Exciseman in a Coal Pit, The

DESCRIPTION: An exciseman gets drunk on smugglers' liquor. He falls into a coal pit and colliers lower him underground. He wakes and meets a collier he thinks is the Devil. He promises to reform if returned from Hell, and for a guinea is returned above-ground.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1906 (Greig/Duncan2)
KEYWORDS: disguise mining drink Hell humorous Devil
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Greig/Duncan2 282, "The Exciseman in a Coal Pit" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #5854
NOTES [49 words]: For the theme of gauger/exciseman as fool see "The Private Still." - BS
The other theme, of impersonating the Devil to set someone straight, occurs in "Kate and Her Horns" [Laws N22]. - RBW
An exciseman is one who collects alcohol taxes and enforces the law on people who don't pay those taxes. - BS
Last updated in version 2.4
File: GrD2282

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