Manitoba Lake, which lies northwest of Fort Garry, has given a title to the Province formed out of the Red River region, derives its name from a small island, from which, in the stillness of night, issues a mysterious noise. On no account will the Ojibways approach or land on this island, supposing it to be the home of the Manitoba, the “Speaking God.” The cause of this curious sound is the beating of the waves on the “shingle,” or large pebbles lining the shores. Along the northern coast of the island there is a long, low cliff of fine-grained, compact lime stone, which, under the stroke of the hammer, clinks like steel. The waves beating on the shore at the foot of the cliff cause the falling fragments to rub against each other and to give out a sound resembling the chimes of distant church bells. The phenomenon occurs when the gales blow from the north, and then, as the winds subside, low, waiting sounds like whispering voices are heard in the air. Travelers assert that the effect is impressive, and that they have been awakened at night under the impression that they were listening to church bells.–Helena (Mont.) Independent.
This story is repeated on many websites. I wonder if it’s true, or another of those Victorian stories which have the imprimatur of time and repetition? It’s interesting to note the juxtaposition of Ojibway folklore (”Speaking God”) with Christian sensibility (”church bells”).
(As an aside, Google maps sucks pebbles on a satellite connection, hence no links showing Lake Manitoba.)
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This reminds me of the curious desert phenomenon of “Singing sands”. http://www.schweich.com/sbdA.html
“Probably the foremost requirement for the production of sound by desert sands is an ability for the wind, through reworking of sand grains over long reaches of transport (multiple generations of sand movement), to produce well-rounded, extremely smooth, frosted sand grains.”
OK, singing sands are a phenomenon of wind and dry sand, rather than water, pebbles and rocks, but it does make me wonder whether the pebbles on this shingle happened to be particularly well sorted, and of a uniform shape and polish.