Page 116 - Issues131-133

The third miniature, Cutty Sark, is named in memory of the ship (clipper type),
built in 1869 and considered one of the fastest of its kind in that period. Used
mainly for transporting tea (from China), wool and tallow (from Australia) to

England, the ship was famous for the fastest travel from New South Wales to
London (82 days) and kept this record for 10 years.

Cutty Sark clipper photographed at sea

Cutty Sark is the nickname of the witch Nannie Dee from Robert Burns' poem
Tam o' Shanter. She took part in a witches' dance in a forest where Tam

passed, riding and having fun. Seeing Nannie wearing a dress (sark) too short
(cutty), the hero of the poem shouted "well-done Cutty-Sark!" and the witches

went after him, as mortals were not allowed to attend their dances.

Following Tam, who galloped toward the river (according to folklore, witches

can't cross flowing waters), the fastest witch was Nannie Cutty-Sark, who
caught up with him, grabbed his horse's tail but all she got was the tail in her

hand; Tam crossed the river, escaping safely.

The fastest ship of that time was named after the fastest witch, and on the

bow of the ship, under the bowsprit, is a sculpture of Nannie Dee holding a
ponytail.

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