him look over his right shoulder and then he  saw the country near and far filled with Dwarfs.  'Three thousand years' then said the Dwarf 'have we dwelt in the Dosenberg; our time is now up and we must go to another land' “

Several other stories  relate to the migration of the Dwarfs, but one was of particular interest because it came from Scotland.  A number of stories and legends hint that the Dwarves probably occupied Wales, Scotland and Ireland [there is no evidence of Dwarves in England if they came they weren't there long] as well as the Isle of Man, but this story specifically mentions them by name, albeit their leaving.  The other curiosity in the tale is that these Dwarfs go south.  All the other leaving Dwarfs go north.

Hugh Miller – The Old Red Sandstone [Source; Thomas Keightley]

“On a Sabbath morning all the inmates of a little hamlet had gone to church, except a herd boy and a little girl, his sister, who were lounging beside one of the cottages when just as the  shadow of the garden dial had fallen on the line of noon, they saw a long cavalcade ascending out of the ravine, through the wooded hollow.  It winded among the knolls and bushes, and turning around the northern gable of the cottage, beside which the sole spectators of the scene were stationed, began to ascend the eminence towards the south.  The horses were shaggy diminuitive things, speckled dun and grey; the riders stunted, misgrown ugly creatures attired in antique jerkins of plaid, long grey clokes and little red caps, from under which their wild uncombed locks shot out over their cheeks and foreheads.  The boy and his sister stood gazing in utter dismay and astonishment, as rider after rider.. passed the cottage and disappeared among the brushwood... until at length the entire rout, except the last rider … had gone by.

'What are ye, little manie, and where are ye going? Inquired the boy.....

'Not of the race of Adam' said the creature …. the people of peace shall never more be seen in Scotland'”