TH E F OL K L O R E O F AG R I C U L T U R E

ur ns , cau u o m as , c u s ro u s , A N D B EL I EF S c o u u a c ra o
' '

w rrn P A S T O R A L u r nA ND T H E C U L T I V A T I O N or
TH B so n; W ITH n u n m u c A ND T H B
CA A TTL E ;
or C w rru F R UI T
cnowmc n u s , , A ND ro w m

L EW I S D AY TO N B U R DI C K
Member of A merica nA nocia tionfor the A dva ncement of S cience

Founm no n
A utho r of h m

OTS EN I N G O PU BL I S H I N G C O .
,

B I N G HA M TO N , N Y . .
 PR EF A C E

IN p rep a rin g th i s vo lume the w riter ha s en de a vored to

a void such a mu l ti p l ic a tion of references a s w ould b e con

fusin g or b urdensome to the re a der a n d y e t a t the sa me

,

t ime su fcient ly to indi c a te the sou rc es o f inform a tion

.

w hi ch he ha s found most he l pfu l a nd to g ive due c redit

,

to a uthors from w hose w orks q uot a tions h a ve b een m a de .

H e is convin c ed th a t more o f th e customs b e l ie fs a nd

, ,

cerem oni a l institutions th a t to so g re a t a n extent m ak e

u p ou r soci a l l i fe a nd c ivi l i z a tion a re conne cted w i th e a rly
a gricu l ture th a n h a s b een g enerally a cknow l e dg e d .

Some re a der of the fo ll ow in g p ag es w i ll s ay p erch a n ce

, ,

th a t m any thin g s noted th erein ou g ht to b e forgotten .

Other re a ders w i l l nd a ll th a t h a s a t one time or a nother

, ,

h a d some inuen ce in th e up w a rd pro g ress of m a n of dee p ,

an d ab sorb in g interest . I n all the story of hum a n history

there is su re l y no p age th a t c a n b e w ritten truth fu lly just
a s w e mi g ht w i s h to h a ve it y et w ho sh a l l sa y t ha t it
,

w ou l d b e w i se to efia ce it i f w e cou l d ?
.

T he auth or is disposed to l ook ch a rita b l y upon a ll the

b e l iefs how ever c rude which a t a n y time h a ve inuen ce d
, ,

hum a n condu ct b e l ievin g th a t the w idest l a titude possi

,

bl e shou l d b e all o w ed for the ex erc ise of individu a l fre e

dom a nd th a t superstition is a w ord too fre q uent ly use d
,

inca utiousl y a nd unw ittin gl y to ch a r a cterize w h a tever

does not h a rmoni ze w i th the convi ctions a nd te a chin gs o f
our ow n p eriod of time a n d st ag e o f deve l opment some ,

o f w hi ch it is possi b l e a fe w centu ries hen ce w i l l h a ve

, , ,

be com e a s ob so l ete a s others th a t w e h a ve now out g ro w n .

 The oldest a nd m ost bea u tifu l c a rms o f
h al l
na tions pass into pra yers ,

which were repea ted du ring sacri ce ; t he s im ples t a re found inpa stora l l ife .
"

Grint nt 1
'
Tra m la tionof Ja ne: S tevenSta llybra u p .

After a ll , wh at we ca ll tru th is nl y t he h ypothes is wh ich is

o f
ou nd to
wo rk b eat
"
J G Fraz er": Tlte Golden B ough , t
" '

. . . .
 C O N TE N TS

no
I Am.
ou r" no O ma n: or C u m rvxrron '
;
II . P REP A RI NG ro ut r m: C a or 14

III . PLOW I II G 31

IV . S O W I NO a n!) P u nrnu o 47

V . Ma nna P a onu c nv: 67

VI . Ma nna ru r Wu r za
'
n 91

VII . Lu nar . AN D Pu n -
ma r nu a nce 1 21

VIII . P ea rce nu s - r m: Hu m 1 35

UK H u m :
. 1 58

X . F ra n
s 1 73

XI . P a oc ns xo ns AND e a m zs 1 9o

X II M . a nna r m: H ea p s Pa ou nc 205

X III . Tm t. n o Pvm s m a trr o r A N MA LS

I 2 25

X IV . H anna m i c
- 237

F a m -G a ow m o 255

26 8

XVII . F ow u 28 1

I nner 29 3
 MA G I C A N D H U S BA N DR Y

C H A PT E R I

A N TI QU ITY A ND O R IGI N OF C U LTI VATI ON

Who ca nsee the g een
r ea rt h a ny more
As sh e was by the sou rces o f T im e?

Who
i ma gin h l d th ey lay es er e s as

I nth nhi n nw n by th p l w
e su s e, u or e o

Wh think a th y th gh t
o s s e ou ,

The t i b w h th n a m d n h
r es o e ro

o er b rea st,
H vig ou
er p imi ti v
orn? s, r e so s

T H E a ttitu de of primitive hum a nity in the rst st ages of

a g ri cu l tur al deve l opment w e c a nnot possi bly comprehend .

So me know l ed g e o f cu l tiv a tion preceded all w ritten rec

ords a nd goes ba ck to a period w hen they kne w nothin g
,

of c a use a nd efiect a nd nothin g of ph ysic al law s I n the

, .

e a rl iest d ay s of the o l dest n a tions of which w e h a ve a ny

kno w l ed ge they w ere a l re a d y proficient in ag ricu l tu r al
s cience .

T he o l dest o f the G reek histori a ns de scri b es a gricu l

tu ra l l i fe a mon g th e Babyloni a ns a nd thei r m a nner of ,

a rtici al l y ferti l izin g the d a te p al m a process pictured in

2
,

e a r l iest A ss y ri a n a rt T he e a r l iest E gypti a n p a intin g s

.

w ere ex ecuted u p on the w all s of the tom b s for nobl es con

nect ed w ith the rei gn of K in g Khu fu b ui l der of the G re a t ,

P y r a mid a nd go ba ck si x thous a nd y e a rs
, I n these p a int .

in gs a re depi cted ag ricu l tu r al scenes herdsm en w ith

, ,

thei r herds men p l ow in g a nd m ak in g w ine 3
A , .

Th Fut r
e M a tthew A n l d
u e,

r o .

H od t
er i 93
o u s,

. : .

a u
m un h; F ll a h a nd Exp l e
c e Am l i a B E dw a d p 7
s or rs,

e . r s, . !
 MA G I C A N D H L S BA N DR Y
'

dra wing n ng gs wa s fou nd in th e G rea t P yr

rep res e t i

a m id

.In t he o ldest exta nt m a nu scri p t its e l f b u t a cop y ,

of o ne a m i llenniu m o lder the feu d a l lo rd Pt a h H o t ep

- , ,

E ra , dm oni sh ed cu l tiva to rs to su rro und t he ti ll ed e a rth

a
In th e i r ea r l ies t historica l t im es t h e
w ith hedg es ?
Egy pti a ns hi d ca re fu ll y noted t he l im its of t h e n o m es or
di s tri cts th e a m ou nt o f cu l tiva ted la nd in ea ch a nd the
, ,

a mount o f la nd a va i labl e fo r a gricu l tu ra l purpo se s a fter a

hi gh Ni l e
Contra ct t abl ets h a ve b een fou nd of t h e d ay s
.

o f th e Ba b yl oni a n kin g H a m mura b i 2 2 50 B C re la tin g , . .

,

to th e construction of i rriga tin g ditches for ove r o w in g

"
an d m akin g p roductive the f ie l ds T he o l des t poe t ry o f .

the G ree ks t e lls th e sto ry of the p l ed ge of a f a i r dem esne

of ft y p l ow ga tes the h al f t hereof vine la nd a nd the h al f
-
,
-

open p l owla nd to M elea gros for a ssistin g th e A lto

li a ns a nd Hes iod h a s pict u red on the shie l d of Hercu l es

8
,

l o w er s c l ea vin g th e rich e a rth a nd re a pers w ith thei r

p ,

s h a rp si ckl es cutt in g the th ick st a ndin g crop S eventy -

.

k inds of gra in a nd p la nts a re mentioned in the o l d

"
Chinese B oo k o f Poetry a nd one of thei r pe a s a nt ,

son gs of e a r ly d a te runs :

We i
nr se,
r se a t s u i
We res t a t su nse t,

D g ll d k
i we s a nd ri n ,
i ou r e s a nd ea t
T ll ld
Wh t is the stren t of the em peror to
a gh us ?

O i gi n f C l ti v a t d Pl a nt A lph n d C a nd ll p
r o u e s,

o se e o e, .
3 .

O l d t B k in t h W l d I aa My pp 7 6 5
es oo s e or ,
s c e r, .
, : 3.

T h M m my
e u E A W a ll i B d g p 8
,

. . s u e, . .

P i m i tiv C i v i l i a ti n E J S i m x i 8 3
r e z o ,

. . co ,
. 2 .

i liad i a ng a f nd M
'
, 5
s8 .L L
0, a i , e c
 A N TI QU I TY OF CU LT I VAT I ON 3

Yet for four thous a nds y ea rs s ays M r S imcox the , .

,

s t ren g th of th e empire h a s b een in the ag ricu l tu r a l p e a s

an t ry w ho a s k nothin g from the emperor b ut to b e l et

,
" 9
w ise ly a l one . Th e inde b tedness of this a ncient civi l iz a
t ion to ag ricu l tu re a nd its import a nce a s a ect in h m a
'

, g t e

t eria l a nd mor al w e l fa re i s ex pressed in the l a n gu a ge o f ,

a n imperi a l m a ni festo in a y ea r o f sc a rci t y n ea r l y t wo

cen t u ries b e fore the Christi a n Era : Crime b e g ins in pov

erty ; po v e rty in insu f ciency o f food ; insu f c i ency o f f ood
1
in ne gl ect o f ag ricu l ture .

Pl in y s ays the e a r l iest surn a mes a mon g the R om a ns

w ere de rived from a gricu lt u re a nd ag ricu l tura l im ple
m ents : from the pest l e for p oundin g corn c a m e Pi l umnus ,

an d Piso f rom the w ord ex pressin g the a ct o f g rindin g

corn ; l e guminous p l a nts in t he cu l tiv a tion o f w hich the y ,

ex c e ll ed supp l ied the n a mes o f L en t u l us a nd Ci c ero ; the

,

rst gure impre ss ed on m one y wa s th a t o f a sheep a nd ,

from pew s a sheep ca me pecu nia money I n the d ay s o f

, , ,
.

C a to the hi ghest comp l iment to a m a n wa s to c al l him a

g oo d hus b a n d m a n 1 1
T h e.poet Co w l ey s a y s the rst w is h
o f Vi r gi l w a s to b e a good phi losopher a nd the se cond , ,

a g ood husb a n dm a n ; a n d Cicero th a t the p l e a sures o f a ,

hu sba n dm a n come very ni gh to those o f a phi l osopher .

W hen consider ab l e pro g ress h a s b een m a de in civi l iz a

tion a nd the e a rl iest e fforts in ag ricu l tu re h a v e b ecome
more or l ess for g otten when the l itera ry instin ct ha s b een
,

s ome w h a t deve l oped a nd n a tion a l pride stimu l a ted it h a s ,

then b een ch a r a cteristic o f n a tions a nd peop l es to see k to

connect the ori g in o f th in g s specific a ll y w ith their o w n

na tion a l divinities Loyal ty a nd p a triotism the la ck o f

.
,

a ct u a l k no w l ed g e thei r ow n v a nity a nd con ceit , the ten

,

.
P itn
r itiv Ci v i l i a ti n
e z 46 o , :1 . .

I bid ii

. . u s.

N a t a l H i sto y xviii 3; m iii

ur r , 3 . . t .
 M AGI C A N D HU SBAN D R Y

den ey to a tt ri b ute to the supern a tu ra l w h a tever they cou l d

not underst a nd all these prep a red the wa y for t he a c
,

cepted b e l ie f th a t the y w ere spe c i all y f a v o red by God or ,

the gods by whom spe ci c reve la t ions w ere m a de to t hem

,
.

I n thi s wa y v a rious peop l es ca me to be l ieve th a t it wa s to

their ow n tri bal deities th a t th e w or l d wa s indeb ted for in
s tru ction in the cu l tiv a tion o f cert a in pro d u ct s a n d even ,

for the p rodu cts them se l ves a t the com m encem ent of their
a cq u a inta nce w ith them T he more im po rta nt wa s the
.

p a rt th a t a cert a in produ ct o f th e e a rth p l a yed in their

o wn n a tion al l i fe the more cert a in the y b ec a me th a t it
,

wa s to thei r ow n n a ti on al or tri bal go d th a t the y w e re

indeb ted for it prim a ri ly T he ripe f ruit a n d g ra in fe ll
.

perfecte d f rom their h a nds a nd by divine instru ctionth eir ,

peop l e w ere ta u ght how to reproduce th em So metim es to .

thei r k in gs emperors or g re a t heroes these fu n ctions w ere

, ,

a tt ri b uted or by them the rst kno wl ed g e o f p la nts a nd

,

ve get abl es wa s s a id to h a ve b een communi ca te d but this ,

w a s al on g the s a me l ine of thin k in g a nd a noth er wa y o f ,

e xpressin g the s a me conception a s in e a rl iest thou ght ,

deities a nd k in g s w ere not l i k e ly to be cle a rly dierentia ted ,

an d mi ght b e s ynon y mous .

The Chinese a ttri b uted the introdu ction o f g ra ins a nd

the estab l ishment o f husba ndry to the mi ra cu l ous ly con
ceived son o f K i a n g Yiin The fest al odes in the s a c re d
.

B ook o f Poet ry commemor a te his benecence ; a nd

s a cri ce s w ere o ffered in his honor .

O T i b th p i n a m pl i h d
a , ou r ce cco s e ,

W thy t l i nk w i th H a v n
or o e e ,

G a in give t
r na ti n!r o ou r o

W ith a h nd d b l i ng ame
h im u re ess s c

T h m i ll t th
e a ly nd th l at
e s, e e r a e e,

A nd l a t nd a ly p l
e a nd w h a t
e r u se a e .

The S hi Kin , g Wi ll i am

Jenni ngs , I V i , . t o.
 A N TI Q U ITY OF C U L TI VA TI ON

He f lk t ti ll th l d
se t his o o e e s,

8 h a d th y g a i n f
0 a i
e r or s cr ce,

T h mi ll t b l a k nd w hi t
e e s c a e, a nd

The f ruits o f the e a rth a re a scri b ed to the g oodn ess o f

Bu d dha :
The p rodu ction o f a g r a in o f rice is a s g re a t a w ork
as th e c re a tion of a mount a in .

H a d it not b een for the p ow er of B uddh a w here ,

" 1
s h o u l d w e h a ve found ou r food ?

I t wa s the g oddess Ceres who t a u ght the R om a ns the

cu l tiv a tion o f w h ea t T he produ ction o f the c rop w a s .

th e u nited du ty o f Ceres a nd T e ll u s To one wa s tr a ced .

the o ri g in the other contri b uted the envi ronment P a rt

, .

ners in toi l th e y c ivi l ized a nti q ui ty a nd rep l a c ed the

, ,

a corn o f the o ak w ith a more w ho l esome food

us
.

To the Heb rews the a t o f Ja hveh b rou g ht forth ,

g ra ss a nd herb y ie l din g seed a fter its k ind a nd the tree ,

16
y i e l din g fruit w hos e seed w a s in i ts e l f
, I t wa s he w ho .

fo rmed ev ery p l a nt o f the el d b efore it g re w whi l e y et it ,

h a d not ra ined upon th e ea rth a nd th er e wa s not a m a n ,

"
t o ti ll the ground .

Th e E gypti a ns a tt ri bu te d to the godde ss I sis the dis

co very o f w he a t a nd ba r l e y A t her festiv a l s st alks o f the .

g ra ins w ere c a rried in proc essions in honor o f her b ec a use

o f the g re a t b oon con ferred u p on men G re ek w riters .

descri b e her a s the mother o f the e a rs o f corn a nd the

f ru i ts of the e a rth 18
.

A t th e a dvent o f the S p a ni a rd in A meric a a ll the c ivi l

i g IV i v a
q
"
The S h i K n . . .

The L ore ofC a th a y W A P M a t i n 2 5 5 ti ngf ,

. . . r , ,
uo rom a man u

c ipt v l m
s r o u w itten by the a bb t f a m na t y in th W t
e r o o o s er e es er n H i lls.

Ovid Fa ti i 6 7 3

s

s ,

. .

Gni ie es s, . :2 .

1 554 ii 5
. . .

T h G l d enB gh ii 46
"
e o ou , . : .
 The oldest a nd m ost b ea u ti fu l c ha mr s of a ll nati n pa ss into pra ye rs ,
o s

which were re peated d ing a i

ur s cr ce ; t he s i m pl t
es a ref ou nd inpa s to ra l l ife .
"

Grimm 1 Tra n f Ja ni e: S teven S ta llybra u , p

s la tionO
'
.

1 2 33 .

After a l l , wha t we a ll tru th is o nl y t he h ypoth s i e s which fou nd to
work bes t .
J G Fra z er s
. .
'
m Golden B ough ,

i 45 0
. .
 MA G I C A N D H US BA N DR Y

CHA PT E R I

A N TI Q U ITY A ND OR IGI N OF C U LTI VATI ON

Who ca nsee the green a th e r a ny more
As s he was Tim ? by th e sou rces o f e

Wh i m a gin h l d
o th y l a y
es er e s as e

I n th n hi n nw n by th p l w ?
e su s e, u or e o

Wh th ink oth y th gh t s as e ou ,

Th t i b w h th n m d n he b

e r es o e roa o r rea st,

H vig
er p i miti v n ?
o rou s, r e so s

TH E a tt i t u de of primitive hum a ni ty in the rs t st ages o f

a g ricu l tu ra l deve l opment w e c a nn ot possi b ly comprehend .

So me know l ed g e of cu l tiv a tion p receded all w ritten rec

ords a nd goes b a ck to a period w hen the y k ne w noth in g
,

of ca u se a nd e ffe ct a nd nothin g of ph y sic a l law s I n the

, .

e a r l iest d a y s o f the o l dest n a tions o f wh ich w e h a ve a n y

kno w l e d g e th ey w e re a l re a d y procient in a g ricu l tu r a l

sc ien c e .

T he o l dest o f the G reek histori a ns descri b es a gricu l

tu ra l l i fe a mon g the B a byloni a ns a nd their m a nner o f ,

a rti ci al l y fe rti l izin g the d a te p al m a process pictured in

2
,

e a rl iest A ss y ri a n a rt T he e a r l ie st E gy pti a n p a intin gs

.

w ere executed upon the wall s o f the tom b s for nob l es con
nect ed w ith the rei gno f K in g Khu fu b ui l der of the G re a t ,

Py ra mid a nd g o b a ck si x thous a nd y e a rs I n the se p a int

, .

in gs a re d epi cte d a g ricu l tur al scenes herdsm en w ith , ,

thei r herds men p l ow in g a nd m a k in g w ine

3
A , .

The F t u u re, M atthew Arn l d

o .

H rod t s i 9 3
e o u ,

. : .

Ph a h F ll a h nd Exp l
ra o s, e Am l i a B Edw a d p
s a ore rs,

e . r s, .
I2 M AGI C AN D HU SBA N D R Y

m a n a nd th e sw e a t o f h is b ro w From the c l os e re l a tion

.

ship o f the Baby l oni a n cre a tion t a bl ets to the story o f the
Heb rew s it is pro bab l e th a t y et undeciph ered r ecords m a y
,

show th a t simi l a r b e l ie fs prev a i l ed a mon g the Babyl oni a ns

of the disob edience a nd fall o f m a n The fa mous cy l inder .

disc ov ered by G eorg e Smith w ith a represent a tion o f the ,

tree o f l i fe g ives stron g co l orin g to thi s conc l usion Th e

, .

tree st a nds b etw een th e hum a n coup l e w hose h a nds re a ch

out a fter its f ru it w hi l e the temptin g se rpent ere ct st a n ds
, , ,

in a n a tt i t u de o f cond ence c l ose b ehind the fem a l e gu re .

One story m ay not h a ve b een copied from the other neces

s a rily y et b oth a re evident ly c l o s e ly r el a te d a nd m a y h a ve
, ,

b een derived from the s a me source .

The Heb re w sto ry o f the tw o b rothers a nd th ei r ri v a l ry

in thei r s a cred o erings cu l min a tin g in the tra ged y of
,

C a in m a rk s the tra nsition of the Heb rew peop l e from th eir

,

more strict ly p a stor al to the ag ri cu l tu ra l l i fe I t wa s .

impious to ti l l the g round in the b eni gn age o f S a tu rn

- .

T he fruit o erings of C a in w ere l es s a cc ept abl e to J a hveh .

T he cu l tiv a tion o f the soi l wa s forb idden by Ab a si the ,

C alaba r god a ccordin g to E a st A fric a n l e g ends ti ll the

, ,

tempt a tion of the w om a n o f the rst p a i r when c a me ,

the b e g innin g of ag ri cu l ture a s a punishment ini cted upon

the r a ce E l se w here the a uthor ha s w ritt en o f the per
.
3

v a din g a nimistic b e l ie f o f primitive m a n in th e ne cessity

for the propiti a tion o fthe e a rth godde ss b efore tresp a ssin g
upon her dom a in He stood in aw e o f the d a n gers wh ich
.

thre a tened him i f the e a rth w a s dis turb e d in its pe a ce ,

fu l repose w ithout conci l i a tion a nd a tonement B orn of

, .

primitive a nimism b e l i ef in tr a dition a l hosti l i ty to th e

,

cu l tiv a tion o f the soi l in primev a l times su rvive d Drin k .

in g up a b rother s bl ood the a n g ry e a rth spi rit a pp e a se d

, , ,

evermore consents to the h a rro w in g o f her b o som .

F nd a ti n R i t
ou o es ,

I I .
 ANTI Q U I TY OF CUL TI VATI ON I 3

Deepl y impresse d w i t h h is o w n sa d exp erien ces a n d too

,

l itt l e a ppreci a tive o f t h e goodness o f thin g s m a n l ook in g

, ,

a c ros s th e g re a t abyss o f the p a st a n d fa i l in g to p erceive

hi s owngra d u al d eve l opment see ks to a ccount for t h e u n
,

sa tisfa ctory c onditions o f h is present surroundin gs He

.

ha s po stu la t ed a n impossi bl e perio d in the a g e s gone w hen ,

a l l desired t hin gs ca me unso l icite d S e l f-conscious o f h is

.

own imper fe ctions , he ch a rges up to his a nce sto rs th e

responsi b i l ity not y et re a l i zin g th a t in t h e l o ftier asp i r a
,

ti o ns o f his hi gher deve l o p ment a re foun d the true sou rc es

o f h is inc re a se d a cti v ities a nd uns a ti s ed l on g ings .
 CH A PTE R I I
PRE PAR I N G F OR T HE CROP

They h a ll d n f th i nc a
s a ce or e re se

A nd t ngt h f th
s re n d o e cor see ,

O f a h g a i nm a ki ng m a ny
e c r

E a h g a i n th a t y n i h
c r e ou r s

Wi th n w i l nd w at !
e so a er

T URN w hich wa y one w i ll the convi ction is stren gth ened ,

a nd deepened th a t the e a r l ie st eo rts in cu l tiv a tion of the

soi l w er e eve ryw here c l ose ly all ied w ith re l i g ious b e l ie fs .

I t is t rue t h a t the se l ection o f a e l d to b e ti ll e d mi g ht b e

deemed o f import a nce enou gh to dem a nd the most ca re fu l
consid era tion I t wa s o ften a ttended w ith m a ny e l a b ora te
.

ceremonies in w hich the priest perh a p s took a prom

, , ,

in cu t p a rt b ut th e momentous q uestion to b e d etermine d

,

h a d l e ss to do w ith the a d a pta tion o f the soi l to the c rop to

b e g row n o f w hich the y kne w nothin g th a n w ith its
, ,

a ccept ab i l ity to the supe rn a tur a l b ein g s w ho cou l d m a k e or

de stroy thei r h a rvest To this end w ith ri tu a l isti c observ
.
,

a u ces a nd s a crici a l rites th ey sou g ht the a pprob a tion

,

an d co oper a tion o f the spi rits a round a nd b ene a th in

-
,

e a rth a nd a ir w hose pow er they r eco gni zed a nd fe a red

, .

How di d s a v ag e m a n ju st emerg in g from b a rba rism

rst c ome to l e a rn to put seeds in the g round a nd l oo k for
tim e to b rin g thei r fruiti on ? T o specu la tive minds it is
a n ever re cu rrin g q ue stion o f ab sorb in g interest a nd one
-
,

to w hi ch evermore a s a tisfy in g a n sw er w ith d emonstr a

Z u ni M yt h F H C hi ng in Thi t nth Ann a l Report f B u ea u

s, . . us , r ee u o r

of A m i a n E th n l gy
er c o o .

Id
 PR E PARI N G F OR TH E C RO P 1 5

tive proo f is denied We a ccept it a s a n evident t ruth

.
,

a s a commonp l a ce fa ct th a t the seed is the e ssenti al

,

p a rt nece ss a ry to rep roduce the p l a nt or ve g et abl e a nd ,

th a t ther e cou l d h a ve b een a period or condition in the

evo l ution o f m a n w hen i t cou l d h a ve b een otherw ise ,

seems a fa r-a w a y conc lusion a nd a l most unthi nkab l e

, .

N eve rthe l ess it is a pp a rent on l itt l e reection th a t it mu s t

,

h a ve b een the pivot a l point b etw een civi l iz a tion a nd ba r

b a rism the most vit a l one in the hi s to ry o f hum a n pro g re s s
,

a nd cu l tu re when it rst d aw ned upon the a w ak enin g

,

inte l l ect o f m a n th a t the edi bl e f ru its a nd w i l d cere al s

wh ich nourished him mi ght be perpet u a ted in o ther se a sons
by m ea ns o f g erms cont a ined w ithin themsel ves .

I t is su gg es ted th a t primitive m a n m ay h a ve ob served

th e renew a l o f ve g et a tion from the s eed s c a st out on the
k itchen mi d dens a nd c l e a red p la ce s w here refuse w a s a cci
dent a lly throw n a round thei r hut s a nd dw e ll in gs b ut w h y ,

he shou l d h a ve connected th is f a ct w ith the s eeds more

th a n w ith the she ll s a nd b ones a nd other wa s te products
is not a pp a rent a nd the pro bl em is l e ft s ti ll un exp la in ed
,
.

T he su b ject is most ably a nd intere s tin gly di scu ssed by

M r G ra nt A l l en w ho inc l ine s to the b e l i e f th a t the on ly
.
2
,

w ay in w hich primitive m a n rs t b ec a me a cq u a inted w ith

the e l ement a ry p rincip l es of the reproduction o f ve get abl e
orga nisms wa s from h is custom o f m ak in g propiti a tory
o ffe ri n gs a t the b uri al p la ces o f the de a d Fe a rin g the .

m al evo l ent inuence of the spi rit or g host o f the de a d m a n .

the y p la ced his b ody b ene a th a w ei ght o f e a rth a nd sou g ht ,

to prevent h is trou bl esome re a ppe a ra nce R o ll i ng a stone .

u pon his tumu l us a dded to the s a fet y o f th e l ivi n g by

a ddin g to the di fcu l ty of esc a pe f rom the con nement ,

a nd hence the ori g in o f mo nume nt a l comm emor a tio n of

the de a d a nd the b e g innin g o f ag ricu l ture B el ievin g
, .

Ev l ti
o u o nof the Id ae of Go d,
h a p xiii
c . .
I 6 M AGI C A N D HU SBA N D R Y

th a t w h a tever ga ve p l e a sure to the l ivin g m a n w i ll b e

a ccept ab l e to his g host o erings o f food a nd drin k suc h
,

a s he w a s a cc ustomed to a re m a de a t his b uri al p l a c e b y

his l ivin g a ssoci a tes a nd the seeds o f fruits a nd n a ti v e

,

cere al s germin a tin g a nd t ak in g root in th e ne wly disturb ed

soi l o f the tom b reproduce them T he fe a re d a nd con
, .

ci l i a te d s p irit o f the tom b p l ea se d w ith the a tt ention,

m a ni fested a nd generous contri b utions b estow ed rep a ys ,

their o erings m a n y fo l d in l i k e k in d S tep by s tep it .

w ou l d b e disco vered th a t ve get a tion w ou l d thrive a roun d ,

a s w e ll a s upon the a ctu a l g r a v e i f it wa s du g w ide a nd

,

deep enou gh a nd sl owly w ou l d deve lop the e x tended cu l

,

t iva ted e l d a nd po ss i bly the b e l ie f connected there w i th

,

of the necessi ty o f fresh g ho st s to m a k e the c rop g ro w .

Hence s ays M r All en mi ght g r a du ally a rise a h ab it
, .
,

o f m a k in g a new g r a ve a nnu ally a t the most fa vor ab l e ,

sow in g time . And thi s ne w gr a v e w ou l d b e the

g r a ve not o f a p erson who h a ppened to die then a nd there
,

a ccident a lly b u t o f a de l i b er a te vi ctim s la in in ord er to

, ,

provide a spi rit o f ve g et a tion a n a rtici a l go d a n d to , ,

3
m ak e the corn g ro w w ith vi gor a nd l u xuri a n ce .

Whether this theory of the b e g innin g o f th e cu l tiv a tion

o f the soi l is a cce p ted or not it is su gg esti ve a nd stim u la t
,

in g a nd l e a ds to the considera tion o f m a ny customs kno w n

,

by ab und a nt evidence to h a ve b een pr a ctice d by m a n y

civi l i zed a nd semi civi l i zed peop l es Fe a r o f distu rb in g
-
.

the soi l ha s b een ch a r a cteristic o f s a v a ge s S pirits o f the .

e a rth w ere re gu l a rly invok ed a s a re l i g iou s rite a mon g the

m ost a ncient civi l iz a tions T h a t the b e l ief in e a rth spi rits
.

a nd demons a nd deitie s is primitive a nd preceded even ,

e a rth b uri al s is p robabl e T h a t the home l ess wa nder

-
, .
,

in g ghosts of the de a d w ere th ou ght fit comp a nions for

the spi rit s of t he under w or l d is l i ke ly a nd th a t re g ion s ,

Ev l ti n f th I d a f G d p 83
o u o o e e o o

, . 2 .
1 8 M AGI C AN D HU SBA N D R Y

a nd not b e to rem a in al l ni g ht upon the tree l e st

su ered ,

the la nd b e deled Pa renthetic a l ly i t is exp la ined th a t
.

h e th a t is h a n g ed is a c cursed of G od b ut is there not a su g ,

gestion th a t prim a ri l y the custom m ay h a ve b een a sso

cia ted w i th the fe a r o f h a rm to the l ivin g fro m the depre

d a tions of the m al icious l y inc l ined ghost ? T he unb uried

co rp se o f the h a n g ed m a n w ou l d b e a v a i labl e for the use
o f m ag ici a ns a nd sorcerers T he e l d s mi ght b e m a de .

ba rren a nd the crops ruined T he demons of the l oc al ity

, .

mi g ht connive w ith the spi rit o f the de a d a nd w re ak ven ,

g e a n ce upon those w ho h a d insti ga ted the puni shment of

the crimin a l .

Sa v ag es resorte d to m a n y devices for th wa rtin g the m al

ice o f spiri tu al b ein gs w hom the y fe a red W ith v a rious .

ceremonies the y sou g ht to imp a rt conten tment to t he de

p a rted a,nd preven t t h e spirit from rep

a i rin g to the p la c es

o f his former resort a nd di s tre ss in g the survivors T he .

priest o f Ta hiti p la ced sl ip s of p la nt a in l e a f st alk on the -

b re a st a nd under the a rm s o f the corpse to represent the

fa ther w i fe mother or chi l d o f the dece a sed a nd g o w ith
, , , ,

him to the spirit w orl d a nd not s ee k those l e ft b ehind , .

For a l i k e re a son the stem o f a ba n a n a tree wa s b uri ed

w ith a corpse by the Ga lela reese ; a nd a mon g the Okyo n
t ri b es a s M a ry Kin gsl e y re la tes w h en a w om a n die s l e a v
, ,

in g a chi l d over si x months o l d l es t the spi rit o f the moth e r ,

come b a ck a fter the chi l d a b unch o f p la nt a ins is put in ,

w ith the b ody a nd bound up w ith the funer al b indin g

c l othes I
.

I f M other E a rth providin g a re t re a t a nd restin g p la ce

,

for the de a d protected the l ivin g from h a rmfu l spi rit s

, ,

a nd g enerous ly y ie l ded her a nnu al ab un da nce o f fruit s a nd

g ra ins a nd p la nt s for the susten a nce of m a n a nd b e a st sh e ,

D t n my i 3 3
eu e ro o . u

T a v l in \V t A f i a
r e s 47 3 es rc
"
,
 PR E PA R I N G F OR TH E C R OP 1 9

wa s exa cting in th e a ttentions s he dem a nded in return .

S he e x pected thei r propiti at ory o fferin gs a nd s a crices be

fo a e respondin g to their pr ay ers S he h a d given her drops .

o f bl ood a s the Kh onds b elieved to m a k e the so ft mudd y

, , ,

g round h a rden in t o rm e a rth s ui t abl e f or p a s tur a g e a nd

ti ll abl e e l ds thu s s i gni fy ing th a t bl ood y rites w ere a g re e
,

abl e to her .

I n a ncient l e g end f rom the e a rth all l ivin g cre a tures

,

spra n g g enera ted by me a n s of moisture a nd the q uick en

,

ing he a t of the su n .

q f ig
Hn e ce m i gh ty m th o er of t h

I m mo rt a l Gd o s,

Of b ru tes, a nd m en, is E a th f ll f
r u re ue nt e ned ,

w rote the a nci ent po et Lucretius I n her l ion dr aw n c a r .

8 -

she tr a v el ed th rou gh the l a n ds o f the e a rth s a n g the ,

a ncient ba rds of G reece I n Phryg i a .

,

S ince h
t ese t he c l im wh t
es e re rs , as fam e re o rts, p
T he ld
e was cu l t d nd th h a
u re a e v
r es t rose,

a t the fes tiv al s o f the I mmort a l M other a rmed b a nds , ,

s ay s the poet ,

Sp t w ith f a nta ti h a i n th m a d d a n
or s c c s, e e s u re ce

W a v i ng inf i a t h a m d w i th h m anb l d
e ur e, c r e u oo .

The h istori a n Ta citus re la tes th a t the tri b es o f the Suevi 1

united in the w orship o f H erth a the E a rth M oth er , .

On ly the priest wa s permitted to touch her co nsecr a t ed

ch a riot w hich stood in her s a cred g rove on a n i s la nd in
,

the oce a n A t the a nnu a l fe s tiv al of the godd ess h er

.

ch a riot wa s dr aw n by y ok ed co w s a nd eve ry p la ce w hich ,

Th N a t e f T h i ng J h n M a n G d t a n l a t i n ii 6 4

e ur o s, o so oo s r s o , . 0 .

Th N a t f Th i ng

e u re o ii s, .

Ge m ani a h a p s
r ,

c . o.
20 M AGI C AND HU SBA N D R Y

she visited wa s a scene of joyous festivity Sa ti a ted w ith .

the intercour se w ith mort al s the priest condu ct ed her ba c k ,

to her sa nctu a ry G oddess a nd ch a riot received abl u

.

tion in a secret la k e a nd s la ve s w ho a ss i st ed w ere sw a l

,

l ow ed up in its wa ters T he awa k enin g o f new l i fe w a s

.

a nnounced by the immers ion of the im a g e o f the g odde ss ,

a nd pe a ce a nd ferti l ity w ere secu red The N erthus o f the .

North h a d b een identied by the histori a n a s the e a rth deit y

o f h is ow n c la ss ic la nd the protectress o f ag ricu l tu re
, ,

w hose home wa s in the e a rth a nd w hose w orshi pers ,

touched the g round when invo k in g her .

T h a t hum a n s a crices h a ve e xtensive ly prev a i l e d in the

worship o f a g ricu l tur al deities in former time s is sho w n ,

b y ab und a nt evidence ga th ered from m a n y sou rces .

T he G o l den B ou gh o f M r Fr a zer is e s peci al l y v a l .

u a ble a s a n e x h a ustive t re a ti s e upon these a nd k indred cere

monies to w hich m a n y re ferences w i ll b e m a de in the fo l

,

l ow in g p a g e s I n discoursin g o f g oddesses Ja co b G rimm

.
,

s ay s t he common ide a under ly in g them is th a t the y a re

thou ght of chie y a s divine mothers w ho t r a ve l roun d a nd

visit houses a nd f rom w hom the hum a n ra ce l e a rn s the a rts
,

o f housek eepin g a nd husb a ndry Their lab o rs b rin g p e a ce .

a nd quiet in the la nd thou g h some o f them t ak e k ind l y

,

to wa r a s on the other h a nd some o f the gods fa vor

, , ,

p e a ce a nd a g ricu l ture 1 1
Heno t he. T hunder o f the ,

I ro q uois w ho rode throu gh the he a vens on the c l ouds a nd

,

s p l i t the forest trees w i th the thunderb o l ts wh ich he

hur l ed a t his enemie s wa s the p a t ron o f husb a ndry a nd

, ,

wa s invok ed a t seedtime a nd h a rvest I t is su gg es ted by .

Dr Tyl or th a t Huitzi l opochtl i the terri b l e wa r god o f the

.
,

A ztecs wa s ori g in ally a n a tu re deity a nd th a t his fun ctions

,

a s a wa r g od w ere a la te r a ddition
12
H is thre e l e a din g .

Teu t ni Myth l gy p a so
o c o o ,

. .

P rimitiv C u l t e ii 3 5 307

e ur , . 0 , .
 P R E PARI N G F OR T HE C R OP 2 1

festiv a l s w ere connected w i th the s e a son s the princip al one ,

b e in g he l d a t the time o f the w inter so l stice His reputed .

m other wa s t he g odde ss of p la n t s w ho b ec a me impre g ,

na t ed throu gh a b unch o f o w ers th a t fe ll from he a ven .

T he Decemb er festiv al wa s embl em a tic of the se a son .

T he b e g innin g o f w inter a nd the a pp a rent de a th of vege

t a t io n wa s ty pied in the k i ll in g o f th e g od The priest .

p rep a red his im a g e by kne a din g v a rious k inds of s eed s

w ith the b l ood o f s a cri ced chi l dren A fter numerous .

p u r if i
y gn s b l ood
, l ettin g s f-a sts a nd s a crices
, of q u a i l s ,

an d hum a n b ein g s the im ag e wa s pierced w ith a n a rro w

,

s hot by a priest the he a rt t ak en out a nd e a ten by the k in g

, ,

the b od y cut into fr a gm ents a nd distri b uted every m a n ,

receivin g a piece ; 3
a nd the a nnu a l ceremon y o f e a ti ng
the b ody o f the god wa s a ssur a nce of the rene w a l o f l i fe
in ve g et a tion a nd the y e a r ly h a rvest Tlal oc sh a red the .

hono rs w ith the wa r god in the M ex ic a n p a ntheon a nd ,

ru l ed the r a in s a nd thunder a nd l i ghtnin g His home wa s .

in the m idst o f the c l ouds a nd his fe st iv al wa s he l d on the

,

moun t a in o f e a rth ly p a r a di se One took p la ce ab out the .

time o f the corn p la ntin g to secure his good w i ll a nd a ,

f a vorab l e c rop Bab es a nd chi l dren w ere s a criced in
.

his honor a nd a ccordin g to the V a tic a n Code x the de a d

, , ,

bo dy o f a b o y s a cri ced to him wa s put in the m a i ze

g r a n a rie s or m a ize e l ds Ab out the time of the w inter
.

so l stice a s erie s of fe s tivitie s w ere he l d in honor of the

g odde ss o f w hite m a i ze I z t a ca ceenteo tl On thi s occ a

, .

sion the victims s a criced w ere l epers or others su fferin g

from cont a g iou s dise a ses 1 6
T he Pipi l es b efore b e g in
.
,

ning to p la n t g a t hered in sm all b owl s s pecimen s of all

,

a i ve R ace iii
N t s,

.

R ig V d a Am i a n D G B i nton

e er c u s, . . r , 2 4.

Na ti v R c ii 33
e a es, . 2 .

l bid ii 340
. . .
2 2 M AGI C AN D HU SBA N D R Y

their seeds a nd a fter per formin g cert a in rites w i t h them

,

b efore the im a g e of a god b u ried them in the g round a nd , ,

b urned co p a l a nd u ll i over them T he ido l wa s a nointed .

w ith bl ood dr aw n from dierent p a rts of the b ody a nd ,

the la nd to b e sow ed w a s sprin k l ed w ith the bl ood o f

s la in fo wl s
.

Sa crices w ere o ered by th e n a tives o f the G o l d Co a st

o f A fric a a t a fe st iv al he l d in Decemb er in w hich hum a n ,

vi ct ims w ere sla in a t the p la nt a tions th a t thei r b l ood ,

mi g ht o w into the ho l es whence t he ya m s h a d b een

t ak en 18
. I n l i k e m a nner the Algon q uins of Am eric a
deposit a n o fferin g in the e a rth for Mesu kku m m ik Okwi ,

the E a rth the G re a t G r a ndmother o f all a fter the y h a ve

,
-
,

du g up the roots f rom w hich thei r medicines w ere m a de ,

for in her k eepin g w ere thei r he al in g p l a nts a nd the ,

"
a nim al s w hich fed a nd cl othed them I ndi a n s o f G u ay .

aq ui l s a criced hum a n bl ood a nd the he a rts of men a t the

time of so w in g thei r e l ds T he P awnees b u rned a b u f .

f al o or deer or h a d hum a n s a crices a nnu ally a t the so w

,

in g time b e l ievin g th a t the omi ss ion of the s a crice w ou l d

,

res u l t in the f a i l ure of thei r crop s T he victim mi g ht b e .

a c a ptive o f either se x C la d in cost ly a ttire a nd f a ttened .

,

for the occ a sion in the presence o f the mu l t i tude t he y

,

b ound him to a cross a nd c l e ft his he a d w ith a t om a h aw k

or shot him w ith a rro w s Some a uthorities sa y th a t the .

s q u aw s gre a sed thei r hoes w ith pieces o f the victim s

esh A n a ccount of the s a crice o f a S iou x g ir l by the

.

Paw nees in 1 8 37 or 1 8 38 a s descri b ed by Sc hoo l cr a f t

, , ,

De Smet a nd M r E J a me s is qu oted b y M r Fr a zer

, . .
2
, . .

S he wa s b u rned for some time b efore a s l ow re a nd then ,

shot to de a th w ith a rrows W hi l e her esh wa s sti ll

N a ti v R a ii 7 9
e ces, . 1 .

1'
T hi S p a k i ng P pl f th G l d C a t A B E ll is : 30
s -
e eo es o e o o s

, . .
, .

P i m i tiv C l t
r eii 7 u u re,

. 2 0.

Th G l d n B gh

e o ii
e 33 ou , o 3
 PR E PA R I N G F OR TH E C RO P 2
3

w a rm i t wa s cut in sm a ll pieces from t he b ones pu t i n ,

l i tt l e b a sk ets a nd t a k en to a nei g h b orin g corne l d
, Th e .

M ex i ca ns s a criced newb orn bab es w hen the m a i ze

w a s so w n o l der c h i l dren w hen it s prou t ed a nd o l d men
, ,

w hen it wa s ripe A q ueen of W est A f ric a s a cri ced a

.

m a n a nd w om a n in t h e month of M a rc h T he y w ere .

kill e d w ith s p a de s a n d hoes a nd t heir b odies b uried in t h e ,

m i d d l e o f the ne wly ti ll ed e l d A t L a go s in G uine a a .

, ,

you n g g i r l wa s imp a l e d a l ive a fter the sprin g e q uinox to , ,

secure good c rops A s imi la r s a cr i ce wa s o ffered a t

.

Benin . T he M a rim os a B echu a n a tri b e forci bly t a k e

, ,

to th e e l ds a hum a n b ein g a nd k i ll him a mon g the w he a t .

H is bl ood is co a gu la ted in the su n a nd b urned w ith the ,

sa cred f ront a l b one a n d the b r a in a nd t h e a shes a re ,

s c a tt ered on the g round T he Bag ob os o f M ind a n a o

.
,

one o f th e Phi l ippine I sla nds he w a s la ve to pieces in the ,

fo rest b e fore sow in g t hei r rice The G onds of I ndi a k id .

n a p e d B ra hm a n b o ys s l ew them w it h poisoned a rro w s

, ,

an d S p rin kled their bl ood over the e l ds T he L hot a .

N a ga a nd the An ga mi t r i b e s o f northe a stern I ndi a , ,

ch opp e d o the he a ds h a nds a nd feet o f peop l e the y m et

, ,

w ith a nd stuck the severed extremities i n thei r e l d to

,

en su re a good c rop
21
.

O f al l re l i g ions o f t h e w or l d rem a rk s Dr Tyl or
, .
,

p er ha ps th a t o f t h e K honds o f O ri ss a g ive s th e e a rth

g o dd es s her most rem a r k abl e p l a ce a nd fun ction Ta ri .

Pennu c re a ted by the l i ght g od or sun god for his con

,

s o rt b e ca m e in thei r c osmo l o gy the mother of the other

, , ,

g re a t gods a nd in the functions a scri b ed to her a nd in the

, ,

rite s w ith w hich s h e wa s propiti a ted wa s exal t ed to the ,

hei gh t o f divini ty The suppression o f the hideou s s a c

.

ri ces w ith w hi c h she wa s honored is a m a tte r of rec ent

The G l d n B g h
o eii 338 2 4
ou ,

.
- 0.

P rimitive Cu l tu ii 37
'
re , . 0.
24 MA G I C AND HU SBA N D R Y

I ndi a n history From the B ritish o fcers en gaged in put

.

tin g them do w n comes ou r k nowl ed g e of them Professor .

Fr a zer s ay s it is th e b est know n c a se o f hum a n s a crices

o ered to ensure g oo d c rops T hey w ere al so b e lieved
.

to g ive immunity from di s e a s e a nd from a ccid ents a nd ,

w ere e speci ally neces s a ry in the cu l tiv a tion o f turmeric a s ,

w ithout the sheddi ng of bl ood it would not h a ve a de ep

red co l or T he speci al victi m s for the purpose w ere
.

known a s Meria hs a nd w ere descend a nts of other Meria hs

, ,

or purch a sed for th a t purpose Fa thers in distress o ften

.

so l d their chi l dren for vic tims b e l ievin g it wa s most hon

,

a r abl e th a t the y w ere conferrin g a bl e s s in g upon m a n k ind

a nd securin g the b ea t ica t ion o f th ei r sou l s T he Khond .

f a ther w ho p a rted w ith his d a u ghter th a t she mi g ht be

come a M eri a h w a s com forted w ith the b e l ief th a t s he
,

died th a t all the w or l d mi ght l iv e The M eri a h w as often

.

kept for y e a rs b efore the s a crice a nd w a s l oo k ed upon a s

,

a consecr a ted person On rea chin g m a nhoo d the M eri a h

.
,

y outh wa s g iven a w i fe al s o a M eri a h a nd th ei r o ffsprin g

, ,

w ere re a red to b e future victims T he s a crices to the

.

g odde ss w ere m a de by tri b es or vi l l ages a nd so a rra n g ed

,

th a t e a ch he a d of a fa mi ly secured a s hred o r portion of

the b od y of the victim for his e l ds a t l e a st once a y e a r ,

a nd ab out the time w hen his e l d wa s to b e p la nted .

Sever al d ay s w ere g iven up to reve l ry a nd deba uchery a s

the time for the s lay i ng of the M eri a h a ppro a ched He .

w a s a noint ed w ith oi l g hee a nd tu rmeric a nd a dorned

, , ,

w i t h ow ers T he victim som etime s wa s pu t to de a th s l owly

.
.

by re or he mi g ht b e pre ss ed to de a th b etw e en stron g

,

p l a nk s or b e str a n gu la ted by h a vin g his neck inserted in

,

the c l eft of a sp l it g reen t re e Aga in he wa s dr agged

.
,

a l on g the e l d s fo ll ow ed by the crow d w ho h a c ked the

, ,

esh from h is bo dy ti ll he died or wa s f as tened to the

,

pro b oscis of a w ooden e l eph a nt w hich revo l ved on a p os t

, ,
2 6 M AGI C AN D H U S BA N D R Y

I n the sa crice o f egies a nd oth er cu st om s in m odern

Europe M r Al l en nds indica tions o f ea rli er s a crici a l
, .

rit es o f the o l der n a tions Som etim es the eigies a re

.

b u rned a nd t h rown into the river o r bu ried p i ecem ea l o r , , ,

as in S i l es i a n Au stri a a stru gg l e ta kes p l a ce for fr a g

,

ments of the egy w hi l e it is bu rning w henea ch one w h o ,

s ecures a fr agment o f the g ure ties it to a b ran ch o f th e

l a rg es t t ree in his ga rden or b uries it inhis eld b el ievin g
, ,

it w i ll m a k e his crops grow b ett er Portions o f a sh e a f .

o f corn a re b u ried in th e e l d a s ferli z ers I n the H a rtz .

M ount a ins a l i vin g m a n is la id on a ba kin g t rou gh a nd

ca rried w ith d ir g es to a g r a ve a n
, d a t the l a s t mom ent a, , ,

gla ss of b r a ndy is sub stituted fo r him I na R u ss i a n cere .

mon y a n o l d m a n ca rries a con conta ining a gu re know n

, ,

a s Y a ri l o out o f the tow n into a n open e l d a nd b u ri es it

, ,

w hi l e the w omen ch a nt dirg es a nd weep a nd wa il Cer e . ,

monies in the Sou th Sea I s la nds u se d in recla im ing l a nds ,

recovered a fter h a vin g b een t ak en from th em by inv a sion ,

w hen pi g s a nd p la nt a in s a re p la ced u pon th e a lta rs o f the

temp l es new ly orn a m ented w ith b ra nches o f th e s a cred
,

miro a nd the y e ll o w l e a ves o f the coco a nut-tree su gg est ,

e a r l ier a nd more s a v ag e rites L a n ds a c q ui red b y con q uest

.

w ere ren dered h a b itabl e a nd ferti l e by l i k e form a l ities .

I t is the history o f all a dv a n cement f rom b a rb a rism to

c ivi l iz a tion th a t one by one th e more sa va ge cu stoms
, ,

h a ve b een g r a du ally re l ieve d o f th eir more repu l sive

fe a tures a nd so modied a s to be a ccep t a b l e to m o re
,

en l i ghtened genera tions W ith in c re a sin g pop u l a tion the

.
,

e x cessive burden of co st ly s a crici a l rites ha s al w a ys b een

a consider ab l e fa ctor in e f fectin g th ei r mo d i c a tion t hou gh ,

in their l ess o ensive forms the y continue to su rvive l on g

a f ter the y ce a se to h a ve a n y speci a l si gni ca nce a nd o ften ,

the y degen era te into sports a nd p a stimes for th e amusem ent

Ev l t i n f th I d a f G d p 2 94
o u o o e e o o ,

. .
 PR E PA R I N G F OR TH E C RO P 2 7

of the popu l a ce in the enj oyment o f w hich thei r ori gin is

,

enti re l y l o st si g ht o f thei r fo rmer me a nin g forgotten a nd

, ,

ne w interpret a tions o f thei r purpo ses a re m a de to ha r

m oniz e w ith the sentiment of the period .

I n the o l der thou g ht a s w e h a ve seen m a n l ook e d b a ck

, ,

wa rd to a di st a nt p a st w hen by divine instruction the wa y

,

wa s pointed out for the cu l tiv a tion of specic products ,

or to a t ime w hen the m a tu red fruits fe ll p erfected from

the h a nds o f benecent deities I n the revo l ution w rou ght
.

by the disco very th a t a ll forms of l i fe a s w e know them , ,

inc l udin g m a n him se l f a re the outcome o f g row th a nd

,

deve l opment b y s l ow processes th rou gh all the ag es p a st ,

the perspective o f our inte ll ectu al vision is e x tended so

th a t w e perceive th a t na lities on ce a ccept abl e a nd s a t
is fying a re b ut the ne a rer con n es o f l imit l ess re al m s
untr a versed th a t l ie b e yond .

We do not k no w ho w primitive m a n a s w e conceive o f ,

him m ay h a ve b e en led to know thin gs o r to do thin gs

, ,

f a mi l i a r to u s H ow l on g it h a d b een a heredit a ry cu stom

.

to s a crice hum a n b ein gs a nnu ally a nd put fr a gmen ts of

thei r esh in t he e l ds to m a k e su re of a cr op w hen the ,

En g l ish o fcers w rote o f the tri b es o f I ndi a w e do not ,

q
kno w . T heir fa the rs did it b e fore them a nd the y be ,

lieved it wa s a n e ss enti al ceremon y Oth e r e x p l a na tion

.

w ou l d h a rd ly b e neces s a ry a nd uite l i k e ly w ou l d not b e

,

a ttemp t ed I f a m ag ic a l rite i t wa s no l e ss vit al a nd

.
,

impera tive T he g ods th a t their fa ther s h a d cre a ted w ere

.

l i k ened a fter themse l ves I f the e a rth go ddess re q ui red

.

a t thei r h a nds bl ood a nd esh for food the t a ste o f i t w a s

not whol ly obl i t er a ted from thei r ow n memorie s The .

n a tives o f N e w G uine a who b e l ieved th a t ya m s spr a n g

,

f rom the b uried b odies o f murdered men h a d most l i ke ly ,

seen th em t ak en from the g round w here s la in men h a d b e en

l a i d or they a ccepted the tr a ditions of thei r a nc estors w ho
,
2 8 M AGI C AN D HU SBA N D R Y

h a d T he Fij i a ns mi g ht e a s i ly a ssume a simi la r ori g in for

.

them i f it b e a fa ct a s tr a ve l ers report th a t ya m p l a nts

, ,

s pri n g up from the he a ps of ya m s o ffered to a nce st r al

s pi rit s in the s a cred s t one enc l osure or te m en os a nd g ro w ,

l uxuri a ntl y 27
.

I n the course o f h um a n p ro g ress a s s ome knowl ed g e ,

w a s a cquired of ferti liz a tion tr a dition a l customs w ou l d ,

gr a du ally dis a ppe a r b ut m a n y o f them w ou l d undou b ted ly

,

continue in modied forms for a l on g period a s to d ay ,

-

a mon g the most en l i g htened r a ces w here the scie nce o f ,

cu l tiv a tion is most a dv a nced m a n y o l d b e l iefs l in ger a nd , ,

p r a cti ces a re sti ll ob served in ag ricu l tu r al opera tions by

p eop l e w ho c a n g iv e no r a tion al e x p la n a tion o f them b ut ,

st i ll h a ve f a ith in them Homer rela tes th a t K in g La ert es

.

enriched the kno l l s o f his vineya rd by strew in g them w ith

fall en l e a ves y e t th ey continued to b urn the h all ow ed p a rt s
,

to the e v er l a stin g gods w hen the y fe a st ed on the fa ttene d

b o a rs 28
.

I f w e t ry to pu t ourse l ves in the p l a ce o f men in some

bygone epoch a nd divine the way s w hich l ed to cert a in
,

resu l ts w e c a n on ly p a rti a lly succeed for the e ffects of our

, ,

e nvi ronments a re insep a r a bl e from ou r inte l l e ctu al proc

ess es W e k now th a t by the chemic a l a ction of certa i n
.

e l ements b rou ght in cont a ct w ith the soi l its productiveness ,

is incre a sed b ut i f w e a sk ho w m a n in the b e g inni ng

,

ga ined h is rst in s i ght into the m y steries o f ferti l iz a tion it ,

is al most a s di f cu l t to a n sw er a s it is to s a y ho w he rst
c a me to k now th a t seed s b uried inthe e a rth a t ttin g t ime s
w ou l d g e rmin a t e a nd r eproduc e the p l a nt a nd f ruit .

L ege nd a ttri butes to k in g s a nd gods the introdu ction of

ferti l iz ers Pl i ny s ay s A u ge a s w a s th e r st k i ng a mon g
.

t he G ree k s to du ng t he e l d s a nd Her cu l e s divu l g e d t he ,

Ev l ti n f th I d
o u o f G d o e ea o o

,
'
O dy y x i 9 3; x iv 45
sse ,
. I . 0 .
 PR E PA R I N G F OR TH E C RO P 2 9

p ra ctice a mon g the I t al i a n s I t wa s impious in the go l den .

rei gn o f Sa turn to disturb the soi l b ut in la ter tr a dition , ,

t o the g od w a s a dded the n a me Stercu t iu s a s a titl e in ,

memory o f his b ein g the rst to lay dun g upon la nds to

m a k e the u i ferti l e in all u si on to w hich a n En g l ish a uthor
, ,

w rote :

Th eR man v o s, e er cou d p ti ti
nte su e rs ou s,

A d d wi th h i gh
o re titl f d ivi ni ty
es o ,

th L d e or

I f the s a cred food o fferin g s to a ncestra l ghosts a nd -

e a rth deities l ed the way to the p la ntin g o f s eed s in the

e a rth did s imi la r o fferin gs of the esh o f men a nd b e a sts
, ,

a nd of ordure a nd urine to the god s o f the e l d s point , ,

the way to ferti l iz a ti on ? V eget a ti o n spr a n g up a round

th e tom b s o f the b uried de a d a nd the u n b uri ed enemies ,

o f the gods rotted in the e l ds a nd b ec a m e a s dun g 3

.

Dun gy gods w ood a nd ston e w ere not un kno w n to the

, ,

I sr a e l ites 31
A t the fe a st o f Berecinth a the m other of
.
,

t he g ods one of the n a me s o f C yb el e or R he a the prim a l

, , ,

e a rth g oddess R om a n m a trons s prin k l ed her im a g e w ith

,

u rine One of the n a m es of a M exic a n godde ss s i gnied

.

the e a ter o f l th y thi ngs

The ordure o f c ow s h a s a .

p rominent p a rt in the r el i g i ou s c eremo nie s o f Hindus a nd

Pa rsis The dun g of b u ll ock s w a s u s ed a s a s ino fferi ng
.
-

by the Heb rew s W h a tev er ha d o nce b een conn ected .

w ith , or formed p a r t of m a n or b e a st served a s a su bst i , ,

tute for the a nim al or person The I s r a el ite s b uri ed thei r .

ex crements to k eep them away f ro m the m a gici a ns a nd 82

,

it wa s a common b e l i e f in the M i ddl e A ges th a t the y w ere

'
'
H a ingt n Aj ax
2
rr ot d in B

King ix 37 ; J m i a h v ii i
s .

sk
; xvi 4

S t l gi R it
e re

, 29q uo e

. 2
ou r e s

. .

ca a o c

es , 1 .

C d n C n d an ti tl D ngy
"
ru e s o cor ce, e u .

S t l gi R i t N tiv R iii 38 ; P i m i ti v C l
l "
ca a o 9 ; c es , 1 2 a e a ces, . o r e u

tu re,

ii 438 ; Exod s xx ix 4; L v i v
. 1 ; xv i 7;
u D t xx i ii 3 . I e . . 1 . 2 eu . . I .
30 MA G I C AND HU SBA ND R Y

a pow er fu l a nti dote to w itchcra ft a n d Luther thou ght the

,

d evi l h a ted nothin g more th a n hum a n ordu re .

W hether a nimism a s dened by Tyl or is the ba s i s of

p rimitive re l i g ions or m ag ic a s su gge st ed by Fr a zer is
, ,
33
.
,

the forerunner o f them there seem s b u t l itt l e re a son to

,

doub t t h a t the ceremoni al o fferin g s conne cte d w ith e a r ly

re l i g ious b e l iefs l ed the wa y to a kn ow l ed g e o f ra tion a l
m eth ods o f ferti l i z a tion .

D
P i mi ti ve Cu l t
u
r

u re, i , Th G OId D Bou gh I 7 0
u
e C

, . .
 CH A PTE R I I I
PL OWI N G
Du ll h n st p lowma nt m a n e th l d
o e o ur e e

St ng T a
ro b a by h im th g nd
u rus ti ll d ;
e rs, e rou s a re e

N g a dy thi ngs h b
o u d n p i f w th e ree s, o r ze or or ,

B t bl
u th a th a nd b i ng h l a b f th ;
esse e r , r s er or or

H t a k th th y k
e e n d th t h p l w d i d a i n
e o e, or o e o s ,

A nd t ach e fa m t m a n th p l a i n;
es r e rs o u re e

H th i
e s

x a m p l w hen h h
e r e th n e, e e a rs e su

I n hi b igh t h n th n b l t i l
s r b g n
or s, e o e o

s e u ,

The u ef l p l w h a
s u h t i ve f m
o t
s re e re r e s ro ru s ,

N l i ve a t a
or nd w a nt h i st ngth in d t
s e se, a
M
s s re us .

IF it b e t rue a s G ra nt All en conj e ctures th a t a g ricu l ture

, ,

ori g in a te d in p rimitive b uri al cu stom s a nd the rst g a rden ,

pa tch wa s a tom b then the crude imp l ement w h a tever it

, ,

m a y h a ve b een w ith w hich some s a v a g e s cooped a sh all o w

,

g ra ve to receive his f all en k in s m a n or s l a in foe wa s t he ,

rs t p l ow .Foll ow in g the B i b l ic al story the poet Cow l e y ,

w rote : T he three rst men in the w orl d w ere a ga r

dener a p l owm a n a nd a g r a zier ; a nd i f a n y m a n ob ject
, ,

t h a t the secon d of these wa s a murderer I desi re he wou l d ,

consider t h a t a s soo n a s he w a s so he q ui tt ed our p ro fes ,

3
s ion a n d tu rned b ui l der .

I n a ll p rimitive a g ricu l tur a l oper a tions the rst in ord e r

a n d im port a nce is the b re ak in g up of the soi l I n tra c .

in g the evo l ution o f the p l o w it is found to h a ve b een

g ra du ally dev el oped from the hoe a nd th a t a s Pro fessor , ,

T y l or th i nk s from the pick or h a tchet I ron p l ow sh a res

, .

'
M anil i u s,Engl i h t an l a ti
s r s n of
o r6 9 7 , book i v .

E sa y
s on A gri cu ltu r
e.

3:
32 M AGI C A N D HU SBA N D R Y

a re know n to h a ve b een i n u se m a n y centuries b e fore the

'

Christi a n E ra T he He b rew prophets l ook ed forwa rd to

.

the la st d ay s w hen the rei gn of pe a ce shou l d b e g in a mon g

the n a tions of the e a rth a nd the y shou l d b e a t th eir sw ord s
,

into p l o w sh a res or rou sed for a ction the mi g hty men o f

3
,

wa r e xhortin g them to b e a t their p l ow sh a res into sw ord s

,

a nd thei r pru nin g hoo k s into s pe a rs 4

.

S h a rpened st akes a nd crooked l im b s of trees w ere the

e a r l iest su b stitu tes fo r the p l ow in historic al times a nd ,

thei r use h a s b een commo n a mon g the n a ti o ns T he .

a ncient E gy pti a n p l ow wa s of w ood a nd wa s sometimes ,

b ut a pointed stick w hich w a s forced into the g round a s

it w a s dra wn forw a rd T he e a r ly G ree k s u sed the t run k
.

of a sm all t ree w ith t w o b ra nches opposite e a ch other one ,

formin g the sh a re a nd the other the h a nd l e w hi l e the ,

trun k formed the po l e o r b e a m The R om a ns improved .

the p l o w a ddin g the cou l ter a nd mo l db o a rd a nd some

, ,

time s a tt a chin g a whee l to the b e a m to prevent t he sh a re

from g oin g too f a r i nto the g round T he Peruvi a ns .

h a d neither the i ron p l ow sh a re nor a nim als fo r dr a u g ht ,

b ut the y used a stron g sh a rp pointed s t a k e t ra v ersed by a

,
-

hori zont al piece ten to tw e l ve inches from the point on ,

w hich the p l ow m a n mi ght set his foot a nd force it into the

g round S i x or ei g ht stron g men w ere a tta ched to the
.

p l ow by ropes a nd dragged it al on g k eepin g time a s they

, ,

moved a nd ch a ntin g na tion al son gs

,
5
T he a nn al s o f .

e a r ly ra ces show a w id es pre a d hosti l ity to the use of i ron

in connection w ith a g ricu l ture a s w e ll a s in the erection of
b ui l din g s a nd b rid ges S ome of this fee l in g m ay b e .

tra ced to the n a tur al a ntip a th y to wa rds thin gs ne wly intro

du ced a nd i f the introduction of them is fo ll o w ed by dis
,
c

'
Is a i a h ii .
4; M i ah iv
c .
3
.

q

Joe l iii . Io .

P resco t t s

C on u est of P
e ru , i . I 39 .
34 MA G I C AN D HU SBA N D R Y

wa s the s a cred imp l ement from w hich there fe ll chips o f

go l d I t wa s next to the spind l e in s a n ct i ty w ith her w ho
.
,

wa s a s M oncure Con way s ays

, th e b e a uti fu l a n g e l o f ,

the E a rth w ho conv erts nom a ds into cu l tiv a tors of the

,
9
g rou nd w i l de rnesses into ga rden s tents into homes
, , .

T he o l d poet o f the G reek s to w hom ferti l e A scra ,

g a ve b irth some seven centu ries b efore the Christi a n Er a ,

p l e a sa nt ly discourse s in verse to h is country men u pon the

su b ject under con s ider a tion in this ch a pter His a dvice .

wa s to get rst of all a h o use a nd a wom a n a nd a p l o w in g

ox a nd to b e g in p l o w in g when the Pl ei a ds set not for get
, ,

tin g to m a k e vo w s to Jove infern al a nd ch a ste Demeter

rs t a s he t ak es in h and the g o a d a t the ex trem i ty o f the
,

p l ow t a i l a nd touches the ba ck of the ox en dr agg in g the

-
,

o a ken pe g of the po l e w ith the l e a thern str a p M ount a in .

a nd el d s hou l d b e c a re fu lly s e a rched for the b e st m a teri al

fo r constructin g the p l ow Provide y ou rse l f s ay s he , ,

O
a sh a re b e a m f o ak a p l ow t a i l of i l e o a k ; for thi s is
- - x -
,

s toute s t for s t ee rs to p l o w ; a nd a p a i r of m al e s steers ,

ni ne ye a rs o l d h a vin g just the me a n of ag e w hich a re b est

, ,

fo r w ork in g . And a l o ng w ith these l et a l us ty

p l ow m a n of forty ye a rs fo ll ow h a vin g m a de a me a l on a ,

l o a f four sq u a red divi ded into ei ght morse l s who mind

-
, , ,

in g his b u s ine s s w i ll cut the furro w s str a i ght no l on g er ,

peerin g round a mon g his fe ll o w s b ut h a vin g his he a rt in ,

his w ork for a y oun g er m a n ga pes l i ke one dis

t ra u ght a fter h is fe ll o w s M a rk too w hen from hi gh
.
, ,

out of the c l oud s you sh all h a ve he a rd the voice o f the cr a ne

utterin g its y e a r ly cry w hich b oth b rin g s the si gna l for
,

p l ow in g a nd points th e se a son of r a in y w ea ther b ut g n aw s

, ,
1
t he he a rt of a m a n th a t h a th n o o x en I f perch a nce the .

p rope r s ea son for b rea k i ng the e a rth b e not ob served the ,

D m n l gy nd D v i l L
e o o o ai 38 e o re,

. 2

nd D a y t a n l a ti n f J B a nk 440 4 5
"
\V k or s a s, r s o o . s, 0
 P L OWI N G 35

crop o f the lagga rd sh all not fa i l i f J ove permit th a t w hen , ,

the cu ck oo sin gs rst in the o a k fo l i a g e de l i g htin g mor ,

t al s ra in w i thout ce a sin g sh all continue th ree d ay s neither

, ,

overtoppin g the ox s hoofprint nor f all i ng short of it

.

T he poet V i rg i l ha s l i ke w ise embal med in verses a de

scription of the p l o w u sed by his c ountry men w hich ha s
.
,

occ a sioned much diversity of opinion a mon g his i nter

p ret e r s .One of his editors rem a r k s th a t i f a n y poet of
the pres ent d ay w ere to undert ak e a description of a p l ow
in the s a me num b er of l ine s the terms w h ich he em p l oy ed ,

w ou l d not b e inte ll i g i bl e out of his o w n p rovince or count y

w ithout a n en g ra vin g l l
T he e l m w hi l e y et q uite y oun g
.

in the w oods s ay s the poet is b ent by stron g force a nd
, , ,

tra ined to g ro w into the sh a pe o f a p l ow b e a m a nd re -

,

ceives th e form of a croo k ed p l o w T o the end of this .

a po l e a s much a s ei g ht feet l ong tw o e a rth b o a rd s a nd ,

-
,

sh a re-b e a ms w ith dou bl e ba c k a re tted Al so a l i ght .

l ime tree is cut do wn b etimes for the y o ke a nd a t a ll b eech

- ,

w i l l m ak e a h a nd l e to tu rn the b ottom o f the p l ow f rom

,

b ehind ; the w ood hun g up in the chimne y is se a soned by

2
smo k e . I n R om a n t ra dition it w a s C eres th a t rst
introduced the u se of the p l o w on w hich a ccount the p eop l e ,

a re enjoined to ob s erve the a nnu al s a crices to h e r w ho ,

compe ll ed the b u ll s rst to b e nd thei r neck s to the y ok e .

I t wa s then for the rst time the uptu rned ea rth s a w the
l i g ht of the sun 1 3
T hou gh Hesiod xe s th e time for the
.

b e g innin g of the p l o w in g a t the settin g o f the seven sis

ters T heocritus si ng s of the o x e n o f the Cia nnes w e a ri ng
,

b ri gh t the p lo w sh a re a t the risi ng of the d a u ghters o f

A t la s V irg i l specic a lly instru cts the h u sba ndm a n to
.

S e W k f V i g i l di t d by B A G l d G gi i 6 fr

e or s o r e e . . ou ,
eor cs, . t o, o

di i n f th bj t
scu s s o o e su ec .

"
E ngl i h T a n l a ti n f L n d a l nd L
s r s o G gi o i o8 7 5
o s e a ee ,

eor cs ,

. t -r .

Ovi d F a ti i v 4
,
s ,

. 00 .

I dy l xi ii .
36 MA G I C AN D HU SBA N D R Y

o b serve the s i g n s in the he a vens a ccordin g to the cra p he

de s ire s to produce T he time to b end to the p l o w s a nd
.

w ork the steers i f he is ttin g the la nd for ax a nd ba r l e y

,

a nd the sa cre d poppy is w hen the Bala nce ha s e q u al i zed

,

hours of d ay a nd s l eep a nd h al ves the w or l d e xa ct ly t w i x t
,

l i ght a nd sh a d e Whe n Ta uru s u s her s in the y e a r w ith
.

his g i l ded horns a nd S i riu s sets f a cin g the thre a tenin g bu ll ,

is the time for b e a ns For w he a t a nd S p el t the P l ei a d es

.
,

shou l d hide themse l ves from y our e y es w ith the d aw n .

M a n y h a ve b e gun b efore M a i a set s but the desi red crop ,

h a s b a led them w ith emp ty e a rs .

M a n y a nd v a ried a re the rom a nces a n d t a l es o f the

m ythic al ag es a ssoci a ted w ith the p l o w m a n a nd h is w ork ,

w hich h a ve b een c o ll ected a nd preserved in the a nn al s

an d l iter a ture of peop l e s I n the c la ss ical story of the .

A rgon a uts w hich is suppo sed to h a ve b een formu la ted

,

ab out the period of H esiod J a son thei r l e a der y o k es to a , , ,

p l ow the b r aw n y n ec ked w i l d bulls of A ctes a nd sow in g

-
,

the e l d w ith dragons teeth produces a crop of w a rriors :

,

Wi th se r ep nts
f t i l f w ws ;
teet h the er e u rro s so

T he gl b
e e f m nti ng w i th n h a nt d j i
er e e c e u ce,

M ak es the s na k t th a h m a n
es

p p d c
ee u cro ro u e .

Le gend s of the No rs emen te ll of ho rses o f the sea ,

s ometime s of a d a pp l e g r ay a nd a t othe rs b l a c k w hich w e re

-
, ,

sometimes cun ni ng l y b rid l ed a nd fa s tened to thei r p l o w s .

A c l eve r m a n a t M or l a nd is s a i d to h a ve p l ow ed all his

la nd in this way b ut the b rid l e b ecomin g l oosened the
, ,

te a m d a rted l i k e re into the sea draw in g the h a rrow w ith ,

them I n a nother t al e a hu ge bla ck horse dre w b oth p l o w

.

a nd p l o wm a n over the d iff I n the d ays o f g i a nts w e .

,

re a d of them so l a rg e th a t one o f them cou l d thro w a p l ow

G gi i
e or cs,

3
. 2 I o-a o .

N t t C a nt ii
o e o P a a d i L ngf ll w Da nte
o . r se,

o e o

s .
 PL OWI N G 37

sh a re the w ho l e l en gth of the fu rro w w ith b ut l itt l e e ffort .

C la imin g the w ood l a nds a s thei r ow n do m a in they resented ,

the a ppro a ch of tresp a ssers upon them a nd sometime s to o k ,

reven g e upon the husba ndm a n for it T he Esthoni a ns te ll .

o f a g i a nt s son w ho furrow ed up g r a ss y l a nds w ith a

w ooden p l o w a nd not a bla de g re w on them a fterw a rds

, .

W i ll o -the w isps w ere a ccounted the un bl essed spirits of

-

-

men w ho h a d p l ow ed th ei r nei g hb ors la nd s a nd unri g ht

,

c ous la nd surve y ors w ith l o n g ery po l e s w ere seen hover ,

i n g up a nd dow n the fu rro w s a s i f reme a surin g the l a n d

w hich they w ron g ly me a sured 7
.

I n I ndi a the re a re cert a in d ays w hen p l ow in g is un law

fu l M other E a rth is supposed to s l eep s ix d ay s in eve ry
.

month a nd upon such d ay s s he refu s e s to be di stu rb ed in

,

her s l umb ers So in En gla nd in North R idin g o f York

.
,

shi re it wa s co nsid ered un w i s e to distu rb the ea rth w ith

,

s p a de or p l o w upo n G ood Frid ay an d pot a t o es p l a nted ,

f a i l ed to come up b ut in Devon s hire it wa s co nsidered a,

good d ay fo r so w i ng pe a s a nd for g ra fti ng I t w a s a ru l e

8
, .
1

o f the Pa rsis th a t i f a do g ha d died o na piec e of ground ,

th e e l d mu st l ie f a ll o w for a y ea r I t wa s th en exa min ed .

to s ee i f a n y b on es h a ir esh dun g or bl oo d w a s the re

, , , , .

T he b e w itchment of the evi l eye wa s one o f the terro rs

from w hich the primitive ag ricu l tu ri s t gu a rded him se l f a nd
his c a tt l e a nd his te a m in v a riou s way s I n the pe a s a nt .

l ore of I re la nd it is to l d th a t a p l o w m a n seein g a m a n w ith ,

w hom he w ished to conv ers e st a ndin g a t the end of his

fu rrow too k p a ins to tu rn his hors es round so th a t th ei r
,

t a i l s w ou l d be towa rd s the m a n a s th en the y w ere consid ,

ered s a fe from a n y po s s i bl e bew itchm ent 2o

.

"
G i mm T t ni M yt h l gy 49 553 9 8
r

s

eu o c o o ,

0, , I .

F lk L in th N th n C nti f E ngl and W i ll i a m H end r

o - o re e or er ou es o

, e
son 8r
, .

"
B k
ou r e s

Ri t
Sca ta lo gic es ,

2 62 .

Ga li e c I re l and D a ni l D
,

e ee y
n , 48 .
38 M AGI C AN D HU SBA N D R Y

T he form a l in a u gur a tion o f th e p low in g sea son b y

.

speci al ceremonies is a custom w hi ch is very a ncient a nd ,

w hich is sti l l o b served in som e p a rts o f the ea rth The .

ye a r wa s opened w ith a g ri cu l tur a l ceremoni es b y the Per

si a ns a nd the Chinese T he A theni a ns ce l e b ra ted three
.

s a cred p l ow in gs a ccordin g to Pl ut a rch w ho thin ks the

, ,

G reci a n p l o w in g wa s a civi l institution a t rst to which w a s ,

a fterwa rds a tt a che d a m ystic al mea nin g The Chines e .

p l ow in g too k p l a ce on the rst d ay o f thei r sola r new ye a r .

Fo rmerl y the sono f he a ven o ffered a s a crice inthe sprin g

to wa rd off al l c ala mities s ay s M r S imcox b ut ne
, .
,

e x pensive re l i gious rite a fter a nother w a s e l imi na ted a t the

su gg es tion o f r a tion al istic soverei gns or s ag es unti l n a l ly ,

nothin g w a s l e f t b ut the imperi al a ct o f hom a ge to

he a ven a nd e a rth a n d a g ricu l ture in the cerem oni a l
2
p l ow in g .

The S i a mese ob serve a ri te desi gn a ted a s Ra a kna ,

a b out the middl e of M ay w hich is pre l im in a ry to the

,

s prin g p l o w in g. I t is not considered proper to p l o w the

e l d s a nd b e g in the cu l tiv a tion o f them unti l a fter thi s cere
mon y t ak es p la ce T he court a stro l o gers determine the
.

a ppropri a te time for it On the d ay desi gn a ted the M in

.
,

ister o f Ag ricu l ture w ho is always a prince o r a nobl e

, ,

m a n o f hi g h r a n k goes w ith a p rocession to a p i ece o f

,

g rb u nd some dist a nce from the cit y w a l l s Contri b utions .

a re m a de to him w ho for th a t d ay! a cts a s the prox y o f the

,

K in g Levies upon the g oods of shop keepers exp ose d for

.

s a l e al on g the route o f the processi on w ere forci b l y m a de

in ol der times On re a chin g the e l d upon whi ch the
.

festivities a re to t ak e p l a ce a ne w p l ow w ith a pa ir o f
,

ne b u ffal oes yoked to it is found in re a dines s Bu a loes .

a nd p l ow a re g ayly d ecor a ted w ith ow ers a nd l e a ves .

T he mi nister guide s the p l ow over the e l ds a nd is closely

'1
P i m i tive Ci vi l i a ti n E 1 S im
r z o s,
"
.
37 s .
 PLO WI N G 39

w a t ch e d by the spect a tors w ho a re sp eci ally interested in,

t h e l en gth a nd fo l d s o f the s i lk o f h is l o w er g a rment be ,

ca use the pro speri ty o f the se a son a nd its ch a r a cteristics , ,

w hether w et or dry a re to b e predi cted from the s e a s he

,

fo l l ows the imp l ement a cross the e l ds I f the ro b e ri se s .

a bo ve the kn ee o f the royal represent a tive dis a strous r a i ns ,

a re indic a ted w hi l e i f it f all s to the a n k l e a sc a rci ty of

,

m oistu re is e x pect e d A p rosperous se a son w i ll fo l l o w i f

.

the fo l ds o f th e rob e re a ch mi dway from the knee to the

a nkl e A fter a p roper numb er of furrow s a re p l ow ed o l d
.
,

w omen strew g r a in of di fferent k inds in them a nd the b u ll s , ,

re l iev ed of their yo k es feed upon it a nd aga in the om ens

, ,

a re cl ose l y o b served by the crow d for th a t g r a in upon ,

w hich the a nim al s feed most f ree ly w i ll b e sc a rce the nex t

h a rvest a nd th a t w hich the y refuse w i l l b e re a ped in
,

a b un da nce The m ini ster a ccomp a nied by so l diers a nd

.
,

musi c i a ns l e a ds the peop l e home wa rds a nd a fter thi s

, ,

form al openin g o f the se a son al l a re f ree to b e g in the ti ll ,

a g e o fthei r elds 2
.

I n the northw estern p rovinces o f I ndi a the cu l tiv a tor

emp l o ys the Pu ndit to se l ect a n a uspicious hou r for the
co mm encement o f p l ow in g G re a t s ecrecy is o b served . .

I nM i rz a pur the time x ed is in the ni g ht in other p la ces

q
,

a t d ayb re ak T he o ffici a tin g Pundit goes to a n o bl ong or

.

s u a re e l d t ak in g a b r a s s drin k in g v ess e l a nd a b r a nch

,

o f the s a cred m a n go tree w hich is e ffic a cious in sc a rin g evi l

,

spi rits w hich m ay h a unt the e l ds or b e o f fended a t thei r ,

d isturb a nce Prithivi the b ro a d w orl d a nd S esh a N aga

.
, , ,

the g rea t sn ak e w hich supports the w or l d a re supp osed to ,

b e p ro p iti a ted a nd reconci l ed b y thi s cer em on y By som e .

o b se rva tions w hich he m a ke s the Pundit s a tises him se l f

as to the d i re ction in w hich the g re a t sn ak e is l y in g for the ,

sn ak e occ a sion all y moves ab out a l itt l e to e a s e him se l f o f

'
The Kingdom f the Y ll w R bo E n t Y ng a r
e o o e,

r es ou ,
r .
4o MA G I C AN D HU SBA N D R Y

the g re a t b ur den o f the b ro a d w orl d w hich he c a rrie s .

T he Pundit m a r ks o ff a n im a g in a ry l ine ve ( a l uc ky ,

numb er ) c l ods of e a rth a re throw n up a nd w a ter is ,

s prin k l ed in the trench ve time s w ith the s a cred m a n g o

b ush to ensu re productivenes s by virtue o f the sy mp a

,

thetic m ag ic w hich is est abl ished C a ution mu st b e oh .

served l est the ch a rm b e b rok en a nd the prospe ctive for

tune b e impe ri l ed a nd sec l u s ion is considered imp era tive
,

durin g the fo ll o w in g d ay durin g w hich no s al t must b e ,

e a ten a nd no money or g r a in or re g iven away V i l

, .

la g er s g o to the e l ds on the rst d ay of p l o w in g i n

R ajput an a c a rry in g a n e a rthen pot co l ored w ith tu rme ri c
, ,

a nd ll ed w ith mi ll et This is one o f the s a cred co l o rs o f

.

w hich evi l s pi rits a re supposed to b e a fra id Lo o k in g to .

the north th e home of the gods the y m a k e ob eis a nce to

, ,

the e a rth then a se l ect ed m a n p l o ws ve furrow s His

, .

h a nds a nd the b u ll ock s hoofs a re ru bb ed w ith henn a

,

which is probably a n a ddition al prec a ution aga inst the ba d

spi rits or possi bly dis a strous resu l ts to the c rops mi ght
,

fo ll ow the cont a ct of the extremities w ith the soi l u npro

t ected by the henn a A mon g the Ka rn a s b efore b e g in
.
,

nin g the p l ow in g the Ba i ga m a k e s a b urnt o fferin g o f

,

b u tt er a nd mo la sse s in his o wn e l d a nd then s a crices in ,

the s a me way a t the vi llag e shrine .

G rimm descri b es a ceremon y a mon g the a ncient G er

m a n s which took p la ce b e fo re the p l ow in g The y cu t .

sods from the four corners of the e l d T he y la id on the .

sods oi l hone y a nd ba rm mi l k of e a ch sort of c a tt l e some

, , , ,

of every k ind o f tree e x cept o ak a nd b eech a nd of all ,

n a me k no w n herb s s a ve burs a n d sprin kl ed them w ith

-
,

ho ly w a t er The fou r turfs w ere then c a rried to the

.

church a n d the g reen side turned towa rd the al t a r Fou r

, .

R l i gi n nd F lk L
e o f N th rn I ndie
a o Wi m' m C r ok 37 0
- ore o or e .

o s 0

37 r
.
42 MA G I C AN D HU SBA N D R Y

his he a d to si gni f y the hei g ht to w hich the crop wa s l i ke ly

to g row or th a t it wa s desir abl e th a t it shou l d S omeone
, .

must b e p la ced b ehind the m ag ici a n to c a tch the cup l es t

it shou l d fall to the g round for i f it c a me in cont a ct w ith ,

the e a rth the ch a rm w ou l d b e b rok en a nd the crop w ou l d

5
b e l i k e ly to l ie a t upon the g round .

I n the northe a st of Scot la nd w hen the p l ow wa s rst ,

put into the g round in the sprin g to prep a re the soi l for
the seed b re a d a nd chee s e w ith al e a nd w hisky w ere c a r
,

ried to the e l d a nd p a rt aken of by the househo l d a nd a ,

pi ec e of b re a d a nd che ese w ere put in the p l o w a nd other

pieces c a st in to the e l d to fee d the cra w s a s it wa s ,

s a id.
26

Feedin g the crow s wa s prob abl y a l a ter a ttempt to s e

count for a n o l der s a crici al custom w hose prim a ry me a n
in g wa s forgotten Lo a ve s a nd c a k e s m a de on Y u l e eve
.
-

by the S w edi sh pe a s a nt s w ere dried a nd preserved ti ll the

sprin g p l ow in g when they w ere g r a ted a nd mi xed w ith
,

the s eed cor n a nd a portion g iven to the p l ow ho rse s a nd

a nother to the men w ho he l d the p l ow
.

I n the fro l ics a nd mimic spo rts of the fteenth a nd six

teen th centuries in En gla nd a n d on the continent of
Europe these cerem o ina l cu stom s connect ed w ith p l ow in g
,

a nd once seriou s ly re ga rded of g rea t import su rvived in a ,

de gener a te fo rm T hey w ere p a rticu la rl y a ssoci a ted w ith

.

the c l osin g festivities of the Christm a s ho l id ays the fo l ,

l o w in g M ond ay b ei ng kno w n a s P l ow M ond ay Our

- .

kno wl ed ge of them is g a thered fro m the ol d c hronicl ers

a nd from all u s ion s to th em in the l itera ry p u b l ic a tions o f
the p eriod Pl ow M ond ay wa s the d ay w hen a ccordin g
.
-
,

to popu la r t ra dition the a ttention o f the fa rmer wa s

,

The G ldo iii 46 7

e n Bou g h ,
. .

F lk L
o f N t h E a t S tl a nd
- ore o or s co

,
R ev . W a l te G go
r re r, t 6 o.

T t ni M yt h l gy
eu o c 4 o o

, r2 0.
 P LO W I N G 43

tu rned to prep a ra tion for his w ork for the comin g se a son .

I t wa s time for the form al o penin g of the p l ow in g se a son .

U po n th a t d ay it wa s custom a ry for m ena nd m a id ens c la d

in fa nt a stic a ttire dragg in g a p l o w w ith th em to m a rch
, ,

f rom hou se to hou se performin g v a rious a ntics a nd b e g

,

g in g mone y for the expenses of thei r festivities or for ,

foo d a nd drin k A w riter in the Gentlem a ns M a ga z ine

.

in 1 7 6 2 s ay s : O n this d ay the y oun g men y o ke them

,

se l ves a nd dr aw a p l ow ab out w ith mu s ic a nd one or two ,

persons in a ntic dresses l i k e Ja ck Puddin gs go from

, ,
-
,

house to hou s e to g a ther mone y to drin k I f you refu se .

them the y p l ow up y ou r du ng hi ll We c all them here ( in .

Derby shi re ) the p l o w b u ll oc k s Tho m a s T u ss er a uth or .
,

of Five Hundred Points of Husb a ndry says o f th e d ay ,

Pl w M nd ay n xt a ft th a t Tw lf id i p a t
o - o , e er e -t e s s ,

B i d t wi th th pl w th w t h b a nd i l a t ;
s ou e o , e o rs us s s

I f pl w m a n g t h a t h t
o w h i p t th k n
e c e ,
or o e s ree e,

M a i d l th th i
s ose k i f n wa t b n
e r coc e, o er e see .
"

I n a la ter work the la st l ines of the verse h a ve this ex

p la n a tion : I n the m o rnin g of th a t d ay men a nd m a id s vie
w ith e a ch other in ri s in g e a r ly to prep a re for the d ay I f .

the p l ow m a n get s his w hip p l ow st a ff h a tch et or a n y ,

-
, ,

thi ng ne ed ed in the e l d a nd re a ches the reside b efore the

,

m a id g et s h er k ett l e on then the m a i d los eth her S hrove

,

tide cock a nd it who lly b e l on g s to the m en

,
28
T he dr aw .

in g of the p low wa s undou b ted ly ori g in ally o f a re l i g ious

cha ra ct er a nd wa s intended to promote th rivi ng crops a nd
,

a f ruitfu l se a son D a nces a nd b on re s sometimes w ere

.

connected w ith it o r a re wa s k ind l ed on the p lo w a nd it

,

wa s drawn about whi l e b urnin g unti l n ally con sumed by

the a mes V a riou s entries in o l d chu rch records indic a te
.

th e re l i g iou s n a t u re of the fe stiv al a t one time S i l ver .

B a nd 7 3
r , 2 .
44 MA G I C AN D HU SBA N D R Y

p l o ws w ere hun g in th e churches a n d dem a n de d a s dues

in the M idd l e Ag es 29
I n the Church wa rden s a ccounts o f
.

S t M a rga ret s W estm inster for 1 49 4 is entered I tem

.

, , , ,

of the B rotherhood of Rynyv for the Pl ow gore four

s a le -

shi ll in g s I n those of He yb rid ge ne a r M al den Es sex in
.
, ,

1 552 is w ritten
, I tem receyved of the ga dryng of the
,

White P l ow e I S 3d An e x t ra ct from the church
. .

wa rden s a ccounts of W i gto ft L inco l nshire I 5 7 5 s ay s

, , , ,

R eceid o f Wyllm C la rk e J ohn Wa ytt of y e plou ga d ,

rin I f 0 3 od . A note a ccomp a n y in g the l a st item s ays
. .
,

w hy this w a s a pp l i ed to the u se o f the church I c a nnot ,

sa y . There is a custom in this nei gh b orhood o f the p l ow

m eh p a r a din g on P l o w M ond ay ; but w h a t l itt l e the y co l-

l ect is a pp l ied w ho lly to fe a stin g themse l ves T his wou l d .

a ppe a r to h a ve b e en a dded a t a la ter time w hen the a sso

cia t io n of the church w ith the festiv al h a d b een di scon

t in u ed I n the recor ds of the Church of H olbeche of

.

t hin gs so l d by the Churchwa r d en s to W m D a v y is the .

S ygne w hereon the Plo wghe did stond B r a nd q uotes .

from Hutchin son s History of Northum b er la nd the

st a tement th a t he h a d s een tw enty men in the yo k e of one

p l ow 3
. I f not re quited a t a n y h ouse w here the y a p
0

d the y dre w the p l o w throu g h the p a vem nt a nd

'

p e a re e

ra ised the g round of the front in fu rrow s The term .

White Pl ow c a me from the fa ct of the h ab it of th e g al

la nt y oun g men who too k p a rt in the sport of dr aw in g it in
thei r shi rts w ithout co a t or wa istc o a t A nother simi la r cere .

mon y wa s the dragg in g of a p l ow w ith d a nce rs a nd mu s ic

ab out the b eg innin g of Lent w hich wa s k no w n a s the Foo l ,

Pl ow in the no rt h of En gla nd T he Foo l P l o w w a s al s o .

u sed on the continent a fter the service o f A sh W ednesd ay .

T here wa s a s imi la r per form a nce al so a fter sc a tterin g the

q
G i mm 6 5 n t
r , 2 ,
o e .

B a nd A nt i i ti
r

s 74 u es,

2 .
 PLOWI N G 45

ashes on th a t d a y in En gl a nd a s m ay b e in ferre d f rom the

,

re ference to it b y Ba rna b y Goo ge s tr a ns l a tion o f

N a ogeo rgus

I n some p l a ces a ll
you th fu l flocke w i th mi nstrel s doe rep a ire,
the ,

A nd ou t of every house they p lu cke the girles a nd m a ydens f a i re,

A nd them to p low they stra i gh tw ays pu t w i th w hi p one doth th em hit,
,

Another hol ds the p low in h a nde ; the Minst re ll here d oth sit
A midde the s a me, a nd d ru nken songes w i th g a p i ng mou th, he s i ngs ,

Wha me fol loweth one th a t sowes ou t s a nde or a shes fond ly fl ings , .

When th u s they th rou gh the streetes h a ve p l a ide, the ma n th a t

gu ideth a ll,
Doth d ri ve both p low a nd m a ydena th rou gh some ponde or ri ver sm a ll ;
A nd d a bb le d a ll w i th du rt, a nd w ri ngi ng wette a s they may bee,
To s u pper ca lles, a nd a fter th a t to da u nsing lu sti lee
.

I na l ite ra ry work in the l a tter p a rt o f the fteen th c en

tu ry the pr a cti ce is condemned of ledyng o f the Plou ghe
aboute the Fire a s for gode b egynnyng o f the y ere th a t
31
the y shu lde f a re the b ett er all e the yere followyng .

T he cu stom wa s forb idden by the Tow n Counci l o f U lm

in I 530 in a n edi c t d a ted St Nicho l a s Eve : I tem there.
,

s h al l none by d ay nor ni ght tric k or dis gu ise him nor put

, , ,

on a n y c a rniv a l r a iment moreover sh all keep him from

, ,

the goin g ab out of the p l ow a nd w ith ships on p a in o f I

, ,
3
gu l den . G rimm s ays there w a s a custom on the R hine
for the youn g men to ga ther all the d a nce m a iden s a n d put
t hem in a p l o w a nd dr a w thei r piper w ho sitteth on the
, ,

p l ow pipin g into the w a ter I n some p l a ces evi l minded

, .
-

l a ds on Shrove T ue s d ay drove a p l o w a b out yo k in g it to ,

such d a m se l s a s w ou l d not p ay a r a n som w hi l e others ,

w ent b ehind them sprinkl in g them w ith ch opped str a w

an d s a w dust By a cts o f P a rl i a ment forb iddin g the prs c
.

tice i t is proved th a t in the l e ss civi l ized portions o f I re la nd

there e x isted sev er a l centu ries ago the custom o f f a stenin g
, ,

B a nd 7 3
r , 2 .

"
G imm 2 6 3
r , .
46 M AGI C AN D H USBA N D R Y

p l ow s to the t a i ls of horses T he fo l l o w in g f rom a s a ti re

.

w ritten of I re la nd in the ei g hteenth century m ay b e a n

al l usion to the pr a ctice :
The W n i s l e renow ned for bogs,
es ter

For tori es a nd for g re a t wol f-dogs,

For d ra wi ng hobb ies by the t a i l s,
A nd th res h i ng co rn w i t h ery a ils
.

Q u ote df rom W C Tayl
. . or s

al Hi t
Na tu r s ory of i
Soc ety

in P im i
r

t ive C ltu u re,

i .
44.
 CH A PTE R I V
S O WI NG A ND PLA NT I NG
Fi t a ll th a nk nd g a y h b a g l a
rs e r a r ss er e c e r,

Th n w y g l d n g a i n
e so ou r o e r ,

W ll f d nd p t in t a i n;
e orce a u r

Th w n tw i ll
u s so n a b v th

i l a pp a
soo o e e so e r,

A nd hoot a l ft nd f ctify
s o a ru ,

G w t ong nd fa i t
ro s r a r o see,

F ll a wn d nd
u e a

ON E o f the p erp l e x in g p robl ems e v er p res ent w it h t h e

a g ricu l turist o f w h a te v er de g ree o f ci v i l i z a tion is to kno w
, ,

how a nd wh en to commit the see d s to the e a rth so th a t h e ,

m ay h a ve re a son to exp ect the b est returns from them .

T o th i s end a ccordin g to his envi ronments a n d intellec

,

tu a l con d ition h is e x p eriences a n d o b se rv a tions h a v e l ed

,

him to a dopt m a n y stra n ge de v ice s He ha s studied the .

st a rs in the he a vens see k in g for l i ght th a t shou l d m ake

,

c l e a r to him the pu rpo se s o f the Divine O nes He h a s .

l istened to the voices o f the b i rds a nd fo ll ow ed thei r i ght

a cross the sk ie s he ha s specu la ted upon the tints o f thei r
,

p l um age a nd the contortions o f thei r n a l agonie s in his ,

a tt em pts to penetra te th e m ysteries o f the future One o f .

th e most p ersistent b e l iefs in the histo ry o f m a n is th a t

g ood l uc k or b a d l uc k a ttends cert a in d ay s or a s i t is e x ,

p ress ed by the a nci ent poet Sometimes a d ay is a step ,

mother sometimes a mother
, Undou b ted l y Hesiod h a s
.

voi ced the convictions o f the e a rl y G ree k husb a ndmen in

h is a dmonition to a void commencin g to sow t he g ra in on
the thi rteenth d ay f rom the b e g innin g o f the month ,

'
J enn ing
s t a
r n l a t
s i n f oth o S h i K ieng III ii
"
, . . I .

47
48 M AGI C AN D HU SBA N D R Y

thou gh it is the b e st o f d ays for settin g p l a nts I mb ued .

w ith the spirit of the l a ter d ays one ca n b ut im a g ine the ,

lon g series o f t a b u l a ted st a tistics o f com p a r a ti v e experi

ments or other ment al processes by w hich the con cl usion
,

wa s re a ched in th e prehistori c centuries b e fore its embodi

ment in the inspired verse w h ic h ha s su rvi v e d An item .

from the mi sce lla neou s co ll ection o f G rimm rec a ll s th e

l ine o f the o l d poet a nd this is the way it a ppe a rs a fter
,

tw o thous a nd y e a rs : Whe a t so w n in M ich a e l s w ee k

,

turns to cockl e ; ba r l ey in the rst w ee k o f A pri l to h ed ge ,

3
mus ta rd a nd a n o l d En gl ish verse h a s it :
,

U p o n St . D a v id D ay
s , pu t a
o ts a nd b a rley in the cl ay .

A ccordin g to l e gend recorded in a n o l d m a nuscript ,

there w ere tw enty ei g ht specied d ays in the y e a r w hich

-
,

w ere reve al ed by the a n ge l Gab rie l to th e good Joseph ,

w hich h a d ever b een found to b e fortun a te for m a n y p ur

poses a mon g which were sow in g seed a nd p la ntin g trees
,

.

Tue sd ay w a s a n a uspicious d ay for sow in g corn in the

I s la nd o f M u ll a nd a mon g the Hindus Sund ay wa s a
,

f a vor abl e da y for so w in g seed a nd p la ntin g g a rden s .

A method of divin a tion for forestall in g the futu re a nd

l e a rnin g the fa te of the ensuin g corn crop w hich is a dopte d ,

by the Kh a rwa rs on the w est co a st o f I ndi a is descri b ed b y ,

H a mi l ton in Pin k erton s A fe st iv al wa s

he l d a t the end o f M ay or b e g innin g of J une in honor o f

the in fern al gods a nd men w ere hun g from a po l e by
,

me a ns o f t enter hook s inserted in the esh o f thei r ba ck s

-
.

T he po l e w ith the men d a n gl in g from it wa s then dragge d

, ,

ov er p l ow ed g round from one s a c red g ro v e to a nother ,

nd D ay a75 s,

0 .

T t ni Myth l gy 82 4
eu o c o o

, r .

C d l i ti P t nd P
re u es nt wml m Jone 9 "
as a rese .

'

V y g nd T a v l v i i i 350
o a es a r e s,
"
.
5 0 M AGI C AN D HU SBA ND R Y

of the inf a nt J esus she c a rries in her a rm s a n im a ge of the

,

s u n g od sh ow in g th a t the story is of p aga n ori g in a nd

,

sprin gs from b e l ief in m a g ic Th e e ffect of the wa rmth

.

a nd l i g ht of t he sun god is supposed to b e produced by

ca rry in g his im a g e a nd imit a tin g the a ct of rea pin g sym
,

bo liz es the h a rvest a nd is expected to t th e crop for it

,
.

A very comm on ide a is th a t o f compe ll in g or p ro

m o ting the g ro w th of a p la nt by indic a tin g w ith the move
ments of h a nds or feet or o f the b od y the hei ght you de
si re the p la nt to g row or it m ay b e e x pressed in the w ords
,

o f a n inc a nt a tion or son g a s in th a t o f th e R ussi a ns a l re a d y

,

g iven G i rl s sin g all k inds o f son g s over their w ork in

.

the cu l ture o f a x s ay s G rimm

, I n some p la ce s a t so w
.

in g time the mistress of the house used to g et on the t abl e

a nd d a nce then jump o ff ba ckwa rds T he hi gher she
, .

l e a ped the hi gher the ax wou l d g ro w Or the d a me

, .

w ou l d jump up on the rep la ce a nd cry : He a ds a s b i g a s

mine l ea ves l i k e m y a pron a nd st alk s l i k e m y l e gs a nd
, , ,

the p la nt wa s sure to prosp er Li ftin g the a rm s a s h ig h

.

a s the y de s i re the hemp to g ro w the Walla chi a ns d a nce , ,

a nd a t midni g ht Ne w Ye a r s E sthoni a ns throw h a nd fu l s

o f g r a in on the she l f cry in g : G od g r a nt the g r a in this
,

y e a r m ay g row th a t hi gh or th e Esthon ia n w om a n to
, ,

m a ke her c abbag es thrive a nd h a ve la r ge l e a ve s on the ,

d ay of so w in g the seed m a ke s g re a t p a nc ak es a nd to g ive ,

th em ne w hit e he a ds s he w ea r s a d a zz l in g w hite hood .

Th e he a d s a re m a de rm a nd h a rd b y w r a ppin g ti g ht ly in
a l inen c l oth a sm all round stone a nd settin g it a t the end
o f the c a b bag e bed w h en th ey a re tr a nsp la nted Th e .

Ba v a ri a n w e a rs a g o l den rin g w h en he so w s the w he a t to ,

i nsure for it a good he al th y co l or The m a n w ho so w s .

a x in T hurin g i a c a rries the seed in a ba g re a chin g f rom

,

shou l d er to k n ees w hich sw in gs to a nd fro a s he wal k s

, ,

w hich the g ro w in g ax w i ll imit a te in s way in g in th e w ind .

 S O WI N G AND P LA N T I N G 5 1

T he w omen l et their h a i r h a n g l oosely dow n their ba ck s

a s the y sow the rice in Sum a tr a th a t t he crop m ay g ro w ,

lu xu ri a nt ly in imit a tion of it I n Western A fric a the sow .

ing is somet imes a ccomp a nied by d a nces of a rmed men on

t h e e l d a nd in S outhern I ndi a w hen the y so w th e rice V
, , ,

so metimes the y h a ve all the mu s ic al instruments of th e

,

city continu ally soundin g a nd m a k in g merry Another .

m ethod not ed by G rimm for promotin g the g ro w th of th e

a x is a fter so w in g the seed to thro w the ba g hi g h in the
a i r a nd a s h i gh a s it g oes so hi gh w i ll the ax g ro w ;
,

b ut i f b ou ght on S t Law rence d ay it w i ll bla st a nd it w i ll

.
,

not thrive i f you spin on Shrov e Tu es d ay I f the sow er .

w hen he enters the e l d w i ll sit three times on his b ag o f

a x seed or i f he w i ll s te al a l itt l e seed a nd mi x w ith his
, ,

it w i ll b e w e ll for the crop ; a nd i f a b ride w i ll sc a tter a x

by the way a s she goes to her husb a nd s h ome her a x w i ll
,

"
th rive .

T he Ta pu a s o f South A meric a a t thei r ye a r l y seedin g , ,

h a v e a custom o f h a n g in g a b unch of ostrich fea th ers

sp re a d out l i k e a w h eel on the b a ck of one o f thei r num b er ,

s ym bo l ic a l o f the fructi fy in g po w er o f he a ven from w hich

b re a d fall s in the tu ft o f fe a th ers 8
.

I n the v icinity o f E l iz ab ethto n Tennessee th ere is s a id , ,

to b e a q uite common b e l ie f th a t in ord er to ra ise gourd s , ,

a p a rticu l a r ceremon y o f throw i ng the s eeds over the l e ft

shou l der b y the p la nter mu st b e o b served b efore p l a nti ng
them T hey must b e throw n one a t a time a nd a n o a th
.
,

uttere d a s e a ch seed is throw n 9

The direction of the .

movement w ou l d b e opposite to th a t of the su n ,

w hich w o ul d seem to i ndic a t e th a t the custom h a s some

re la tion to the b e l i e f th a t evi l spirits in w ork in g thei r pur
T t ni Myth l gy
eu o 4c 696 7 9 3 848 ;
o o T h G l d n B gh
,

t2 o, r , r ,
I

e o e ou ,

i 35 ii i
.
, 4 . r2 .

N a ti v R a ii i 3 8
e ces, . r .

'
J n l fA m i n F lk L
ou r a o xiv 2 7er ca o - ore, . 0 .
5 2 M AGI C AN D HU SBA N D RY

poses go a ga inst the sun T he si gnic a nce o f the o a t h m a y

.

b e perh a ps th a t it wa s a protection to the see d from e v i l

inuences or th a t it se rved a s a ch a rm aga inst them I n
, .

some countri es pro fa nity is b e l iev ed to b rin g l uck to the

shermen a nd th a t cu rsin g a n d s w e a rin g a t the time of
,

so w in g m a k e more cert a in a g ood cro p a s w hen the G reek ,

sow er so w ed cummin .

So wers o f the su g a r c a ne in North ern I ndi a a re dec, ,

ora ted w ith si l ver orn a ments or a neckla ce o f ow ers a n d

,

a red m a rk on the forehe a d I t is considered a f a v or abl e

.

omen i f du rin g the so w in g a m a n on horseba ck comes into

the e l d Nex t mornin g a fter the so w in g in the Punj ab
.

a w om a n puts on a neckla ce a nd wal ks round the e l d

w indin g th re a d on a S pind l e a ceremony most l i ke ly be
lo
,

lieved to promote the pros p eri ty o f the crop thou gh P l in y ,

s a id th a t a law o b se rv ed in most o f the rur al district s o f

a ncient I t aly forba de w omen to whir l their dista lfs or ,

c a rry them uncovered al on g the hi gh way s b ein g l i ab l e to ,

injure the crops 1

I n Sw eden no s pi nnin g wa s done on
.

T hursd ay ni ght for fe a r of injurin g the cra ps a nd c a tt l e .

B oth in I ndi a a nd in I t aly the custom is most l i k e l y a ssoci

a ted in some way w ith the o l d b e l ie f in the P a rc e or Fa tes , ,

one of w hom C l othe wa s the S pinner o f the thre a d o f l i fe

, , ,

a nd always c a rri ed a s pind l e w ith her I t w a s the d u ty .

o f the three sisters to see th a t the fa te x ed by etern al la ws

for e a ch individu al shou l d b e c a rried out w ithout inter
ference b y mort al s or god s Some a uthorities h a ve rep .

resented th e F a tes a s the chi l dren o fSa tu rn w ho wa s com ,

m o nly b e l ieved to h a v e b een the benecent ru l er o f the

G o l den Age He wa s connected w ith thin gs p ut in
.

t he e a rth the prote c tor o f the seed a n

, d l a ter deied a s the ,

god o f so w in g a nd husba ndry T he Sa tu rn a l i a the f a mous

.
,

R l i gi n nd F lk L
e o a o - ore of Northern n I di a
, 382 .

n
Nat a l H i t y xxv i i i W hi p RO "
Ga

ur s or , .
5; ors of the N N IE ul " . '47
 S O WI N G AN D P LA N T I N G 53

fe stiv al o f the R om a ns w hich commemor a ted his rei gn ,

wa s ori g in ally he l d on the 1 7 th o f Decem b er a nd a fter ,

w a rds ex tended to a s m a n y a s seven d ay s durin g which ,

wa s a period o f the g re a t est l icense The c a rniv al wa s .

p res i ded over by a mock k in g chosen by l ot a nd m a rk ed

1 2
, ,

b y fe a stin g a nd reve l ry durin g w hich sla ve s ord ered ,

a b out thei r m a s ter s a s a reminiscence o f the G o l den Ag e

,

w h en all men w ere e q u al All m a nner o f presents w ere .

m a de a mon g them w a x c a nd l es w hich a re b el i eved to

, ,

h a v e d escended from the Sa turn al i a to the Christm a s

ritu a l of the R om a n Church T h ere wa s a pu bl ic s a crice .

a t the temp l e of Sa turn a nd Hor a ce all ude s to the f a mi ly ,

sa cri c e of a suc k in g pi g :

Th e n p i l e the
f l w hi l y m y ue e ou a ,

A nd h y
c ee r p i i t hi gh w i th w in
ou r s r s e.

Giv t y
e l av n i d l d ay
o ou r s es o e e ,

A nd f a t p n th f a tt d wi n

e s u o e e s e .

Th a t Sa tu rn w a s a n o l d ag ricu l tu ral god s ay s P ro fes ,

so r Fo w l er
1
,a dmit s o f no dou b t Anci ent a rtists repre .

s ente d him a s a no l d m a n w ith l on g str a i g ht h a ir t he b a c k , ,

o f his h ea d covered w ho c a rri ed a prunin g kni fe or s ic k l e

,

sh a pe d h a rp in h is h a nd A s the tim e of the festiv al w a s

.

ori gin a ll y on th e 1 7 th a nd la t er ex t ended for ve or

seven d ays so w e a re in formed by S t Chrysostom th a t in
, .

p rimitive t ime s Christm a s a nd Epiph a n y ( Ja nu a r y

w ere ce l eb ra ted a t th e s a me time unti l the s ep a r a tio n of
them a t th e Counci l o f Nic e A D 32 5 A s a t t he S a tur , . . .

n a l i a En gl ish Christm a s c eremo ni es in the fteenth a nd

,

s ixt eenth c enturies w ere periods of g re a t l icen se R ecords .

o f Pri vy Pu rs e E x pe nses sho w th a t la rge sum s w ere
p a i d for di s g ui s e s a nd m a s k s for Christm a s ce l e b r a tions
"
Anna l s

f Ta i t
o xi i i
c us,
5 . r .

n
B k iii Od xvii
oo . e t a n l a t i n f F an
.
, rci s o o r s.

Roma n F ti va l

es 2 69s, .
 MA G I C AND HU SBA N D R Y

a nd Christm a s s ports I t is prob a bl e th a t the cu stom of

.

deck in g houses a nd churc h es w ith e verg reens a t Christm a s

h a s descended from the pra cti ce of the R om a ns a t the
Sa tu rn al i a in trimmin g thei r houses a nd temp l e s w ith
,

g reen b ou g h s Were hum a n s a cri c es ori g in al ly connected

.

w ith the rites of the Sa tu rn al i a ? Such is the contention o f

Professor Fra zer from the story of the m a rty rdom of S t .

Da s iu s w h ich is found in recent ly disco v ered m a nu scripts

, .

St Da siu s a Ch risti a n so l dier in 30 3 A D wa s cho sen by

.
, , . .
,

lot a s the k in g o f the Sa turn a l i a by R om a n so l diers a t

Du rostu lu m in l o w er M oesi a b ut no tw ithst a n d in g th e
, ,

threa ts o f h is co mm a ndin g o f cer he re fused to p lay the ,

p a rt a nd wa s b eh ea ded from wh i ch it is in ferred th a t ,

th e s a crice o f t h e mo ck k in g wa s a t one time a fea tu re o f

th e fe stiv al .

T he festiv a l o f t h e R om a ns more p a rti cu la r l y conne cte d

w ith the so w in g of th e g ra in wa s ho w ev er t h e Pa g a n a l i a , , ,

or feria s em entiva I t w a s he l d on the l a st d a ys o f

.

Ja nu a ry T he time for it wa s a pp ointed b y th e m a g istra tes

.

or priests a nd a nnounced b y proc l a ma tion T he fa ll seed .

in g wa s p a st a nd the sprin g seedin g not y et b e gun a nd the ,

ri te m ay h a v e h a d re ference a s Pro fessor Fo w l er s ays to l

, ,

the seed a l re a dy in the g round a nd to t h a t w hi ch wa s sti ll

to b e sow n or a s some sa y there m ay h a v e b een two
, ,

ceremonies one b efore the a u t umn a nd a nother b efore

,

the sprin g sow in g T he ob j ect o f it wa s to p rotect

.

t he seed from h a rm fu l th in gs a n d b rin g the cro p to

m a turity T he gods w ere in vo k ed th a t th e seed mi g ht b e
.

sprin kl ed w ith the ra in o f he a ven a nd esc a pe m is

ch ievou s b irds b e a sts a nd dise a se Sw ine w ere o ffere d
, , .

T he G ld
n Bou gh , iii u p
o e

.
; See al so fo r a di nti ng view f th
sse o e

m a rty rd om M r A nd rew L a ng s M a gi nd Re l igi n O9 - a nd p

,
. c a o , r r r, a a

pen dix B .

R m a n F ti v a l
o es

s, 295 .
 S OWI N G A N D PLA N TI N G 55

a nd c ak es m a de of e gg s our mi lk a nd oi l w ere supp l ied

, , , ,

by the f a mi l ies of t he district E a ch p a gu s or district .

, ,

h a d its al t a r upon w hich the s a cric es of the inh ab it a nts

inc l uded in it w ere m a d e Puric a tion of the district wa s
.

e ffect ed by l e a din g the victim s ro u nd it b efore the s a crice .

O vid x es the s e a son for the Pa g a n al i a a t th e time w hen

the g round is impregn a t ed w ith the sc a ttered s eed a nd
th e f a rmer h a n g s on it s peg th e p l o w disch a r g ed f rom
s e rvic e
. Then say s h e Let th e h a m l et k eep ho l id ay ;
,

puri fy the vi lla g e ye swa i ns a nd to th e h a m l et s al t a r

, ,

g ive you r y ea r ly c ak es L et C eres a nd Tell u s mothers o f

.
,

the fruits b e p ropi t i a ted w i th th eir ow n co rn a nd the

, ,

entra i l s of a pregna nt
Ceremo ni es to pro piti a t e the gods a nd a vert evi l a re
common w ith Hi ndu s a nd M a l a y s a t th e time o f the sow
in g A mon g the l a tter inth e o l dentime w h en the y w ere
.
, ,

a b out to b e g in the p l a ntin g of th e ric e the Pa wa n g h el d ,

a consu l t a tion w ith the e l d er s a nd x ed upon the d a te .

E a ch one furnish ed h is porti on of mo th er seed ov er w hich ,

prayers h a d b een rea d in t he mo s que I nc ens e supp l ied .

by the P awa n g wa s b urned a nd t he mo th er seed p la nted ,

rst in one corn er of the p l ot I ncens e wa s a g a in b urned .

w hen the g r a in h a d spro u ted .

R e gu l a tio ns fo r t he p l a ntin g o f v a rious crops co ll ected ,

a t La n g a t in S el a ngo r a re g iv en by M r Sk ea t
, ,
1 8
The . .

fo ll o w in g a re som e o f th em : The tim e to p l a nt su ga r c a ne

is a t noo n T h i s w ill m a k e it sw eeter by dry in g up the
.

j uice a nd l ea vi ng t he s a cch a ri ne m a tter I f p l a nt ed inthe .

mornin g it s j o int s w ill be to o l o ng i f inth e midd l e of the ,

d ay th ey w ill be sh o rt M a i z e s ho u l d be p l a nted w ith a

.

fu ll stom a ch I f th e dibbl e th e po inted imp l em e nt u sed

.
,

to m a k e t he ho l es in th e g r o u nd b e thick it w i ll s w ell the ,

nu
Pa t i
s
n
67 Ri l y t an
o, e
'
s r s .

II u
M l y M a gi
a a c, 7

2 r .
5 6 MA G I C AN D HU SBA N D R Y

e a rs of the m a i ze Pl a nt a ins ( or ba n a n a s ) shou l d b e

.

p la nted a fter the evenin g me al a s the y w i ll then l l out

,

b etter A st a rry ni ght is b est for p la ntin g s w eet pot a

.

toes to ensure th ei r h a vin g p l en ty of e yes I f cucum b ers .

a nd gourds a re p la nted on a d a rk moon l ess ni ght i t w i ll

,

prevent thei r b ein g s een a nd devoured by reies Pla nt .

coco a nuts w hen the stom a ch is overburdened w ith food .

R un q uic k ly a nd thro w the coco a nut into a prep a red ho l e

w ithout str a i g htenin g the a rm for i f y ou str a i g hten it the
,

fruit st alk w i ll b re ak W hen the s eed is pic k ed som e

.

one shou l d st a nd a t th e ba se o f the tr ee to wa tch w h ether

the mon ke y fa ce o f e a ch seed coco a nut a s it is thro w n
-
,

do wn turns to wa rds himse l f or the ba s e o f the tree or

, ,

l oo ks away from b oth I f the form er the seed is good

.
, ,

o therw ise it is not w orth p la ntin g R ice shou l d b e p la nted

.

ab out ve in the mornin g The R ice S ou l is considered a s

.

a n inf a nt a nd th a t is th e hour for in fa nts to g et up

, .

T he sow in g of t he rice se ed re qui res speci al pre l imin a ry

ceremonies Four po l es a re rst a rr a n ged upon the
.

g round so a s to form a rect a n gu la r fr a me in the midd l e

of the c l e a rin g A youn g ba n a n a tree a p la nt of l emon
.
,

g ra ss a stem of su g a r c a ne o f a p a rticu la r k ind a nd a

, ,

p l a nt o f s a ffron a re then p la nted in succession in the four

corn ers A coco a nut she ll fu ll o f wa ter is then deposited
.

in the c enter of the g round enc l osed by the fr a me E a rly .

in th e mornin g ob se rv a tions a re c a refu lly m a de to l e a rn

wh a t the omens indic a te I f the fr a me h a s moved ever
.

so l itt l e or the w a ter ha s b een s pi ll ed it is a b a d omen

, If
, .

t he fr a me ha s not m ov ed a nd the w a ter in the s he ll h a s

,

not b een spi ll ed or i f a bl a ck a nt or a white a nt is foun d in

,

the wa ter the omen is fa vora b l e T hen p la nt the rice

, .

seed in s even ho l es m a de w ith a di bbl e o f a cert a in kind

of wood repe a tin g th e ch a rm :
,
58 MAGI C AN D H U SBAN DRY

g ivenaway to b e gga rs a nd l ab o re rs Th e cu stom p reva i l s .

throu ghout No rth ern I ndi a T he M u nda s sa cri ce a he .

g o a t a n d a cock a t the ri ce sow ing to the ir a ncest ra l ,

sh a des to propiti a te th em
, for they mi g ht oth erwi se pre
,

vent the seed from germin a tin g I n Ja va eve ry p a ddy .

e l d is thou g ht to h a ve its spi rit a nd no m a nw ill rea di ly ,

venture to b e g in so w in g u nti l an o fferin g h as been m a de

by the p ries t .

Pera mb u l a tion o f the e l d a ft er th e sow ing by a , ,

w om a n w e a rin g a nec kla ce ha s b een a ll u d ed to a nd the , ,

sto ry to l d of R a j a B roo k e in d i ca tes co n d ence inthe fer

t iliz in g po w er of the nec k la ce a mon g the D y aks of S a r a
wa k S i r J a mes B roo k e wa s m a de Ra j a a nd G overnor
.

of Sa ra w ak in B orneo in 1 8 41 T he n a tives b e l ieve d him .

to po sse ss m ag ic al po w ers to su ch a n ext ent th a t he cou l d

m a k e the rice crop abund a n t a t his p l e a su re Wh en he .

visited a tri b e the seed to b e so wn the next ye a r wa s ta k en

to him w hich he fe rti l i zed for th em by sha k in g over it the
,

w omen s neckla ces w hich h a d b een previous ly dippe d in a

prep a red mi x ture The w omen wa s hed a nd ba thed his feet

.

w ith wa ter a nd the mi lk of a y oun g coco a nut a nd the w a ter ,

wa s c a refu lly pre served a nd distri b uted on the fa rms to

secu re a g ood crop When th e y w ere too f a r aw a y for
.

this they sent him pieces o f w hite c l oth a nd pieces o f go l d

a nd si l v er t o w hich wa s imp a rted the g enera tin g virtue
,

w ith which the y im a g ined him to he possessed These .

a rtic l es w ere th en b uried in the e l ds a nd a successfu l crop

wa s condent ly awa it ed S h a k in g the nec kla ce over .

the seed wa s pro bably su gg e sted by know l ed ge o f their

b e l ief in its m ag ic al prop erties a nd thi s mi ght b e ow in g ,

to the fa ct of its a ssoci a tion w ith w omen W hen Fa ther .

G u m illa a sk ed the m enof the Orinoco tri b e w h y they did

R l i gi
e n a nd
o F lk L
o - ore o f h n I ndi a W C
N ort er ,

. rooke, 37 x.

"
F . R a tz el s

Hi t y
s or of M a nk i nd i 47 3
, . .
 SO WI N G AN D P LA N TI N G 59

not a ss i st th e w omen in the el d th ey re p li ed th a t the ,

wo men knew h ow to b rin g forth a n d cou l d te ll it to th e

g r a in b
, u t th e men did not k no w ho w th e y did it a nd cou l d
not tea c h i t to the gr a ins T he w i fe o f a S iou x a fter she
.
,

ha d p la nted h er corn p a tc h w ou l d r i se in t he ni g ht stri p

, ,

he rse l f na k e d a nd w alk a round the e l d to imp a rt to th e

, ,

g r a in the m a g ic o f her ow n ferti l ity I t wa s a lso a n .

Oj i bw a custom for the wi fe s ome da rk ni g ht a fter the ,

p l a ntin g to di vest herse l f of c l othin g a nd drag her prin

,

cipa l ga rm ent a roun d t h e e l d a s a s a fe gu a rd aga inst pests ,

an d to m ak e the see d g ermin a te The Paw nees moist

3

ened th ei r seed corn w ith the b l ood o f a wom a n a nd ,

se l ected a fem a l e prisoner to supp ly it A s the .

S iou x w om an ra n round the corne l d so on S t J ohn s , .

night th e pea sa nt g i rl s in the Sa a leld c ountry stripp ed

th ems e l ves n ake d and d a n ced round th e fla x a nd w al l ow ed
in it to im p a rt to it vi g or 25
Seeds ho w ever w ere steri l
.
, ,

ized i f tou ch ed b y a men struou s w om a n

a ccordin g to ,

Pl in y a nd i f a menstruous w om a nstripped herse l f n a k ed

,

an d w a l k ed round a e l d of w he a t ca terpi l la rs w orms a nd , ,

beet l es a nd ve rmin w ou l d f a ll o f f the e a rs of g r a in bu t ,

i f it wa s done a t sunrise the crop s w ou l d w ither He s ay s .

the di sc ove ry wa s rst m a de a t C a pp a doc i a w here it wa s ,

pra cticed to p rot ect th e e l ds from these pests T h ey .

somet imes wa lk ed t h rou g h the midd l e of the e l d w ith

th ei r c l othin g tu cke d up a bove th e t h i g hs a nd in other ,

p la ces they wa lk ed ba refoot w ith h a i r disheve l ed a nd

g i rdle l oose Somethin g ak in to this b e l ie f is one recorded
.

by G rimm 7
,th a t be fore so w in g ba r l e y the seed shou l d b e
ru n throu g h a m a n s shi rt T hen the sp a rro w s w i ll not
'
.

t ou ch it .

l on f A merica n F olk Lorc

'
ra l o , xi . r9 8.
'
G rlmrn , r7 9 8 .

"
Na t u r a l H y vii
i st or ,
"
. r3; xxvi ii . 2 3
.

"
Teu to nie M yth l g y
o o ,

r82 5 .
60 M AGI C AN D HU SBA N D R Y

T he f a ncy of the B reton pe a s a nt th a t c l over seed so w ed

w hen the tide is comin g in w i ll g ro w w e ll b ut i f so w n a t ,

lo w w a ter or w hen the tide is goin g out the crop w i ll not

re a ch m a turity a nd co w s th a t feed upon it w i ll b urst is ,

a conception not un l i k e th a t o f th e M alay s al re a d y men

tio n ed of p la ntin g or so w in g the seed a fter a fu ll me al

, ,

w hen th e distend ed stom a ch is ex pected to m ag ic ally in

u ence the seed to sw e ll a nd g ermin a te I t is possi bl e th a t .

a simi la r b el ie f m ay h a ve b een connect ed w ith a cu s tom

which Pl in y thin ks w a s true o f the e a r ly E gy pti a ns o f ,

drivin g herds of sw ine over the sow n e l d s to tre a d in

2"
th e s eed a fter the s u b s idence of the N i l e I t wa s a frmed
by G ree k a uthors th a t t he E gy pti a ns on ly p a rtook o f the
29

esh o f the sw ine w hen the y s a criced to the moon a t the

fu ll b ec a use o f its s a credness or its impurity b ut a n o ther ,

re a son is g iven b y P l in y w ho h a d it from the G reek ,

m a them a tici a n Eudoxu s who l e a rned from convers a tion ,

w ith E gypti a n priests durin g fou rteen months S pent in

E gy pt th a t the re a s on th ey ab st a ined from e a tin g the pi g
wa s b ec a use of its uti l i ty in ag ricu l tu re in tre a din g the
seed into the e a rth R e ferrin g to t he custom o f a period of
.

reve l ry a nd l icense w hich ha s preva i l ed a mon g so m a n y

peop l es a t the time of sow in g M r Fr a zer s ay s : Be , .

tw een the so w er a nd th e seed th ere is common ly supposed

to ex ist a sy mp a thetic connection w h a t w onder
then i f the s imp l e hu sba ndm a n im ag ined by
sw i ll in g a nd guzz l in g just b e fore he proceeded to so w

his el ds he thereb y imp a rt ed a ddition al vi gor to the

30
seed ? M r Andrew La n g com b a tin g the theory o f
.
,

M r Fr a zer s ays l i k e exce ss e s t a ke p la ce a m on g non

.
,

a g ricu l tur al peop l es a nd som etim es t ak e p l a ce a t the end

,

N at al H i
ur y xv i i i 47 ; 6 S
s tor

,
. I .

I'
H d t
e ro i i 47 ; Pl t h
o us . I i u a rc , s s a nd O i
s r s,

v iii .

Th G l d n B g h

e o ei ii 4s ou , . r .
 SO WI N G AN D P LAN TI N G 6 1

o f the h a rvest a s w e ll a s a t th e so w in g a n d a re not so ,

m u ch to improve the p rospects o f f a rmin g a s it is

be cau se o f the devi l ry in them on a ccount o f t h e
en din g of the ir la b ors w hen they a re fu l l o f me a t a n d

drink . He notes how ever th a t in the H indu K us h
, ,
-

a t the end o f h a rvest l icen se ex is ts w hen d e vi l s a re d riven

,

out a nd then s eed is so wn ! n

,

Th a t the g ermin a tion o f the see d a nd the dev e l opment

o f th e p la nt w a s p romoted by indu l gence o f th e s exu a l
p a ssi ons a t the ti me o f so w in g the seed h a s b een a com .

mon bel ief a nd p ra ctice a mon g m a n y tri b es o f peop l e .

Priests sometimes enjoined i t upon th e peop l e a s a re l i g ious

d u ty The e l ds w ere solnetim es visited by ni gh t for th a t
.

p u r p o s e thin
, k in g there by to imp a rt f e r ti l ity to th e crop .

M en a n d women sometimes ro ll ed to g ether on the eld ,

or a s in some p a rts of R u ss i a th e priest w a s ro ll ed by

, ,

women over the S p rout ing g ra in Aga in the opposite .

v iew ha s p reva i l e d a nd t h e stri ctes t c h a sti ty in si ste d u pon

du ring the so wing a n d grow th of the p l a nt a s w a s the ,

cas e a mon g t he Gerina ns of T ra nsyl v a ni a w here no m a n ,

mi gh t s l ee p w ith his w i fe durin g the time o f so w in g th e

se ed a n , d w ith the K a rens of B urm a w ho b e l ie v ed th a t ,

an y i ll icit in d u lg enc e ten d ed to im p eri l t h e h a rvest T he .

I ndi a ns o f N ica ra gu a a te no s a l t or p epper nor d i d they ,

d rink a n y into x ic a tin g b evera ge or coh ab it w i th thei r ,

wome n du rin g th e t ime o f p l a ntin g w hi l e the Pipi l es for ,

some d ay s b e fore p l a ntin g th e seed o f the c a c a o k ept a p a rt

from th ei r w ives a nd then indu lg ed thei r p a ssions to the

,

fu ll est e xtent on th e ni g ht before th e p l a ntin g Perso ns .

w e re even sa i d to h a ve b een se l ecte d t o per form th e sexu a l

a ct a t the very moment th a t t h e seed wa s p ut in the gi ou nd

q
.

I n th is wa y w ere st imu l a te d th e im p u l ses for re p rodu ction

w hi ch it w a s bel ieved the e a rt h h a d the sa me a s u a dru o

M a gic nd Religi n 87 8 8

a o
"
, r , r .
62 M AGI C AN D HU SBA N D R Y

peds a b e l ie f th a t Pl in y s ays wa s a g reed to by correct

,

w riters of his tim e 2

I nB u rm a a p eriod of f a stin g w hich
.
3
,

h a s b e en c all ed the B uddhi st Lent is ob served w hi l e the ,

p l ow in g a nd s ow in g of the el d s is a ttend ed to Durin g this .

time o f f a stin g no m a r ri ag es t a k e p la c e T he y ab st a i nfrom .

toba cco a nd rem a in a t hom e T he cu stom is b el i eved to

,
.

b e o l der th a n B uddhism T heir m a inten a nce for the rest .

o f the y e a r is b e l iev ed to d ep end upon its ob s erv a nce M r . .

Fr a zer su gg ests thou gh he nds no p o sitive evid enc e of it

, ,

th a t the S a tu rna l i a m a y h a v e b een fo ll o w ed by a p eriod of

fa stin g a nd th a t Lent m ay b e merely the continu a tio n ,

under a thi n dis gui se of a pe riod of t empe ra nce w hich ,

wa s a nnu a lly o b served f rom s u p er stitious motives by , ,

I t al i a n f a rm ers l ong b e fore t he Ch ri sti a n Er a 3

A fter .

the Peruvi a ns h a d s own th ei r seed in J u ly ce rt a in of the

priests f a sted ti ll the p l a nt h a d g row n a ng er l en g th out
o f the g rou nd T h ei r w ives a nd chi l d ren f a sted al so a nd
.

a te noth i ng b ut b oi l ed m a i ze a nd h erb s The common .

p eop l e h el d a fe a st a nd ch a nt ed s o ngs b es e echin g a pros

perons y ea r Dres sed in red shi rt s r ea chin g to the fe et
.
,

w ith no m a nt l e s th ey s a ng a nd d a nced V a rious ord ers

, .

of prie sts s a cric ed whi te sh eep O ffe ri ngs w ere m a de of .

m a ize coco a p l ume s of co l o red fea th ers a nd c ert a in k inds

, , ,

o f se a sh ell s A h u nt er s fea st wa s h el d by the M a ya s on

.

a d ay a pp o i nt ed by the pri est to a v ert evi l from the seed ,

w hich th ey ha d sow n it w a s s a id l est t he a ng ry g ods , ,

s hou l d w ithho l d the c rop o n a ccou n t of the bl ood th a t h a d

b een spi ll ed in the ch a s e th o u gh w e m a y q u estion whether ,

t he cu s tom it s el f w a s no t fa r o l d e r th a nthe la tt er thou ght .

I n the prec edi ng h a rve s t th e pri es t s of the m a i ze g od in

Q u ego la ni vi s ited t he corn el d w ith a process ion of the

N at u ra l H i s to ry,

xvi i i , 56 ;

N a ti v R a
e ce s,

ii .
7 1 9, 720 ; T he
Go ld en Bo u g h ,
"
ii . 20 5
-
2 1 1 .

T he G ldo e n B ou g h ,
"
i ii . 1 46 .
 SO WI N G AN D PLAN T I N G 53

peop l e a nd se l e cte d the fa ires t ca r w hich the y c a rrie d to ,

th e vill ag e a nd p la ced on a decora ted a l t a r b e fore w h i c h

th e y s a n g a nd d a nced a nd th en c l othed it in w hite a n , d

p r eserved it ti ll the ne x t seedtime w he n w ith so l emn rites , , ,

th is m ag ic e a r w ith its w hite ro b e w a s w r a pped in d eer

sk in a nd bu ried in the midst o f the corne l d in a ho l e l in ed ,

w i th ston es I f a f ruitfu l h a rvest fo llo w ed the decay ed

. ,

rem a ins o f the a uspicious ca r w ere t a ken up ca refu lly a nd

distri b uted a mo n g the pe op l e a s t a l ism a ns a ga inst e vi l .

E a rl y tra v e l ers in Florid a ha ve w ritten o f simi la r cu s

t oms A t t he end o f Fe b ru a ry they too k a s l a rg e a deer
.

hide a s c ou l d b e ob t a ined a nd w ith the horns l eft on they , ,

ll e d i t w ith v a rious herbs a nd se w ed it to gether The .

best frui ts w ere fa stened on the h orns or othe rwise

a tta ch ed to the hide I t wa s th en tak en to a nopen sp a ce
.

an d f a stened to a h i g h tree w ith the he a d tu rned to wa rd ,

the e a st King a nd m ag ici a ns o ffici a ted in the c eremonies

.
,

a nd p ra yers w ere o ffered to the sun for the s a me f ruits in

futu re So the Pru ssi a n S la v s k i l l ed a go a t a nd consumed
.

its esh a t the time o f so w in g th e w inter corn T he sk i n .

wa s hung upon a hi g h po l e ne a r a no ak w here it rem a ined ,

ti ll t h e h a rves t w hen a b unch o f all so rt s o f corn a nd herb s

,

wa s hu n g ov er it A pe a s a nt o ffi ci a ted a s a p riest a n d

.

o ffered a pray er T he y oun g p eo p l e joine d h a nds a n d

.

d a nced a roun d it Prep a ra to ry to the p l a ntin g one o f

.
,

the k eepers of the s a c re d tent se l e ct e d a num be r o f p er fect

re d ca rs a t th e h a rvest a nd l a id them b y I n the s p rin g a .

crier w ent th rou g h the vi ll a ge a nn ouncin g th e p l a ntin g

t im c c a r ry ing th e k erne l s o f th is s a c red ea r two or th ree
, ,

o f which w ere g iven to e a ch hou s eh o l der T hi s wa s .

mi xed w ith ordin a ry see d a nd th en a ll mi ght b e g in the ,

p la n t in g
M
T . h a t the s e v a ry in g b u t k indr e d ceremonies
R i te f the I n a , p

s o 9 ; Jc s n l

f A m ric
. n 1F lk-L x i
ou r a o e a o ore, . s o r,

xi v 3 ; Na ti v R ce ii 35 6 9 "
. 1 0 e a s, . 0, 1 .
64 MAG I C AN D HUSBAN DRY

among di fferent peoples were in thei r traditional belief

held as important and likely to have a favorable i nuence
on the future harvest cannot be doubted The e x altation ,
.

of the best fruits would be a symboli zation o f the harvest

which the magic rite was intended to produce In the
'

stu ffed deer hi de the spi rit o f vegetation mi ght be con

ceived as i ncarnated upon which the li fe and growth of ,

the crop depended .

Old English writers have explained in various ways the

custom of wearing leeks in thei r hats by the ancient

VVels hm en on the I st o f M arch St David s day

It is , . .

sai d to have been su fcient grounds for a quarrel with a

Welshman i f anyone di d not honor his cap with a leek

upon that day Owen s Cambri a n Biography written
.

,

in 1 80 3 says :
, In some districts in South Wales all the ,

nei ghbors o f a small fa rm er wi thout means appoint a day ,

w hen they all attend to plow his land and the like ; and ,

a t such a time it is the custom f o r each individual to bring

hi s portion of le eks to be us ed i n making pottage for the

,

w hole comp a ny A more probable explanation th an
.

t h at given by O w en o f the origin o f the custom is sug

, ,

gested by Brand As the leek was worsh iped in E gypt

.

an d A ska lo n and deposi t ed in the s a c red chests o f the

,

mysteries it wa s a lso s a cred to Ceu dven the agri cultural

, ,

deity o f the ancient D rui ds and i t was worn on that da y ,

to win the favor o f the god by p a ying h im reverence and ,

so secure a favorable rec eption of the seed in the earth

.

The curious law o f t he Israelites fo rbidding the sowing

of mingled seeds in the same eld appears to have been 3

based upon some ea rly belie f that such mixing up o f the

crops was unacceptable to the deities o f vegetation and so
the ea rth became deled and the harvest jeopardi zed .

"
B a nd 54
r ,
.

L v xix 9 ; D nt xxi i 9

e . . : e . . .
66 M AGI C A N D HUSBAN DRY

y
o r cr e, or make any noyse under thy fete then i t is to wete
,

to sowe ; and i f it make no noyse and wyll beare thy horses

, ,

th a nne so w e in the name of God . Another sentiment
from thi s quaint old w riter with which we are in full
,

accord may not b e inappropri ate in bringing to a close th is

,

chapter Among the other cornes sowed b y the hus

.

bandman it is important to min g le the seed called dis ere

tion for they w i ll growe moche the bette r He that
, .

lack eth let bym bo rrowe of his neygh bo rs that have for
, ,
.

this seed of Discretion hath a wondrous prope rt y ; for the

more that it is tak enof or lente th e more it is
, .
 CHA PTE R V
M A KI N G P R O D U C T I V E
For l u ck or for fav
ill or, for goo d or for ,

Th f a i i e th n g v n d th pixi
r es eh l d w ay ;o er e , e es e s

A nd h p h d nd
s e ft n S th l a nd h ill
er a cro e r, o u er

s ,

W l d b w t th m a gi f l fi n f ay
ou o o e c o e or .

0 h ! m k n t t h na m f
oc o f b a h l d f a ith
e e, o r ou r or e rs e

Th a t f a i i w h it th gh th m nli ght
r es, o h a de rou e oo or s ,

R l d v th f a t f th
u e o er p nd th k i n
e e o e cro s a e e,

C l d de ti ny c b b i ng g l m t th g l a d
ou s ur , or r oo o e e .

TH E sava ge, living upon fruits and roots which he nds

r eady and waitin g for his hands to pluck i s the lowest in ,

the scale o f humanity The hunter who subs ists upon .

,

t he wild g ame wh ich he ensnares by his rude contrivances ,

or brin gs to death by such crude weapons as may be within

the limits of hi s capaci ty for construction and uti li zation ,

i s accorded a h igher degree of i ntelligence Civili zation .

,

it may be sai d has really be gun with a people when they

,

have ta k en thei r rst steps in agricultu re and be gun to

cultivate the soil ho w ever humble these early e fforts
,

may be .

In contem plating the early histo ry o f husbandry noth

ing is more impressive than the apparent lack of con
dence in the resources of the people and the g eneral reco g ,

nit io nof thei r dependence on power or powers not of them

selves wh ich wa s for or a g a inst them for good or evi l
, , .

throu g h whose favor by propiti ation concili ation or , , ,

supplication they secured plenti ful cra ps or t hrou gh

, ,

whose hosti lity or malignance the ha rv ests fa il ed .

K a te A S im p n in Ch mb J n l

. so , a ers

ou r a .

67
68 M AG I C A N D HUSBAN D RY

The envi ronments the traditions and the de g ree o f

, ,

civi li zation which has been attained have dete rm ined

the character of the methods by wh ich every people has
striven to overcome antagonistic forces or counteract thei r
ef fe cts . With enlightenment there comes to the a gricu l
t urist an awakened consciousness of his own power and
its lim itations and a more rational reali zation of the pos
,

s ib ilit ies o f his own resources He no longer charges up

.

to di abolical agencies th e fai lures which are clearly

at tributable to his own lack of foresight or to his neglect .

Hope of the harvest no longer centers in anticipated speci al

divine favors or in the ministrations o f priests and saints
, .

Traces of the early customs of a people a re never how ,

ever enti rely obliterated from the characteristics o f thei r

,

descendants Su rvivals o f them point back to earli er

.

observances In many pa rts o f the earth there a re cere

.

monies connected with a g ricultural li fe whi ch are most

interestin g From the records of them i n the past some
.
,

of which indeed are horrible much i n formati on is to be ,

gleaned which cannot be ignored by the ea rnest and impar

tial student o f the h istory o f human pro g ress .

The celebrated author o f the Roman Questions ,

writing about the beginning o f the second centu ry of the

Christi an Era asks : What is the reason th at i n the
,

month of M ay they use at Rome to cast over thei r wooden

bri dge into the river certain images of men which they call
W2
A rgeo s i An ea rlier writer Dionysius recorded that , ,

these ima ges had the appea rance o f men bound hand and
foot Tradition sai d that in older times aged men a fter
.
,

they had reached si xty years were thus sacriced There, .

wa s an old Roman proverb : Old men must go over the

bridge . It was on the day before the Ides o f M ay ,

a ccordin g to the verse of Ovid that the Vest a l vi rgins

,

'
T n l ati n f P h il m n H ll a nd 60 3 d i ted by F a nk By n J von
ra s o o e o o , 1 , e r ro e s.
 M A KI NG PRODU CTIVE 69

t h re w from th e oak b ui lt bri d g e the i ma g es o f the ancient

-

me n platt ed i n rushes
,
3
. T h e interpre tation of the cu s
t o m as g i v enb y Pluta rch points to the ea rlier sacri ce o f
, ,

ca ptives . He sa ys his countrymen formerly th rew over

the bri dge th e G ree k s found i n the country ti ll Hercules ,

p u t a n end to i t and
, tau g ht th em to make and toss over
co u n ter fei t m en i nstead of livi ng men The festival .

ma rk ed the passin g o f spri n g and the be g i nni n g of sum

me r W h ether in earlier times the sacri ci al rites a ecom
.

p a n yin g it we r e o f
feri ngs to the river g od Tiberinus or as , ,

Ovid and Di onysius say to the old agricu ltu ral deity S at
,

u rn u s th e ce remony was an earnes t of fe rti li ty for the en

,

su ing year M oistu re a nd rai n were secu red by throwing

.

into th e w ater th e victims who perhaps w ere representa,

tiy es o f the spi ri t o f vegetation The people sti ll clun g to

.

t he ce remonial w h en they were no lon g er fa vorably im

re s se d w i th th e cru elty connected wi th it The harsher
p .

fea tu res w e re elimi nated when on account o f th e g rowi n g

,

prej u d i ce a gainst th em th ey were no l on ger tolerated

, .

T o the po pu l a r d eities and heroes were then g iven th e

cre d it of eectin g the m odi cation o f them and t h e

s ub s titu ti on of ima ges . The story of the transi tion as .

re la ted b y th e d isti n gu ished author is the p roduct o f the

,

thou gh t of h i s own times and the hand of He rcules in it i s

,

evi dence of the p rominen ce o f the H ercu l es cult at th e

p e r io d i n w hi ch Plu ta rch wrote or at th e t im e of th e
ori g i n of the st ory .

Th e su b stitu tion o f the ima g e of a man for a li v in g man

in sa cri cial rites w as not uncommon in anti q ui ty I nsome .

o f the vil la ges o f the Bha ga ts i n I n d ia th ey made the

wo oden ima ge of a man annually and putt i n g clo thes and ,

o rna m ents u po n i t p resented it be fore the a l ta r o f a

,

M a h adeo when t h e one who o fciate d a s a p riest ex

,
.

M
v a . .
7 0 MA G I C AN D HUSBAN DRY

claimed : O M ah adeo we sacrice this man to you ,

according to ancient customs Give us ra in in due seaso n .

,

and a plenti ful ha rvest With a stroke of the a x the .

head of the image was cut o ff as probably in ea rlier days ,

the head o f the livi ng man had been Images of dough .

were at times substituted for human sacrices by the

Aztecs and in Hopi leg ends in later days corn and our
'

, , ,

came to be used where a child or chi ef had once been used ,

though th e substi tutes were still spoke n of as male and

female and a human face was painted on the end of the
,

prayer stick The sna k e ceremonies of the Tusayans

.
,

accordin g to the conclusions of an emine nt authori ty were ,

intended to promote the g row th of th e co rn a nd bring ,

plenti ful ra in
.

There was an annual festival held by the Ioni ans at the

temple and grove o f A rtemis Tricla ria which conti nued ,

all ni ght long The priestess of the goddess was a mai den
.

who was dismiss ed on marrying A legenda ry story .

explains the origi n of the human sacri ces connected with

the ceremoni es in this way : The beauti ful pri estess Com
a et ho had a lover M elanippus who asked for her hand in ,

marriage but the parents of both refusing thei r consent

, ,

they appropri ated the temple of the goddess for a bri dal
chamber to grati fy thei r unsanct ioned love The angry .

goddess brought a fai lure of the harvest and increased

mortali ty upon the people The oracle of Delph i place d .

the blame for these calamities upon the un fortunate lovers ,

and to brin g an end to them commanded that herea fter

there should be an annual sacrice to the o ffended dei ty of
th e most h andsome mai den I t was revealed to them later .

th a t an end to th e human sacrices would be made by a

forei gn god that should be b rought into the country by a

J \V a l t
. er F ew kes in S ix t ee t nh Ann a l u Re p
o rt of B a
u re u of Am ie r ca n
E th n l gy f
o o or 1 8 9 4 5,- p .
30 7 .
 M A KING PRODU CTIVE 7 I

forei gn conqueror or king A esym netes proved to be the .

god of the ch est who was credited with e ffecting a change

in the rite N ine men and mai dens chosen for thei r
.

beauty and worth o ffici ated annually as di rectors o f th e

ceremony which was substi tuted All the lads of the .

district went down to the river with crowns on thei r

h eads made o f ears of corn These crowns were lai d near .

th e statue of the goddess Then th ey bath ed i n the river .

,

put on crowns o f ivy and repai red to the temple o f the ,

god of the chest It i s sai d that when the human victims

.

were sacri ced they were decorated i n the same way wi th

crowns of corn 5
The whole tradition indicates a cere
.

mony originally with human sacri fices for the pu rpose o f

increasing the productivi ty of the land The idea of the .

sacrice as a punishment for violating the puri ty o f the

temple i s an explanation conceived lon g a fterw ards when
th e intellectu al advancement of the p eople had made
repulsive the primi tive custom Then the origi nal cere .

mony was superseded by one tting the et hical and

esthetical i deas o f the later period and one with obvious ,

resemblance to festivals of modern times when the alta rs ,

are loaded with fru its and hymns of tha nksgivin g are ,

sung .

Th at the Hebrews like other ancient peoples believed , ,

in the necessity o f human sa crices to avert famine and

secu re plenti ful h arvests is evident from thei r sacred
records When in the days of Davi d there was a famine
.

three yea rs yea r a fter yea r the seven sons o f S aul were
, ,

delivered up to the Gideonites fo r an o ffering to Jahveh ,

and they were hanged in the rst days i n th e beginning ,
0
of the barley harvest .

There is a tradition that th e god Dionysus once inti

'
P a a ni a v ii xix
us s, . .

'
2 Sa m . xxi . 6 -
9 .
7 2 MA G I C AN D HUSBAN DRY

mated to the E donia ns that fertility would be restored to

thei r lan ds i f they put thei r king Lycurgus to death and ,

that they had him torn to pieces by horses It is recorded in .

the ea rly history of Sweden that King Dom a lde was sac
ri ced to Odin and the altars smea red with h is blood to ,

put an end to a famine Every tree a nd every lea f of the

.

grove nea r the temple of Odin at ancient Upsal were held

sacred and this grove was lled with the bodies of men
,

who had been o ffered up to Odin for a fru it ful season

and the good o f the h arvest The formula used by th e .

priests was so m etimes I devote thee for a good ha rvest

, ,
7
for the return o f the fruitful season .

The Dyaks hunt for human heads which a re supposed ,

to bri ng them prosperity They make the paddy grow .

and the land productive and cause the forests to abound

with g ame They are consi dered eve n
,

. more fertili zing

than water with which gold has been washed which i s ,

th e g i ft o f the Raj a or water which has been pou red over

,

the sacred stones 8

The Kayans and the Kenyas o f
.

Borneo a fter success ful head hunting rai ds set up fou r

,
-
,

posts on the bank of the river ca rved at the top to repre ,

sent a ma ns head to which are tied fragments of the

,

enem y a rib or an a rm or leg bone as o fferings to drive

, , ,

away evi l spi rits The heads are hung up i n thei r houses
.

to bring them blessings and plenti ful crops They keep .

off sickness and pains It is believed to be a good and

.

b enecent custom bequeathed them by thei r fathers 9

.

I t is told by a people of eastern Africa to account fo r ,

thei r sacrice of thei r rstborn sons that once upon a tim e ,

the seasons were h a d thei r crops had fail ed and the f ru its
,

would not ripen and at that time a pi lla r o f i ron stood at

,

Nort h n A nt i q u i ti es, " 3

er
"
.

H i story o f M a nk i nd F R a t ze l ii

,
.
, . :43 .

H ome Li fe of Bo rneo H ea d H u nte rs

-
, W H . . F u rness, n
I . P 59
74 MAGI C A N D HU S BAN DRY

Sa ) . The sun storms cate rpi lla rs a nd destru ctive

, , ,

i nsects w ere hi s serv ants T he y were commissioned by .

him to g o out a nd ea t u p or des troy the pla ntations o f

those who o f fended him To p a ci fy hi s w rath a nd secu re
.

his fa vo r dri nk o fferin gs of a va w ere poured ou t to h im

,

.

Before beginnin g the e v enin g meal a little a v a was poured
on the g round a nd the act accompa ni ed w i th su pp lica tion
t hat the plan ta tio n mi ght be productiv e
13
.

I nI ro q uois le gend the spi rits of corn b ea ns a nd sq u ash , ,

a re represented as three sisters very b eauti ful females , ,

w ho were v ery fond o f each oth er and delighted to dwell

to gether A fter the la st ti ll ing o f th e corneld th e
.

p riest o f the Cheroke e a nd a n assista nt w ent to the

cent er of the eld and bui lt a small enclosure which they ,

entered seating themsel v es upon the g ro und a n

, d bending
down thei r heads the assistant keepin g perfect si lence
,

w hile the pries t with rattle in hand sang songs of invoca

, ,

tionto the spi rit of the corn The ceremony was rep eated .

on four success i ve n i g hts w hich were followed by seven

,

nights during which no one entered the eld both four and ,

seven being sacred numbers with them and then i f these , ,

re gulations had been properly observed th e priest entered ,

the eld alone and found young ears upon the sta lks .

According to thei r legend i f melons or squashes w ere ,

counted or exam in ed too closely whi le sti ll g rowin g on the

vi ne they ceased to thrive One must not step over .

the v ine or it would wither before th e fruit rip ened .

One who had eaten a May apple must not come near th e
-

vi nes under any ci rcumstances as this pla nt wi thers and ,

dries up very qu ickl y a nd its presence w ould make the

,

melons wither also .

G eo rgeT n pp 8 n 6u r er, . :0 , .

M y th s of the Ch k J a m M n y 42 3 42 4
e ro ee ,

es oo e , , ,
in N ni
eteen!

A nn a l R p
u e o rt o f th B a f A m i a n Eth n l gy
e u re u o er c o o .
 M A K I N G PROD UC T I VE 75

I t is the duty o f a pri est called the L a leen, amon g the

A lfoo rs o f Cele b es , to make th e rice g ro w His functions .

be g in abou t a month be fore th e sowi n g b e g ins a nd con

tin ne unti l a fter the ha rvest Durin g thi s time the .

La le ca must not eat or dri nk with anyone e l se or out o f

an other s dish T he reason fo r this pro h ibition seem s

.

to be founded on the beli ef th at i f he should eat with

another some part o f the food associ ated with him mi ght
be used in magi c by evi lly disposed persons to injure him
and throu g h him to ruin the crop Neither mu st the .

L a leen hav e his hai r cut during this period for some ,

m a g ici a n might w or k ev i l to him a nd the ha rv es t with

the clippings .

M r M a rtin in d escribing his ea rly vo ya ge to the West

.
,

ern Islands o f S cotland speaks of an invari able custom ,

of pouring cow s milk on a li ttle h i ll or bi g stone where

the spi rit call ed B rownie lodged to which they g ave ,

the shape of a tall man wi th long brown hai r He says .

there was scarcely a small vi lla ge where th is practice was

not observed I t ha d always been done by thei r ancestors
. ,

an d apparently w i thout any other reason they continued

to do it believin g it w as a means of securing good luck to
,

them and bri ngin g prosperi ty 1 6

It seems not improbable .

that the custom may have ori gi nated i n ancestral o fferi ngs .

T hat the w a nes shades o r spi rits of the dead con

, ,

t inu ed to have power and i nu ence i n th e a f fai rs of the

living is a belie f that h as extensively prevai led I f they .

were propiti ated and k indly disposed they gave assistance :

i f neglected they worked injury In a Hessi an folk tale
, .
-

one Ku rt a farmer would not quit the fa rm though dead

, , , ,

but continued to lend a hand i n the eldwork Like a .

good spi rit he assisted in the work i n the barn and th rew
T he G ldo e n B gh i 3 8
ou ,

. r .

"
P i nk e rto ns

V ya g
o iii
es,

.
7 6 MAGI C AN D HU S BAN DRY

the sheaves from the loft To s ecure the fa v orable .

in fluence of the ancestral shades they demand a remem

brance in the festivals of the season and a share of the ,

p roducts must be set asi de for them Thei r restin g .

places a re supplied with corn bread and meat Amon g , ,

.

th e Polynesi ans the departed ancestors presi ded over the

growth of yams and fru it trees and received prayers and ,

of ferings in retu rn The benevolent spi rits of the Z ulus

.

brought health cattle and corn but in thei r anger the y

, , ,

w rought destruction and slew thei r wa rriors , .

In a v ery ancient belief of th e E gypti ans the dead made

th ei r way to a region called Se khet Aa ru where th ey -
,

enjoyed li fe very much as they did while livin g Pictu res .

of thi s realm are painted on co ffins o f t he eleventh dynasty

( 9
2 0 2 2 8 -
5 2 There they must be supplied with
food and dri nk as in li fe To provi de for thei r su sten
.

a nce without toil recou rse was had to magical prepara

,

tions and rites A stone image o f the deceased a fter

.
,

havi ng been duly consecrated by the priests and em pow

ered by pro per formulas to do whatever was requi red of
i t was buri e d with him The image was provi ded with
, .

representations o f implements fo r plowing and thr ashing ,

and even for ca rrying the p roduce S ometimes by hiero .

glyph i c i nscriptions upon them the images were instructed

to assume the responsibility o f sowing the elds llin g ,

the water courses a n d bringing the sands for ferti li zing

, .

The use o f th ese images in bu ri al continued down to the

Roman period the g rave o f S eti I about 1 37 0 B C
, .
, . .
,

containing no less than seven hundred such gures " .

One of the m axims of the E gypti an scribe An i declares

th at when there is ru in in the eld wh ich has been sown ,

the spi rits of the dead ancestors must be i nvo ked to a ssist
and protect th em or they would cry out a g ainst the mali g
a n. E gyp ti a n M a g i "
E A B dg
c, . . \Va lla ce u e, 73
 MAKIN G PR O D U C T I VE 77

nant in fluence of th e evi l spi rits and endeavor to propiti ate

them . A fter the death of S aul Davi d took the bones ,

of Saul and J onathan from the men of Jabesh g i lead -

,

and they g athered up the bones o f them that were

han g ed all th e rites were performed which the kin g
,

commanded and a fter that God was entreated for the

,
1 9
land .

We ha v e a lready referred to o fferin gs made to the soul

or spi ri t o f the paddy before be g innin g the sowin g in
Java I t is a commonbelief that if the soul or spi rit of
.

the plant is taken away or destroyed the plant will die .

The Dyaks o f Borneo assi g n a soul to the paddy and ,

hold a feast to retain it securely les t the crop decay The .

Ka rens say that plants have thei r La and they call ,

back the spi rit of sickly rice believin g that it has l eft th e ,

plant and th at th is is the cause of its lack o f thri ft and

vitality T hey have formulas for replacin g it One of
. .

them in pa rt says :
, 0 come rice kelah come
, Com e , , .

to the eld Come to the rice . Come from the

west C ome from t he east From the throa t of the bi rd
.
-
.
,

from the maw of the ape from the throat of the elephant ,

from all g ranaries c ome 0 rice kelah come to .

,
2
the rice .

I n Russi an myths the Rusalkas have much to do with

the ha rvest The p easants o f Wh ite Russi a say they
.

dwell among th e standing corn and they are expelled by .

p roper ceremonies which are obse rved in some pa rts of the

count ry These female water nymphs can ruin the crop
.

at thei r pleasure by brin g in g on winds and oods The .

rite for th ei r expulsion takes place a fter the Whitsuntide

festival In Little R u ssi a the ci rcles of dark and rich er
.

O l d t B k f th W l d I aa My gs ; P i m i tiv C i vi liza
es oo s o e or ,

s c er, a r e

ti n i 44

o s, . : .

"
2 Sam . xxi . :2 -
1 4.

P rim i ti v e Cu lt u re,
"
i .
47 5 .
7 s MA G I C AN D HUSBAND R Y

g rass whi ch a re found in the elds are thou gh t to g row

in the places where these nym phs dance beneat h the
moon 21
.

T he Robi g alia was one o f the older R om a n a gricu l

tural festivals It was celebrated April a sth The
. .

month was regarded as a critical one for the youn g corn

which was committed to the p rotection of the gods .

R obigo from which the festival takes its name m eans

, ,

red rust or mildew When the ea r is be g innin g to be .

formed it attacks cereals Robi gus was the spi ri t work .

in g in the m ildew which propiti ated wi th the o fferi n gs

, ,

and ceremonies was invoked to spa re the g rowi n g corn

,
.

Ovid retu rni n g from N o m entu m witnessed the ri te per

formed i n the grove specially dedicated to Robi gus on the
Via Claudia He tells us that h e joi ned the procession
.
,

which was clothed in white The amen carried in his .

hands a towel and franki ncense and a bowl of wine The .

win e and frankincense were placed upon the alta r o f the

temple A do g and a sheep had been killed at Rome in
.

the morning and thei r vitals were carried as an o fferin g

to the god As an old English poet r ende rs Ovid s
.

lines :

A a m en nto i R u st s old
'
g ro v did hi
e e,

The e nt r ail s of a dog a nd s h pt fi

ee o r e.

The reason assi gned by the priest according to the Latin ,

po et fo r the s a c ric e o f t he dog was that the dan g erous

,

Dog sta r was i n t he ascend a nt It was not true fo r

-
.
,

Si rius did not rise b u t disappea red Apri l 2 5th , The , .

real m eanin g o f the choic e o f victi m says Professo r ,

Fowler 22
was unkno wn both to pri est and poet ; but
,

modern resea rch ha s m a d e a r easonable atte mpt to

S ng f th R i a n P pl
o s o e
43 u ss eo e,
"
: .

R m a n F ti va l 9
o es s,

0.
 MA K IN G PRODU CTIVE 79

re cover it I t w as a p i ece o f sym path etic m a g ic to per

fect the corn R ed hai red puppies w er e sacriced or
- .
,

ta w ny colored and the color may have had reference to

-
,

th e red mi ldew as M annhardt explains i t or as Frazer

, ,

thin ks the o fferi n gs w ere for the purpose of makin g the

23
,

corn g ro w ripe and ruddy The sacri ce w as a ecom .

p a nied by a prayer of the a m en w hich the R oman poet

vers ies

C d i ng R b i g d th p a r th b l a d f th co n nd l t th mooth
orro o o, o ou s e e e o e r , a e e s

t p q iv
o n th
u fa f th g nd
er o e su r ce o e rou .

S p a I p a y th
re, rnd k p thy g h h a
ee ,nd f math c p ; inj e ee rou s ro e ro s ur

nt o ld ;ou r e s

M o ret b n t w il t th
o ou r e d th w d nd th h t f l w a p n ;
e ou co rro e e s or s a e ur u e o s

th m w w a n
e t n t ; th w
e ld i t p a o e or s a e ce,

Let th h b a nd m a n b
e us v na b l d t p ay h i v w t th k ping
e e er e e o s o s o ee, ee

thy l f se

Poeti c tradition ascribes to Ceres goddess of corn the , ,

rst pleasu re in the blood of an animal When she found .

that in the early spri n g the corn swelli n g wi th i ts mi lky

ju ice was rooted up by the snout o f the bristly swine from ,

that day she insisted upon thei r paying the penalty o f

thei r trans g ression So the goat w as condemned to be .

sacri ced and his blood sprinkl ed on th e horns of th e wine

,

god as a penalty for lacerating the vi ne with his teeth

,
.

In a work written in I 57 0 St Edith i s re g a rded as the , .

representative of the Roman Robi gus and it is sai d that ,

the image of St Edith at Ka m s ing prevented blasting .

,

m ildew and other inju ries to the corn The husbandman

, .

who wished to save his crops from evi l i nuences took a

q uantity o f corn to the priest who a fter putting by som e , ,

of it for h is own use sprinkl ed a hand ful o f the g ra in with ,

holy water repeated a fe w words o f conju ration and
, ,

d edicated i t to St Edith He then g ave it back to the . .

T h G l d n B gh
e i i 2 55
o e ou

, . .

T an H T Ril y i v
r s. . . e , .
80 M AGI C AN D H U SBAND RY

farmer who used i t wi th his seed A story is told of S t . .

A ilbhe that he once expostu lated with the bi rds in the

,

neighborhood wh ich w ere destroying the corn and h is ,

o rato ry made such an impression upon them that forth

with penitent and ashamed they ew away A simila r
, , .

story is related of a Saint of Brittany S t Pol de Le on , . .

The elds of the monastery i n which he was a stu dent

were ravaged by bi rds and the whole crop was i n danger
of b eing destroyed S t Pol summoned the culprits be fore
. .

t he principal of the monastery St H ydu ltu s who g ave , .

,

them reproo f and admonition and dismissed them wi th a ,

benediction but the grateful bi rds never touched the corn

,

o f the monastery agai n 25

.

The sacrice of the Robigali a is su ggested in a custom

of the cacao planters among the M ayas who assembl ed ,

upon the plantation of one o f thei r number annually i n

a particular month and sacriced a do g which had a S pot
on it o fthe color o fthe cacao which was believed to have
26
,

a favorable e ffect upon the crop Each of those who o i .

cia t e d bor e away with him a branch of the cacao plant - .

Here the s election o f a dog havin g a spot colored like the

p la nt is proo f of the magical cha racter o f the ri te The .

deiti es pl eased with th e attention and o fferin g would be

, ,

const ra ined to take care that the color with which th e

sacrice was ma rked was repeated i n the ha rvest Pray .

ers were o ffered and incense burned at the fou r corners o f

the eld b e fore the work of w eedin g was be gun .

In the Book o f Rites of the Ch inese i t is said the

ancients prayed to Shan g Ti for grain and presented an ,

o ffering o f a b u llock without bl emish which had been ,

st a ll fed for th ree months before the day of sacrice

- A .

'5
C re d l iti
u P a t nd P
es , s a rese nt. "
32 4i 32 7 '

ft n Na i v R a
"
B a ncro

ii 6 9 2
'
t e ces ,

f C a th ay W A Ma i n".

Lo re o ,
. . Po 1 63
82 MAGI C AN D HUSBAND RY

M r Wi lli am Cro ok e relates a method of perfect in g the

.

cotton by a species of imitative ma g ic in Indi a Wh en .

the cotton comes into ower parched rice is taken into the
eld on a Wednesday or a Friday S ome of it i s thrown .

over the plants and the rest given to ch ildren The cere .

mony is supposed to cause th e bolls o f cotton to sw ell as

th e rice has by the pa rchi n g A kindred custom in Karn al .

is for the women when the pods are open and ready for
,

pickin g to go round the eld eating rice milk and spi t the
,
-
,

rst mouth ful on the eld toward the west 30

S ometimes .

a little patch is le ft untilled in the corner of the eld for

the eld S pi ri t as a refu ge T ree S pi rits exercise a power .

fu l i nuence over th e p roducts o f the elds The Roman .

shepherd who pluck ed the leaves of a tree i n the sacred

g rove for his sick ewe ac knowled g ed his trespass on the
guardian S pi ri t of th e g rove However the displeasure .
,

of a spi rit observes Professor Gran ger
, is obviously ,

o f later growth than the belie f that the tree was th e seat

o f di rect inuence upon the lives of the people who live d

3
in its neighborhood Ne g roes of the Gold Coast sac
.

ri ce at the foot of tall trees and they th ink i f one of th ese ,

trees were fell ed all th e fru its o f the ea rth would peri sh
, .

Certain trees in Sweden are not allowed to be cu t down

for fear of anger of the S pi rit dwellin g in them Idola .

trous Israelites bu rned incense under oa k s and popla rs

and elms because the S hadow thereof was good 32
Grov e .

deities among the Mund aris were held responsible for the
crops and were especially honored at agricultu ral festivals .

In the Mund ari villages eve ryone contributes a fowl ,

a pitcher o f b eer and a hand fu l of rue to the o fferin g s

,

made by t he priest in the sacred grove A S already stated .

,

R l i gi
e o n a nd F o lk L -
o re of Nort h n I nd i a ,
er

38 3
\Vo rs h ip of t he R m an o s,

22 3
H a iv
ose , . :3 .
 MA K IN G P RODU CTIVE 83

th e M undas sacri ced at t h e so w in g o f the rice Ag ain .

in June the loca l gods are p ropi tiated that they may g ive
thei r blessi ng to the crop A g ai n i n July each cultivator
.

sacrices a fowl w i th myst erious rites H e strips o ff a .

win g and i nsertin g i t in a cleft of bamboo he stick s i t

, ,

in the rice eld to act as a charm and stimulate the g rain

to matu rity 33
Sim ilarly th e Swedi sh peasant sticks a
.

branch in each furrow of h is corneld to encoura g e an

abundant yield at the ha rvest Among the Kols of Chota.

N ag pu r a special dance is held in which the women kneel

and pat the ground w ith thei r hands in tune to music to
stimulate the ea rth to be fertile .

Pli ny speaks of a certa in herb w hich buried at th e four ,

corne rs of a eld drives away starlin g s and sparrows

, He .

is sure of the fact but unable to name th e plant The same

,
.

credulous author r ecords however that corn w as seen

, ,

g ro w ing

o n the trees in the yea r in which Hannibal w as

vanquished and that mildew wi ll pass i nto branches o f
,

lau rel placed in t he g round and the crops be spa red both ,

o f w h ich credulities are evi dently phases of belie f i n the

pow er of tree sp i rits The same author says the ravages
.

of mice in the crops may be prevented i f the ashes o f a

w easel or cat are steeped in water and the water is th rown
on the se e d ; or the water in which a cat has been boiled
wi ll answer the pu rpose He refers to a letter from
.

A rch ib iu s to Kin g Antiochus as authority for a method

of preventing inju ry to the corn by bu ryin g a bramble bu g
i n a new earthen vessel in the middle o f the co rneld

The skull o f a beast o f burden the male only set up i n , ,

the g a rden p rotect ed from caterpi llars wh ich seemed to

, ,

have been a grievous thin g for the ancient Romans i f we

may j udge from the numer ous remedies to ci rcumvent thei r
work which have been prese rved Instead o f the s kull of .

R li gi n nd F l k L
e o a o f N t h n I nd i a
- ore o 37 3
or er

,
84 M AGI C AN D HU S BAN DRY

t he male beast a river crab hun g up in the m iddle of the,

ga rden had a S imila r e ffect or i f th e plants were touched ,

with slips o f blood red cornel A Syrian way o f driv - .

ing out caterpillars from a g arden is an application of the

princip le o f sympathetic magi c A S i ngle caterpillar is .

taken by one o f the gi rls who gather in the ga rden

prod u cts Th e insect is then bewailed and bu ried
. .

Another of the gi rls is desi g nated to be th e mother o f the

insect and is conducted to the place where the other i nsects
,

a re amidst great lamentation for her bereavem en t The .

other insects will then disappea r .

A cha rm a g ainst the nger worm prese rv ed inTeutonic

myths says : ,

God th e F a th
a l d d i d i de er e r ,

S t t ly th h h pli d
ou e oe e e ,

S t bb d p th w m t i gh t
u e u e or s ou r ,

On w e b l a k a n th w h it
as c , o er e,

Th th i d w m it w
e r d; or ,
a s re

H li th w m a ll d a d
ere e e or s e .

A piece of wood from a co i n that had been du g up

from the grave i f conc ealed amon g the cabba g es kept , ,

3
away from th em cate rpillars .

It will be remembered that the Phi listines made as

many golden images o f mice as there were lords of the
lands wh ich the mice marred and sent them out of the ,

land in a new ca rt drawn by two mi lk cows and so ban ,

ish ed the plague The Chams o f Indo-China sacri ce .

36

to the god rat when excessive numbers o f verm in in fest

-

thei r elds I n G reece and Rom e the S kull of the ass

.
,

wh ich was sac red to P riapus was placed in g ardens and ,

orchards to protect the elds from thieves A ch a rm

, .

Nat a l H i t y x v iii 45 46 7 ; x i v 58
ur s or ,

.
, , o . .

G i m m 48 7 84
r , I2 , I .

S m iv
"
I a8 . . I .

D G B i nt n in J n l f A m i n F lk L
. . r iii
o ou r a o er ca o -
ore, . 2 0.
 MAKIN G PR O DU CT IVE 35

prese rved by Si r Thomas Browne against dodder tetter , ,

and strangli ng weeds consist ed in placing a chalked tile

at the four corners and one in the middl eof the eld .

The Israelites set up a serpent of gold upon a pole to

'

stay the plagu e o f serpents that overrun the land and 38

,

in West A frica the serpent is sti ll used as an amulet to

protect the cro pS 39
.

Wonderful ma g ical power was a scribed to a horse s
head xed upon a stake by the Norsemen and the Teu ,

tons They wer e th rown in the ames i n th e res on mid

.

summer eve The sacri ci al use of the horse goes back

.

to ve ry ancient tim es The Persi ans sacriced i t to .

M ith ra s the g iver o f light and heat the Greeks to the

, ,

sun which they thought swi ftest of all the gods

,
0
M ag .

ya r S hepherds and gypsies set th em up in barren elds to

counteract the effect of witches Traces of the use o f the .

horse in ea rlier times i n magic and religion su rvive in fes

t iva ls o f Chri stmas and o ther days In a Christmas cere .

mony in Wal es th e skull o f a horse dressed up i n ribbons

was carried round on a pole by a man concealed under a
whi te cloth S imi lar ceremonies took place on Christmas
.

Eve in the Isle of Thanet and in Kent On the I st , .

of May in Cornwall the gur e of a horse was carried

, ,

th rou gh the streets by m en w omen and children to a pool , ,

o f water whe re its h e ad was ducked under and the water

,

sprinkled on the bystande rs \Vha t was once believed for .

th e wel fa re o f land and people lives in sports and

pastimes and the m er rymaking o f holidays

, .

Natu re was thought no t to be insensibl e to the imita

t ion of her process es so that fertility mi g ht in that way
be su ggest ed or imparted to the elds The Prince o f .

Nu mbers m i 9 . .

'
Elw o rthy

s

E v il Eye,

H d t i 6 ; P a a ni a iii
ero o u s, . 2 1 us s, . 20 .

Dy B i ti h P p l a C t m

er s r s o u r us o s,

47 2 , 48 6 .
86 M AG I C AN D HUSBAN DRY

Neuwied sa w amon g the M inna ta rees o f North A merica

, ,

a tall strong woman pretend to bring u p from her stomach

,

a s ta lk of mai ze and so make sure o f a good crop for the

,

y ea r By imitative m easu res plants and trees could be

.
,

inuenced to bea r fruit in due season and in abundance .

Mexicans held a festival when the mai ze was fully g rown

and the ear formed and the women wore thei r lon g h a i r ,

unbound and shaking as they danced that the tassel of th e ,

mai ze might gro w in like profusion Malays when .

,

searching for camphor ea t their salt coarse lest i f it is ,

pounded ne the camphor will be found also in ne

g rains 2
.

The dan ger from sorcery was ever present and the crop ,

m ight be conju red from one eld to another The ch ar g e .

was made aga inst Caius F u riu s Cres inu s that he raised
lar ger crops from a small e r eld than his nei g hbo rs could
produce from la rger holdi ngs o f land He was brought .

b efore the magistrate upon a charge of conj uring the

produce o f his neighbors elds into his own The de
.

fendant however was able to convince the court that

, ,

h i s greater success was the result of greater e ffort and

sup erior skill and the case against him was diSm issed
,
3
.

Less fort una te was the trial o f Patrick Lowrie in I 6 0 5 , ,

in S cotland He was convict ed of abstracting fo r ten

.

successiv e years the substance and ss io u ne from the

corn in Bessi e Sawer s eld A crop more than usually
.

good also foreboded evi l in Scotland from the belie f th at ,

it was a fey crop and betokened the death of the
-
,

goodman .

But it was asserted that i f a woman by usin g a ch a rm

caus ed the incre a s e o f anoth er s cows to come to hers the
,
as
M a l ay M a g i

x5 c,

2 .

D m n l gy nd \Vit h f \V a l t S tt 8 n t
e o o o a c cra t,

er co ,
2 , o e .

Th Da k e S p ti i n
r erfS l a nd J h n G a h a m D ly ll 6
u e rs t o s o cot ,

o r a e , 2 0.

An E h f th O l d n T i m \V a l t G g

c o o e 33 e e, er re o r, I .
 MAKING PRO DUCTIVE 87

ch a rmed milk yi elded but little butter T h e cu rd s were .

tou gher ; the butter was lighter in wei gh t and paler i n

color To protect from this injustice amulets o f the roo t
.
,

of grounds el were resorted to in Scotland and put in ,

the cream I f the mi lk dishes were wash ed i n a strea m

.

where th e re were tro u t the substance o f the crea m mi ght ,

be ta ken away by t he sh from the cows This could be .

tested by pouring mi lk i nto the mouth of a liv e trout ,

wh ich would at once cu rdle i f it was part of the increase

so tak en away by the a for esai d trout .

Witches we re active on the eves of M idsummer Day

and St George s Day Th en they wer e wont to go out
.

.

and cut chips from doo rs and g ates o f the fa rmyard and
boi l them in a mi lk p a i l and in that way charm the mi lk ,

from that fa rm Thei r pl a ns migh t be frustrated how

.
,

ev er by care fully smearing the newly chipped places with

,

"
mud .

Bou rke g ives a Lapland custo m o f the farme rs w i v e s

8

to ci rcumvent the witches and make the butter come i n

spite of them They pour fresh cow s milk up o n human
.

ordure or into the privy Th is renders th e wi tches

, .

powerl ess When the cows were bewitched and the quan
.

ti ty of butt e r was deci ent S imi lar practices were some ,

times resorted to by the G e rmans Human ordure was .

appli ed to the teats of the co ws Like c u stoms were re .

p o rted o f the Af ricans by Si r Samuel Baker A red hot .

-

poker is pl u nged into the contents o f the churn in Pennsyl

vania wh ich b reaks the sp ell An old woman s charm to
,
.

make butter come sai d to have been t a u ght by a learned ,

churchman in Qu een Mari e s days when the churchmen

,

had more cunning and could teach people many a trick ,

a

P i nk t er o ns

V yag
o es ,
"
i ii .

Ra l t n s o
'
s S o ng s o f t he R i u ss a ns,

Sca t a lo g ic Ri tes ,
"
8 4, 39 6 .
88 MAG I C AN D HU S BANDRY

that ou r mi nist ers nowadays know not , wa s to repeat
th re e times the followin g :
C om e b tt
u e r, come,

Com e, b tt
u e r, com e,

Pt e er s ta nd s at the a
g te,
W a i ti ng fo r a b u tter d

c a ke .

Cm bo e, u tte r, co me .

Mr R hys reports a custom o f th e Celts of bu rnin g th re e

.

0
puppies in a eld to ri d it of weeds which suggests a ,

possibl e connection wi th the old Roman Robigalia .

Youn g men and mai ds in the north o f England used

to wa lk in the co rnelds on Palm Sunday a ft e r receivi ng ,

th e sacrament and bless the co m a mani festation o f
, ,

fai th in the power of sugg estion to natu re by symbol or ,

emotion akin to that implied i n the crude sayin g that

,

peppers wi ll grow better if planted by a red headed man -

or a high tempered person A story told by a ne g ro of

- .

So uth ern Kentucky is given by a w ri ter in the Jou rna l of

A m erica n F o lk L o ra ! 2
My old woman and m e says - 5
,

he had a spat and I went right out and planted my pep

,

pers and they come right up .

In Herrick s pretty lines Pray and Prosper is , ,

voiced the seventeenth cen tu ry fai th in reli gious ceremoni al

in promotin g agricultural pros perity :

F i t rs o er ad in ce nse , h
t en thy ld
e a nd m e s

m il S h a ll
nd m b s th y b a de a s e ll th e e tt by
er e s .

Th p a ng li ng d w d gg d
e s th g a h a ll be e re e o er

e r ss s

T n d a ll t m l nd m a nna th f th
ur e o e a e re or ee .

B tt f a m b u a m nd wi n nd il
er o e r, cre , a e, a o ,

S h a ll n i v a ll th g h t thy il
ru as r e rs rou ou so .

\V ld t th t in
ou i l v t n thy m l d

s ou o s ce re s er ur ou ,

P ay n ; tw i p ay nd t n thy g nd t g l d
r o ce ce r , a ur rou o o .

B and Anti q i t i 7 5
r

s u es ,

0 .

F lk L

o W l h nd M a nx i 3 7
- o re , e s a ,

. 0 .

u
B i t i h P p l a C wm f " 7
r s o u r us
'

Vo l . xiv 33 . .
9 0 MAGI C AN D HUSBAN DRY

John s Day the Lettish peasant industriously devoted hi s

leisu re hou rs to swinging fo r the higher he went the,

taller the ax grew S imilar customs were not un known

.

to the Athen ians nor a re they in modern Greece an d

,

Italy Be fore sunrise clad in h is shi rt the Esthon ian

.
, ,

peasant goes into his garden and swi ngs his scythe over
h is cabbages when they curl up thei r leaves and wi ll not
prop e rly head By swi ngin g evil inuences were expelled
.
, ,

diseases were driven away and the ai r was pu rged a fter

,

hangin g or a suici de M r Fra zer sug gests that swin g

. .

ing may have been ori g inally a charm intended to kin

dle and S peed a fresh on its heavenly road the g oldens w in g
in the
T h G l d n B gh ii 452
"
e o e ou , . .
 C HA PTE R V I
M AK I N G T HE W EAT HE R
S il pl
'
eu t j d Sa i nt M ed a d
le ou r e r

I l pleu t q a an
u t r j e pl ta d ;
ou rs us r

S i l pl

eu t l j
e d S a i nt G v a i
ou r e er s ct de Sa int P rot a is

I l pl t q a an j ap
eu u tr e ou rs res.

IN the litera tu re of weather lore one nds th a t the

power o f controllin g the elements is attributed to deities
or devi ls as the case may be and the honors a re about
, ,

equally divi ded between them In climates wher e wet .

seasons prevai l and destructive storms are frequent among ,

people constantly anticipating supernatu ral interference i n

all the concerns o f li fe it could hardly be otherw ise than
,

that they would reco gni ze di abolical a gencies as responsi

ble for them and on the contra ry in parched and desert
, ,

lands where ra in seldom falls and is always welcome ,

the hand o f some benevolent power could easily be con

ceived as Showerin g blessings upon them i n recognition o f

fai th ful servi ce or in answer to thei r petitions

, .

Ou r m orn a nd e e v ni ng dew
T hea a m nts cr e

Th a t m a k h a ll th i ng
et s new
F m h av n i
ro e e s sent;

A nd th i th n in va in
e r, e er
'

\V l k f
e aidoo or ,

To nd h p n a l a i n
t e u ctu r

Or su n or

In one o f the oldest dramas of the G reeks the Furie s

'
J h n B T a bb
o . .

9 !
9 2 M AG I C AN D HU S BAN D R Y

a re represented as ta k in g thei r reven g e by destroyin g the

crops by distillin g the pestilential drop :

Wh
ere er it fa ll n f i t a nd
s, or ru rou ,

Nor lea f s h a ll g a th b l a t d g
r ce e s e rou nd .

M arcus Anton inus has preserved a prayer o f the

Atheni ans for ra in :

R a i n a in 0 d a
, r , e r Zeu s, down on the p l ow ed e l d s of the Ath ni a n
e s

a nd n th pl a in
o e s.

T hat prayers to the deities availed to prevent or ca use

ra ins and sunsh ine has been the fa ith of the civi li zed and
,

the uncivili zed S ometimes the prayers were accompanied

.

with o fferin gs and sacri ces and frequently ma g i cal rites ,

have been perform ed in connection with them .

A petition of the Esthonians used i n the seventeenth

centu ry as g iven by G rimm reads : Dea r T hunder we
, , ,

o ffer to thee an ox that hath two horns and four cloven

hoofs we would pray thee for our plowin g and s owing
, ,

that ou r straw be copper red ou r g rain be golden yellow -

,
.

Push el sewhither all the thick black clouds over g reat fens , ,

hi g h forests and wildernesses But u nto us plowers and .

so we rs g ive a fruitful season and sweet rai n Holy Thun .

der guard our seedeld that i t bea r good stra w below ,

8
good ea rs above and g ood g rain within , .

S amoans thought the rain god S aato controlled the , ,

supply of moistu re from the clouds O fferin gs of cooked .

taro and sh were made to his parents Fon go and To a fa , ,

who were represented by two oblon g smooth stones upo n , ,

which the o fferings were placed These were accompanie d .

with prayers for ne weather without rain He who t e .

T a n f G g L ng v 7

r s . o eo r e o , . .

T t ni My th l gy 7 6
eu o c o o ,
"
I .
94 MAG I C AND HU S BAN DRY

wise in all you r eminent troubles and dangers say to you r ,

5
selves L ou rghd L ou rghd help me
, , , .

A n English pastoral by John Gay describes Cloddipo le ,

the wisest lout of all the nei ghboring plain from whom ,

t hey lea rned to read the skies ,

To k n w w h n h a il w ill fa ll w i nd a i
o e or s r se .

H ta ght t th h i f ta i l t vi w
e u u s e rs e e er s o e ,

W h n t k a l f t th a t h w w l d t a i g h t n
e s uc o , s o e rs ou s r e su e ;

H t th a t
e rs f l t did
u se uxpl a i n secre e ,

Th at p i k i ng n f t l d th g a th i ng a i n;
rc co r s o re o e er r

Wh n w a ll w t a h i gh nd a t in i
e s o s ee so r a o a r,

H t ld th a t th w l k i n w ld b l a
e o us e e ou e c e r .

T he hedgehog was at one time generally credited wi th

being a good na tu ral weather prophet This i s alluded to .

inmany old writings in both verse and prose .

Th e hedgehogge h a th a q i k th n d g a m nt u e e or e r e ,

Th a t n h i b a k d t h
o s h im f d f n ;
c e o se ru e or e e ce

H e ca n p a g t h wi nd i n nt i n nt
res e e s co e ,

A nd h a th g d k n w l d g in th di f
oo f n o e e e e re ce

B tw n th
e ee th n nd th n h n w i nd
e s ou er e a e ort er e .

Th v i t
ese ll t d h im by k i nd
r u es a re a ot e ,

Wh n in C n t nti n pl th t g a t i ty
e reo o s a o e, a re c ,

A m h a nt in h i g a d n g a n n i hm nt ;
e rc s r e ue o e ou r s e

By w h i h h k n w th a t wi nd t
c e t a i nty
e s ru e ce r ,

B a th h d g h g g a h im j t p a g m nt
ec u se e e e

o ue us res e e .

In the Garden of the Muses , written in 1 6 00 , a re
simi lar lines :
As h dg h g
e e o s doo f o resee e ns u inge s torm es,

So wi m n
se e a re fo r fortu ne p pa d
re re .

Poor Richa rd s Almanac in the eighteenth centu ry

, ,

says of the anima l as a weathe r predictor :

q
'
B and
r ,

Na t l Hi t y L nd L g nd F E dw a d H l m ti n f
u ra s or o re a
g m e e ,
. r u e, uo ro

Lov es M a ty

r r.

 MAKING TH E WEATH E R 95

If by m so e h dg h g kn w
secret a rt th e e e o o ,

So l ng b f
o w h i h w a y th w i nd wi ll b l
e ore, c e s w,
o

Sh h e n t w h i h m a ny a p
as a ar nla k
c e rso c s,

Th a t th i nk h i m l f t t m a k a l ma na k
s se o e c s.

T he halcyon or kin g sher was also from ear l y times

, ,

believed to know much about the impendin g winds and

sto rms and to be able to make i t known by its actions
, ,

dead or alive for a dead kingsher was supposed

, ,

i f suspended from the roo f to alwa ys tu rn its breast ,

i n the di rection from which the wind blows Old .

w riters without questionin g have made the assertion ,

and appa rently have copied one from anoth er S hake .

speare speaks i n King Lea r of the halcyon bea ks

that tu rn with every g ale ; and I nto what co rner

pee rs my halcyon s bill ? says Christopher Ma rlowe

.

Si r Thomas B rowne whi le concedin g that sundry ani ,

mals have a kind of na tu ra ll meteorolo gy or in

,

nate pra esent io n bothe o f winde and weather and as ,

serting that the hedgehog s pra esent iono f winds is such

that i t stops the no rth e rn and southern hole o f its nest

accordin g to its prenotion o f the winds ensuin g yet ,

took upon h imsel f to test by actual experiments the value

of the dead kingsher as a weathervane and rejects the ,

theory enti rely It was an old G reek fable that seven

.

days be fo re the shortest day in the year and seven days

a fter whil e the halcyon was breedin g there always
, ,

prevai led calms at sea and for many centuries it was a c

7
,

cept ed as a fa ct that w hil e young king s h e rs were hatch

ing a calm fell upon all things fo r fourtee n days .

Wh il b i d
e r s of c alm s it b rood i ng o nt he c ha rm e d w av e,

wrote Mi lton in t he beauti ful Hymn on the Nativi ty .

Simi la r re fe rences a re found in th e writi n gs of Drayton

Th E a g l N t T h S t v f th H a l y n by J h n R k i n
' '
S ee e e s es ,
e or o e c o , o us .
9 6 M AG I C AND H U S BAN D R Y

and Dryden I n The S on g of Lycidas by Theocritu s
.
, ,

the halcyons that lull the waves a re the dea rest to the
g re en hai red merma ids o f all the bi rds that take thei r
-

prey from the salt sea One of the Grecian legends makes .

Halcyone a Pleiad who was beloved by the sea god P o

s eidon and in another lege n
, d she is the daughter of o lus ,

kin g o f the wi nds This relationshi p with the ruler of th e

.

winds and the sea makes it clea r from what source must
have sp run g the reputed power of the bi rd over the waves '

and to foretell the w inds a nd from the well known habi ts ,

-

of the bi rd o f feeding on sh and making its nest of thei r

bones has come the le gend of its co nnection with the god
,

of the deep .

Thomas Tusser who was born about I 5 I 5 in h is book

, ,

of Good Husbandry has many re ferences to the S igns ,

which the fa rmer should observe as indicative of fai r or

foul weather :
I t isn ill w i nd tu rns none to good
a ,

No rth w i nd s se nd h a i l s ou t h wi nd s , b i ng a i n
r r .

The W t a f a th a ll g d n d th b i ng
es as er, oo es s o r ,

T he E a t a f b a n m a nn f th i ng ;
s , or e re r, o er o

T he S th ou nk i nd d a w th i k n t
, as u na
,
r e s c es s oo e r;

T he N th or a f i nd m a k th a ll a g a i n l a
, as re , e c e r.

Weather prophets in Southe rn Kentucky say :

W ndi f rom th e sou t h h k in th , oo e mou t ; h
W i nd f rom t he e a t b i t th l a t ;
s , e e e s

W i nd f ro m the n th f th
or 6 ; , ur er 0

W i nd f rom the w t b i t th
es , e e

T he days associated wi th some o f the sai nts from a ,

meteorolo g ical point of view a re regarded as cri tical It , .

is the case with June 8 th or Saint M eda rd s Day in

'

, ,

F rance and with June 1 9 th the day of St Gervais and

, , .

'
J n l / A m i n F lk L
ou r a 0 xi v 37 er ca o - ore, . .
9 8 MA G I C AN D HUSBAN D R Y

over his g rave at which many mi racles have be en per ,

formed Professo r Ea rle o f Ox ford University how

.
,

ever has ca refully examined the ea rliest S axon manu

,

scripts containing the most authentic account o f the sa i nt s

li fe and showed that the weather on the occasion o f the

,

disinterment o f the body of the B ishop was favorable ,

that no phenomenon took place a nd th at the elements di d ,

not conspi re as the l egend says to prevent its removal

, ,

into the church The suggestion is made by Professor .

Ea rle in expl a nation of the ori gin of the common belief

,

about the saint that in one pa rticula r yea r about the , ,

time of this feast the rai ny constellations of Praesepe and ,

Avelli a rose cosmically and caused rain to fall for more ,

than a month together I t may be suggested perhaps .

9
,

with equal pl a usibility that Ju ly I 5th had been i dentied ,

as a critical p eriod of the season by pagan a g ri cu lturists ,

or worshiper s long before the days of the B ishop of,

Winchester .

There i s a s a ying i n Ma rtinique that i t a lways rai ns on

Good Friday bec a u se th en the sky weeps for the death
,

of the Saviou r Tr a di tion i s that this rain wi ll not e v ap

.

o ra te if cau ght in a v essel and it is sai d to cu re all ,

di s eas es .
1 0

The b eli e f th a t both sto rm and sunshine could be a rti

fi ci a lly p ro d u ced is a s o ld a s history a nd i t i s doubtful ,

i f th ere is a ny p a rt o f th e ea rth whe re it has not p revai led

to s om e ext en t I n th e s a c red bo o ks o f the ancient E gyp
.

ti a ns we re p res crib ed fo rm u l a s fo r m a kin g the sun to

s hin e The monst e r A pep or Apepi w a s the enemy of the
. , ,

s u n go d Ra The re w ere ce rtain pri ests in the temple o f

.

th e go d a t Th eb es w h o s e duty it was to perform se rvices

fo r t he a ss i s t a nce o f t he go d in ov e rcoming the monster .

o u
M a nnm , C us to m s a nd O b nces ,
s
e rva

L eo p l d \V a gn
o e r, 26 5
.

T w o Ye a rs in t h e F re nc h \ es t n V I di es .
"
L a fca dio "a mt 3 33'
 MAKI N G THE WEATHE R 99

Minute di rections were given for conducting the cerem on

ies and repeating the litanies A gu re o f the monster
.

was drawn i n green color o n new papyrus and a wax ,

image o fh im wi th his name cu t and inlai d with green

color The gu re and image were placed in a re o f
.

khes a u grass and bu rnt T hey were to be spit upon every

.

hou r Whe n tempests threatened in the east of the sky

.
'

at the settin g of R a the progress of the storm was stayed

,

by observ in g the instructions I f by day the clouds oh

.

scu red t he sun i t was agai n made bri g ht by performin g the

rite. I mages were also made of all the ends i n the trai n
o f A pep Thei r names were wri tten on papy rus which
.
,

was t h rown to the ground kicked with the left foot and
, ,

pie rced wi th a stone spear l l

a fter which it was bu rned
, ,

and th e clouds and the li ghtnin g ed and the sky became

clear and bright a g ain One is sta rtled to nd these ela b
.

orate rituals for the practice o f ma g ical a rts i n full force

amon g the E gyptians at a time when the people had
reached thei r high est position i n enlightenment and po wer ,

and at a period to Which even now we look back with won

der and admi ration at thei r ma rvelous achievements But .

perhaps we can better comprehend th e mystery o f it i f we

t ry to reali ze how fa r away in thought and li fe a re th e
g reat masses o f all the hi ghest civi li zatio ns of the twen
t ieth centu ry from its master minds Fo r all th e revela .

tions of time a nd patient investi gation how potent still ,

a re antiquated prejudices and hoa ry tradi tions and how ,

s teadfastly they hold thei r own in d ominatin g and shaping

ou r dai ly lives acti ons and bel ie fs !

, ,

That the sun could be c ontrolled and has tened or stayed

in its cours e was believed by the Greeks i n the time of
H omer for Athene held the ni ght in the west a nd stayed
,

the golden th roned Dawn for the benet of Ul ysses a n

-
d ,

E gypti an M gi E A W a ll is B d g 82 84
a

c, . . u e, -
.
I oo M A GI C A N D HU S BAND R Y

at the death of the eyed Hera S ent down P a t roklos ox-

the sun unwillin g ly i nto the streams of Ocean to s ave ,

the Greeks 1 2
The same was tru e of the Israelites for
.
, ,

at the command o f Joshua the sun stood sti ll in the mi dst ,

of the sky a nd delayed to go down almost a whole day

,

a d th
S u n, st n ou st ill v o er G ibeonl
A nd th M ou , nl
oo n, in the va ll y e o f A a lo
j
A nd the s u n s tood st ill , a nd the moo n st aye d ,
U nti l the na tion h a d a venged itsel f on its enemies!

T he Fij is thought to entan g le the sun in the reeds by

g rowin g a patch of reeds on the top o f the hi lls T he .

Peruvians stretched nets to capture the sunshi ne T o .

make the sun go down faster the Australian throws sand

in the ai r and blows with his mouth towards the sun One .

of the methods recorded o f the old T eutons for obtainin g

fai r weather was to bui ld into a wall a peek of ba rle y
and a bowl of water or a live cock
, .

Fog s were conju red away by the ma g icians amon g the

Queen Charlotte Islanders I f the sunshine was wi th .

held when the Comanche Indi a ns desi re d it to conciliate

, ,

the demons responsible for it they whipped a slave or ,

ayed him alive Professor Warde Fowler says he has
.

personally known the chu rch bells to be run g at Z ermatt

to stop the conti nuou s d ownpour of ra in in the hay
h a rvest m .

"
Professor Frazer calls a ttention to the fa ct that cere
monies for the prevention o f rain i n some countri es a re
the a ntith ises o f those used in others for producin g it .

Ody y xxii i 43; I li a d x v iii 40

a
s se ,
. 2 ,
. 2 .

"
J h a x 3 P ly h m di ti n W H B nn tt
os u ,
. : , o c ro e e o ,
. . e e

G i m m " 42 646
r , ,
I .

N a ti v R a i 7 52 0
e ces , . : 1 , .

R m a n F t iv a l 4 n t
o es s,

0, o e .

T h G l d n B gh
1 1 "
e I 93
o e ou , . .
I oz MA G I C A ND HU S BAND R Y

Jahveh through the hand of M oses sent ha i l in all the

, ,

land o f E gypt upon man and upon beast and upon , ,

every herb o f th e eld and the thunders and ra in a nd ,

hai l only ceased at the intercession o f Moses 1 9

Whet her .

the record tells the story o f an actual histo rical event or

not is immateri al for i f i t is o nly a tra dition of the Israel
,

ites it is unquestionable authori ty for the exi stence of such

,

a belief amon g the people at the time it was written .

Dante in a pa ss a ge i n Purgato ry con rm s the Opi n
,

iono f Dr Ha t tli ch when he writes o f one :

.
,

j in d th a t v il w ill w h i h ye k v il
He o e e , c a see s e ,

T i nt ll t
o nd m v d th m i t nd w i nd
e ec , a o e e s a

By m a n f p w w h i h hi w nna t g a v
e s o o er c s o u re e.

Bu rton says that a ria l spirits or devils caused t em pests ,

thunder and li ghtnings and destroyed men a nd beasts

, , .

They dwelt for the most part in the a i r On the death .

of a suici de th ey were likely to appea r and mani fe st th ei r

rejoicin g in a whi rlwind or ternpestu ou s s to rm u
A like .

sentiment is express ed in the lines of P0 pe :

R ou se d by the prince of the a ir, the whirlwinds swee p th e s u rge .

A ccordin g to the confession of I s abell G owdie in I 6 6 2 , ,

S he raised a storm by dippin g a rag in water and then

hea t ing it ona stone th ree times i n the nam e of S atan and ,

s ayin g

I knoc k t h i g p n th i t n
s ra u o s s o e

To ra i th w i nd in th divill na me
se e e

s ,

It s h a ll n t ly ti ll I pl a g in
o e e se a a e.

D ryin g the ra g with another ceremony she conju red the ,

Ex d i xo us 3 . 22 ,
2 .

L ng f ll w T a n ant v
o e o s r s .
, c o .

A n t m y f M l a n h ly 2 3
a o o e c o ,

: .

Ep i tl iii 353
s e,

. .
 MAKING TH E WEATHE R 1 9 3

storm away a g ain Dippin g the rag in water betrays the

.
23

likeness of the ceremon y to the most com mo n of all rain

cha rms.

M imicki n g the rai nwas e xpected to produce it Among .

the va ryin g ceremonies of many peoples are found some

common characteristics h owever The wat ers were sti rred
, . .

Accordin g to German records of the S ixteenth and sev en

teen th centu ri es wit ch es assembled in crowd s b y water
,

b rooks or lakes and o gged the water with rods till a fo g

rose and thickened into black clouds On thes e clouds the .

witches a re borne up and they gu ide the clou ds to the

,

places where th ey mean to work mischie f A legend is .

told o f a violent storm which lasted unti l a hu ntsman on

the hi g hway suspectin g th at it was the wor k o f a witch
, ,

loaded his gun with a consecrated bullet and red into the
middle of the da rkest cloud when out o f i t a naked female ,

fell dead and the storm blew over i n a moment I n Ca r

, .

inth ia the people shoot at storm clouds to scare away t he

evi l spi rits that hold counci l in th em In some parts of .

France whole fa m i li es are suspect e d of havin g the power

of ra isin g a storm it b ein g heredita ry wi th them The .

Pe ruvian s had a rai n goddess who sat in the sky with a

pi tch er o f water ready to pour it out at the ri ght time I f .

she delayed it too lon g her brother smashed the pitcher,

to pi eces with thunder and lightni n g When the corn is .

endangered by drought the childre n of the S lavs sing a,

son g to Father Luga imploring him to climb into heav en

, ,

open i ts doors and send down rain from above that well
, ,

the rye may g row That storms could be both attracted

.

and rep elled by son gs was believed in ancient times and ,

is referred to by both S eneca a nd Pliny This cha rm was .

formerl y used on the Rhine to bring on showers : A l ittle

nude gi rl was led outside the town where she had to di g ,

D a k S p ti ti n f S t l a nd J G D ly ll 48
r er u e rs o s o co ,

. . a e , 2 .
1 9 4 M AG I C AND HUSBAN DRY

henba ne wit h the li ttl e n ger of her ri ght hand and tie i t to
the little toe o f her ri ght foot ; she was thenconducted by
the other ma idens to the nea rest river and splashed with
water S ometimes a g i rl called the da do was stripped
.

and wrapped with g ra s s a nd herbs and owers and es corted

from house to house A t each house a rin g wa s formed i n
.
,

the middle of which the little gi rl danced a nd whi rled while

the goodw i fe came out and emptied a bu ck et of w ater over
h er a nd h er companions san g :
,

To God d th d d all
o ou r o o c ,

Th at dewy a i n m y f a ll
r a ,

A nd d en h th d i g ge
r c a lle rs ,

The w k g a t nd m a l l
or e rs re a s ,

Even th in h ose nd t a ll ou se a s .

The chi l dren in G reece when i t ha s not rained fo r ,

several wee ks sometimes select one o f their number ei g ht

, ,

to ten years old usually a poor orphan who is stripped

, ,

from h ea d to foot and decked with herb s and owers .

The other chi ldre n lea d her around the village and S i ng
hymns ; eve ry housewi fe throws a pai l of w ater o ver her ,

an d g ives the children a small piece of money .

The huntsmen of the Celts dipped water w it h th ei r

horns from a certai n fountai n and poured i t up on the
stones to cause the ra in clouds to ris e a nd refresh the
lan ds A religious ceremony was substituted in later
.

times Am id the chantin g of songs and pealing of bells

.
,

led by the cler gy the pa rishioners with g reat ba nners

,

bo rne infront of them walked to the sp ring and the leader ,

dipped his foot crosswise in the fo u nta i n; i t was consi dered

certa in that rain would fa ll before the homewa rd march
was completed I n Spain an ima g e of the Virg in in
.

mournin g is escorted through the vi lla g e to p rocu re ra in .

G rimm , 59 3, 594; S
o ng s o f t he R i an
u ss s,

2 2 7.
I o6 M A G I C AND HU S BAN D R Y

in g weepin g and lau ghin g I nIndi a sometimes a plow is

, , .
,

dra gged across the eld by naked women to bring ra i n .

The Peruvians set a black sheep in the eld pou red chi ca ,

over it and gave i t nothing to eat ti ll it rained The Tim

, .

orese sacriced a blac k pi g for rai n and a whi te or red ,

one for sunshine S plash i n g a blac k cat in the water to

.

darken the sky like ra in clouds was practiced in S umatra .

A L a ngla t M alay told M r S keat as follows : I f a M alay .

woman puts upo n her head an inverted earthe nwa re pan ,

and then settin g it upon the g round lls it wi th water

, ,

and washes the cat in i t until the latter is more than hal f
2
drowned heavy rain will certa i nly ensue
, .

Cha rms were also recited to stop the down fall o f the

q
rain when the ood was likely to bring serious conse
u ences The followin g is g iven by M r Skeat as found
.

amon g the M alays :

.

Th ou g h t he s tem of the M a nti t

er k t ree roc s o a nd fro ( in the storm ) ,

Le t t he Y a m l av
e es be th i k
as p ib l
c as os s e,

Th a t a i n r a nd tem est p m y a m t na g h t
co e o u .

A son g of the R ussi ans fo r b ringin g sho w ers says :

a in P ou r, 0 r ,

Ov th g a nd m th
er e y r o er s

r e,

Ov th g a nd fa th
er e w h at r er s

e ,

Ov th gi l a x
er e r s

,

P in b k t f l
ou r uc e s u .

A pledge is o ffered ifthe prayer of the son g is answered :

D a ain d
e r r a in , ea r r ,

I wi ll k th coom ha h h ee so e rs e ( sou p ) ,
I wi ll p t it in n u a

M r Rodd gives the following song as sun g inThessaly

.

M a l ay M a g i 8; T h G l d n B gh
c,i 6
IO see

e o e ou

,
. I o -I I I .

R a l t n S ng f th R i a n
s o

s 7 o s o e u ss s,

22 .
 MAKING T HE WEATHE R 1 07

and M acedoni a in the cha rm already referred to by a pro

, ,

cession of gi rls going from door to door headed by an ,

orphan girl stripped and clothed with leaves :

aina h w L d
Let it r s o er, or ,

A h w f g nt l a i n; s o er o e e r

L t th m p t nd l t th m wer
e e s rou a e e o ,

G i v th w l d th i in a e e or e r cre se ,

G w i ng n nd tt n pl ant
ro co r a co o ,

E v y h b th a t i th i t l
er er s a rs

Giv giv w at e u s, e us e r,

C n in h a p d a b nd an
or e e u ce,

L t a h ll a b h l
e e c ea r us e ,

A nd v y v i n a a k

e er e c s .

The ceremonial prayers of the Hopi Indians for rain

a re accompanied with the pouring of water into a bowl ,

or the concerted spitti ng of the spectators typi fying the ,

falling showers Z i g za g symbols o f lightning which a c

.

companies the rain a re conceived as the cause o f it and ,

there fore used to decorate the alta rs of thei r rain gods .

In mimic storms e ffigies of the great serpent personatin g ,

the li ghtning knock over the hills of corn in symbolic corn

,

elds the imitation of the storm and its e ffects being sup
,

posed to inuence the S ky god in bringin g about the de

si red result 2
The use of serpents and gu res of them in
.
9

rain c h a rms is common and is probably suggested by thei r ,

fa ncied resemblance to the play of the li ghtni ng T here .

was a Germa n custom of ha nging up a snake in the direc

tion from which th ey wished the wind to come wh ich was ,

expected to bring the rain One o f the si gns believed t rust .

worthy in the regions of the Cumberland Mountains i n ,

East T ennessee is that i f a snake i s killed a nd stretched out

,

upon the fenc e or hung up in trees i t wi ll bring on rain .
3

In China processions wind th rough the narrow lanes bear

nd L f M d nG

C t m
us o s a o re o
33 o er reece , I .

1"

J n n l / A m i n F lk L
o r a 0 xv
er ca o -
ore, . 20 .

( bid xi v 2 7
. . 0 .
1 08 MAGI C AN D HU S BAN DRY

ing on thei r shoulders si lver ima ges of the dragon king to

brin g on rai n 31
Repti les and beasts of the eld were
.

gathered b y th e Mayas i n the month of Mac i n honor ,

o f the Cha cs the gods of the co rnelds and to secu re rai n

, ,

th ey were taken to the chu rch or temple where the priests

were assembled each havin g a jug of water by his si de
,
.

A bundle o f wood wi th incense was burned as the hea rts

o f the v ictims were torn out and u ng i nto the ames ,

a fter wl ich the jugs were emptied i n subduing the re

- .

T he Otomis o f M ichoacan sacriced a vi rgin o n the top

of a high h i ll to appease the an g er o f the rain gods when
the y wi thheld the showers In the ancient ci ty o f Chichen
.

l tza was a nimmense pit su rrounded by a thick grove A .

w ell of w ater was at the bottom of the pit with a ci rcular ,

stai rw a y cut i n the rock descending to the edge of it An .

altar stood on the bri nk of the pit on which sacrices were ,

made when the crops were threatened wi th damage be

cause o f lack o f rain Tradi tion is that animals were
.

o ffered at rst and in later times human beings were low

,

ered i nto the well with religious rites The bodies were .

a fterwa rds drawn up a nd bu ried i n the grove .

T he cro ss was used by native Mexicans as a symbol of

rain or of the wi nds which brought the rai n Altars were
, .

erected i n the form of a cross around the wells and water

sources I t was an emblem o f th e god of th e wi nds
. .

Cha lshiu itliou e the sister o f the ra in gods bore in her

, ,

hands a cross shaped vessel A cross of lime a nd S tone ten

-
.

spans i n hei g ht was the ce ntral gu re o f the great temple

of Cozumel at which the Nahuas a nd M ayas prayed for
,

rain wh ile o fferi ng gi fts and sacrices A n aged Indian .

was ch osen in each village among the natives of Ca lifo r

ni a upon whom devolved the du ty of getting rai n when
,

needed a nd of procuring favorable weather at the har

,

L f C a th a y
o re o 66 ,

I .
I 1 0 MA G I C AN D H USBAN D R Y

i y of Volsiniu m when the territo ry was once lai d waste

ct

by a monster and on one occasion by Ki ng Porsenna

, .

Accordin g to L Piso it had frequently been done before

.
,

the time of Numa Tullius H ost iliu s attempted i t but.

,

faili ng to perform properly the ceremonies he wa s him ,

sel f struck with lightning P l iny records these inci dents .

,

but was apparently no t overcondent i n the truth o f them ,

as he s a ys that opinions entert ained depend upon the dis

positions o f di fferent pe0 ple 35
The same wri ter says .

ha ilsto rrns whi rlwi nds and li g htning are sca red a way by
, ,

a naked menstruous woman and a storm at sea may be ,

lulled by her 36
.

Monks o f Iona i n order to obtain a supp l y o f rain

, ,

thrice shook in the ai r the tunic in which thei r S t Columba .

expi red while at the same time they read from the
,

books which he wrote Abundance of rain fell and .

a luxuria nt harvest followed as the bio g rapher of St , .

A do m na nu s testies from personal knowledge havin g ,

been an eyewitness To secu re ra in a livin g a ss a fter .

, ,

receivin g the consecrated host was buried in the port al of ,

a chu rch i n Italy a nd a delu ge follo wed 37

, The Rev
eren d John Batchelor describes a method of b ringing rai n
wh ich was wi tnessed by h imsel f among the Ainu A dog .
,

dressed up in most fantastic fashion was led about the ,

g arden amidst music and lau ghter a nd a hea vy downfall

, ,

of ra in followed the same ni ght Other ceremonies o f the .

Ai nu a re mentioned An appointed ra in maker o ffered .

prayers to the go ddess of rivers and springs and libations ,

of wine were poured out and drank or a compa ny of the m ,

marched to the river and each man washed hi s tobacco box

and pipe in the runnin g water T hey bri n g warm ne .
,

at a l H i t y
N ur s or

,
Ii 53 .

!bid xx v ii i

.
3 . 2 .

Da k S p ti i
r er u e rs t ons of S tl a nd
co

, 1 90. 35'
 M A KI N G T H E WEATHE R I I I

weathe r by usin g convol vu lu s root s wh i ch a re S pi tted and ,

pla ced nea r the re on th e hea rth A meth od used i n .

Be n g al to ma ke i t rain is to delu ge the ima ge of the god

Ru dra deva in t he temple A ll the outlets are closed and
.
,

hundreds or more Bra hm ans pou r w ater over the ima ge

ti ll i t i s immersed up to th e ch i n Whenth e water reach es .

th at point i t will al w ays ra in i f the cha rm w ork s favor

ably Brahm ans sometimes stand i n th e river and recite
.

prayers to th e go d Va runa I f this fa i l s to brin g g ood .

resu lts i t i s attri b uted to a lack of piety i n the o i cia t ing

,

B ra hrna ns o
Chi l dren o f the Roumanians sti ll thro w
clay ima ges i nto the river to b ri n g rain in a dry season .

In 1 89 4 tw o boys a ged si x and fou rte en th rew a c h i ld

, ,

into th e water and drowned i t for wh i ch th e elder was ,

sentenced to two yea rs imprisonm ent Th ey o ffered for

.

a de fense th e nece ssi ty o f i t T h e e ffects of the lack o f .

ra in were so g reat that the drou g ht must be broken i n some

w a y an d as th e y ha d no cl a y gu re to use th ey d row ne d
,

t he ch ild
.

A b ask etfu l o f mea l an d a p ot o f b eer a re o ffered b y

na tives o f La k e N y a ssa to th e supreme dei ty for ra in .

Th e mea l i s dropped by hand fuls by the p ri estess on the

"
groun d as she cries : H ea r thou O God and send rain , , ,

w hi le the a s sembled people clap th ei r han ds and respo nd

softl y : H ea r thou O God , .

Am ong the Th ompson R iver Indians the G reat Ch ie f ,

or as he was called the Old Man or the Bi g M y ste ry was

, , ,

believe d to be g i fted i n ma g ic above all others He was .

the maker o f ra i n and snow which descende d f rom the ,

uppe r re g ions Wh en it ra ine d they sai d he u rinated

. .

The Centra l E sk imo beli ev e ra in is the urine of a dei ty .

The A in u a nd their Folk b ore, o

334 .

Po lk b ore,
s
vo l ix
. . 278 .

W hip
ors of th e R m an P a nk G ang
o s,

r r e r, 1 56 .
I 1 2 M AG I C AN D HU S BAN DRY

The Ka m tch a tka ns think rain i s the urine o f Bilu tschi ,

one o f th ei r gods and hi s geni i a fter voidin g wh i ch he

, ,

puts on a new dress with fri nges o f red se al ha i r and col

ored strips o f leath er and th es e represent the ori g inal ,

rai nbow 1
.

The biblical sto ry o f Elij ah and Ah ab is an int erestin g

2

study in connection with ra in makin g ceremonies S ore

- .

famine had followed the scarcity of rain in Sama ria The .

rst verse in the chapter indicates that it was expected th at

rain would follow the visit of the prophe t to th e rebel
lious and wicked Ahab To make the test of po wer pro .

posed by Elij ah the p rophets of Baal were g athered at

Ca rmel The bullocks were slau ghtered and piled upon
.

the wood The prophets danced upon the altar and cut
.
,

and slashed themselves and cried aloud in vai n till the , ,

blood gushed from them and the hour for the even ing ,

sacrice a rrived T hen Elij ah took twelve stones bui lt

.
,

an altar leavin g a trench about i t to conta in two measu res

,

o f seed cu t his bullock in pieces a n

, d lai d him on the wood ,

and poured upon it four ba rrels o f water at th ree separate

times and the re fell consum i ng the wood and stones and
, ,

dust licki ng up the water i n the trench The ceremony

, .

was completed by taki ng the four hundred and fty humil

ia ted prophets of Baal down to the brook Kishon and
slaughtering them and then Elij ah annou nced the sound ,
.

of abundance of rain Here we reco g ni ze many of the .

fami lia r rain ma ki ng ceremonies of prim itive p eople the

-

world over The seed o fferi ng symboli zed the ha rvest de

.

si red and so sorely needed ; by imitative or mimetic magic

the drenching water would stimulate an outpour from the
heavens ; and nally the S i ns on account o f which the rain ,

Th m p o so n Ri v erI nd i a n f B i ti h C l
s o r s o um bia
,
J am
es T it e , I 09 ;

S ca ta lo g ic Rit es ,

J G B k 7
. . ou r e, 2 0 .

I K i ng s xviii .
1 1 4 MAGI C AN D HU S BAN D RY

of sorcerers called th e Tem pesta rii were employed by the

people of a region known as Ma gonia to brin g on storms
which injured the crops and that the crops so i nju red by
,

storm and hai l were carried to the Ma go nia ns in sh ips

that came in the clouds At one time th ree men and a .

woman who were sa id to have fallen from one o f the ships

,

o f the Ma gonia ns were sei zed and carried i n ch a ins be

,

fore a n assembly of the people who condemned them to ,

be stoned to death from which fate they were only saved

,

by the intercession of the Archbishop The storm s ra ised .

by these Tem pesta rii could be cou nteracted by employing

certain practitioners who accepted as a recompense there
,

for a certain percentage of the crops which they saved .

S ometimes the Chinese when the supply of rai n was ,

de cient i n th ei r o wn district went into another locali ty , ,

presumably one more favored and borrowed a g od tem ,

p o ra ril y wh ich, was retu rned with honors i f th e desi red

e ffect had been accomplished otherwise he mi ght be le ft ,

a while in the sun to admonish him to do his du ty Per .

haps a bunch of wi llows was th rust into his hand as an

emblem of moisture to remi nd him o f what was needed .

In certain months when the rain fall i s du e pra yers a re ,

.

o ffered which a re supposed to become e ffective wi thi n a

cert ain limit o f time du ring which the umb rella is unde r
,

a ban a nd at such periods forei gners have sometimes been

,

ill treated for ca rrying one

- .

Kings in ea rly times supposed to be divi ne or semi

,

divi ne personages had to share wi th deities respo nsib ili

,

ties fo r the condition of th e weather They we re some .

times beat en to compel them to bri ng a d esi red change i n

it when coaxing and rich prese nts failed to accomplish i t
, .

In some parts o f West A frica they bind the king with

ropes and ma rch him to the g raves of his fathers or they ,

ca n
H i t y f th I nq i i ti n III 4 5
s or o e u s o ,

. 1
 M A KIN G TH E W EAT H E R 1 1 5

strip him o f h is property a nd banish or k i ll him i f the

crops fai l or showers fai l to come as has been known to
, ,

be done i n Korea " I s t h ere not i n the ways o f modern

.
,

times a perceptible reectio n of th is primitive custom in

, ,

countries where the people to a consi derable extent enjoy , ,

the privi lege of su ffra ge wh en the pa rty i n power is ,

always ch arged w ith bein g responsible for hard times re

s u lting fro m a g ricultural depression which follows a fai l
ure o f the crops ? T he reverse is equally noticeable for ,

prosperi ty is al ways sai d to be th e res u lt of benecent rule

w he na favorable season brings plenty to the land .

S eamen in a storm have been known to punish or i ll

treat the i mage o f S t James Whi rlwi nds have been . .

ascribed to divine semi divine and di abolical bei ngs One

,
-
, .

of the Edda legends attributes all winds to a g i ant in the

shape of an eagl e who sits a t th e end of hea ve n When he .

aps his wings the winds rise under th em M r M artin . .

,

w riting about 1 7 I 6 speaks of a former custom of hanging

,

a he goat to the mast of a boat to secure a favorable wind

-
,

and adds that the custom had been discontinued thi rteen
yea rs be fore his visit Shetland seam en buy winds of the .

old woman who rules the storms Wi za rds of Lapland .

tie up the wind in knots and the more knots a re loos ed the ,

stronger i t blows It is to th is practice that S hakespeare

.

re f ers when he w rites i n

. Macbeth of the wi tches nu
tyi ng the wi nds \Vitches o f Norway tied winds and fo u l
.

weather up in a bag and at the proper mome nt let them ,

out c ryi ng
, wind in the devi l s name and a storm
,

,

w ould rush out layin g the land waste and overturning

,

sh ips at sea Esthonians thought a wind could be gene r

.

ated by hanging up a snake By setting an a x up right .

it could be tu rn ed in the di rection you wished it to blow .

An old woman at Ba m bo rg appeased the hun ger of the

T h G l d n B gh i 57
e o e ou ,
. I .
I I 6 MAGI C AN D HU S BAN D RY

wind when it wa s ra g ing wildly by emptyin g her meal sack ,

out o f the window into the ai r and excla iming Dea r ,

wind don t be so wild ; take that home to y our child
,

.

[Eolus gave to Odysseus a wallet made of the hi de of an

ox n ine seasons old in which b e bound the ways of all,

the noisy winds and he made the wallet fast i n the hold
,

o f the ship with a shining si lver thon g so that not the

, ,

faintest breath mi g ht escape Then he sent forth the blast .

of the west wind to sta rt them on thei r way To g et a .

fai r wi nd shermen i n the north of Galway buried a fowl

,

in the sand of the seashore turning its head to the point ,

from wh ich the adverse wind blew The fo wl was le ft to .

perish To procure a fa i r wind i n the I sland of Ini sh

.

g lo ra a black h en used to b e buried alive with its win g s ,

spread out ; and King Eric of Sweden with his enchanted ,

cap and some ma g ical mu rmur of whispering terms ,

could comma nd the a ria l spIrI ts to trouble the ai r and

make the wind stand wh ich way he would 8
.

Ra in makers of Southe rn Polynes i a employ human

bones to compel the clouds Among some peoples the .

name of the dead must not be mentioned at all times

b ecause it was a vital part of a man and to mention it ,

mi ght be the mea ns of putti ng power o f doi ng an i nju ry

i nto the hands of an enemy or sorcerers T he names of , .

deities i f mentioned might cause distressin g occu rrences

, ,

in nature The sacred books of the Mongols in which are

.
,

recounted the glorious deeds o f divi ni ti es may only be ,

read i n spring and summer as at other seasons the readin g ,

might cause tempest or snow The intimate association .

of fro g s and toads wi th spri ngs and wet places has prob
ably led to the belie f that they controlled the fall o f ra i n .

TMyth l gy 6 33 6 36 7 6 7 87 ; P i nk t n V y a g
ni c
eu to o o ,

, , ,
I0 er o

s

o es,

ii i 7 4 mm T a
.
, f th E l d F a i th f I l a nd
r ces o I G f d M a t i n
e er s o re ,
"
. . oo - r ,

i 3 5 ; Ody y x 9 ; M a b th i v i 52
. 0 sse ,
. 1 c e ,

. . .
1 1 8 MAGI C A N D HUSBAN D RY

wi nter solstices when they meet with thei r fami lies

, .

Thei r meeti ngs are held upon the bald hills and some ,

times upon th e th resh in g o o rs and at them speci al e f forts ,

are made to steal the sun and dew and even th e moo n
and sta rs .

An old writer has dwelt upon the conti nued antipathy

'

of the she ep and the wolf a fter death F o r i f there .

be put upon a harp says he or any such like instrument
, ,

strings made o f the int ra illes of a sheepe and among st

them only one made of the int ra illes of a wol fe be the ,

musician never so cunning in skill yet can he not recon ,

cile them to an un i ty and concorde o f sounds so discord ,

5
ing always is th at stri ng o f the wolfe In like manner .

i t is an old belief and sti ll exists that certain classes of

, ,

persons a fter th ey are dead still continue to antagoni ze

, ,

and inj ure the livin g As vampi res they come fo rt h from
.

thei r graves and wander around Th ey brin g drought .

upon the land by suckin g the water from the clouds Su i .

ci des witches and victims of sudde ndeath and those who

, , ,

die impenitent and without extreme unction are sti ll

re ga rded in some Oriental countries as to be feared lest
they become roving vampi res when dead Various .

methods a re recorded for compellin g the vampi re to re

main inhis g rave a nd so avoid bringin g drought and pesti
lences They bu ry the body face do wnwa rds and d rive an
.

ash stake throu g h the back i n Russia and in Poland and ,

East Prussi a they wrap the co rpse in a sh net and cover i t

with poppies Sometimes the hea d is severed and placed
.

where th e feet are expected to be T he Russian penal .

code forbids openin g graves and muti latin g c o rpses for

the pu rpose of preve nti ng them from becomin g vampi res .

The law against it attests the fact of the practice A .

peasant hanged himsel f in the village of Ivanovka i n

Na t a l H i t y L
ur nd L g nd E dw a d H l m
s or o re a e 59 e

, r u e, I .
 M A KI N G TH E W EATHE R I I9

1 887 , a nd soon a fter th e people o f the province began to

s u ffer f rom a drou gh t A ssumin g a conn ection b etween
.

the suicide and the dry season the y assem bled at the ,

u n h allowed g rave and b y magic sou g h t to produce rain .

A s they po ured ou t wate r upon th e g rave they crie d I , ,

sprinkle I pour ; may God send a sho w er bri n g on a li ttle

, ,

ra infall and relieve us from misery Th e prayer of th e .

supplic a nt not bringin g a sati sfactory result th e bod y o f ,

the sel f murdere r w as ta k en up and b uried i n a gorg e out

-

side the villa ge In som e ca ses the corp se is disinterred

.

an d b eaten on th e h ea d an d drench ed w i th w ater poured

th rough a si ev e or bu rned
, .

A s re lics of th e dea d h ave b een so e x tensive l y i d enti e d

as potent a g ents in ceremonies for cont rollin g t h e atmos
p h e ric condi tions i t i s not suprisin
, g i f we nd cu s toms and
belie fs yet existing incivi li zed communi ties w h ic h stron g ly
sugg es t th a t th ei r o ri g i n has spr un g from th is belief ; and
from such a source it ma y be has sprun g th e fa m ila r
, ,

practi ce i n some p a rts o f Pennsy l vani a and New York o f

, ,

fo rtelling the cha racter o f the coming winter b y i ns pectin g

the b reastbone o f a goo se killed in November w hen dark ,

stai ns o n th e surface indicate a bitt er winter but i f the ,

bone is w hite a nd clean an open w inter i s assured .

R ecent e vi dence has been fu rnished of the sti ll p re v
alent belie f among the peasantry o f t h e B u ko w ina
,

P ro v ince of A ustri a Hunga ry that when pu b l i c p ra y ers

-
,

fai l to break up a d rought as a l ast resort a corpse wi ll ,

e ffect it i f du g up at midni gh t a suicide s for choic e and
,

ung into th e river or in the absence of an y ri v er i t

, .

ma y be tos se d into the ne a rest pit I n th e y ea r 1 9 0 1 .

pu b lic p ray ers w ere tried in va i n to br ing to a n en d the

drou gh t fro m w hich th ey were seriou s ly su fferi ng an d ,

E P E v an s in P p l S i n M nth ly liv
6
. . , o u ar 3
c e ce o ,
. 2 1 .

New Y rk I i m o J ly '

u9c , u I 2 , I t.
I 20 M AG I C AN D HUSBAN DRY

th e inhabi tan ts of Ku rumar a vi lla ge nea r Cernowitz dug

, ,

u p a body from a cemete ry and with ceremonies ac co rding

,

to the pres cribed formulas pitched it into the Pruth

, ,

where instead o f S inkin g i t was tossed about until the

, ,

attention of the public authorities was called to i t and an

inqui ry be gun which led to prosecutions It is sai d the
.

v i lla gers refused to r eco g ni z e any improprie ty i n thei r act ,

and as ra in actually fell wi th i n the next two days th ey ,

p robably continue to believ e that i t was the result of thei r

cha rm .
1 2 2 MA G I C AN D HUSBAN DRY

That th e so called changes in the moon cause the

-

changes in the weather is a belie f which has come down ,

from remote antiquity and is the ch ild o f astrology and ,

moon worship It is sti ll acceptable to the masses

. .

That educated people says Pro fesso r Tylor to whom , ,

exact weather records are accessible should sti ll nd sati s ,

faction in the fanci ful lunar rule is an interestin g case o f ,

3
intelle ctual su rvival .

St Augustine thought i s was a g reat o ffense for a man

.

to observe the time and cou rse o f the moon in planting and
sowing as none put trust in them but those that worship
,

the moon but the persistent use o f many fami li a r sayings

,

and proverbs in which are embodied the weather lore of -

the moon indicate that they have made a d ee per i mpres

s ion o nthe minds of the p eople than the voice of the saint .

A h azy ci rcle round the moon is still rega rd ed as prog

nos t ica t ing rai n I f the circle be wi de and some distance
.

away the rain wi ll be delayed and i f close to the moon s

, ,

disc i t will follow soon The number of sta rs i n the ci rcle

, .

is supposed to determine the number of days be fore the

storm wi ll come Tusser wrote o f the moon at fu ll :
.

I f gre t a she a pp a th it h w th
e re , s o e re ou t,

I f sm a ll s he a pp a th it i gni d
e re , s es rou g ht
.

Scotch fa rmers have a saying that , ,

h w li k a il v h i l d
I f the m oon s o s e s er s e ,

Y ou n d n t b af aid t
ee ap y ld ;
o e r o re ou r e

B t if h
u i h a l d nd
s e r ses oe rou ,

S n w ll t a d n d l g d g nd
oo e

re o e u e rou .

S ailors say th at a big star is dog g in g the moon when

a large star or planet is seen nea r the moon It is a S ign .

that th reatens stormy weather When the moon do g s .

P i mi ti v C l t
r i 3 e u u re,

. 1 0.
LUNA R AN D PLANETA RY IN FLUEN CE 1 2 3

are out and the moon is su rrounded by a halo with wate ry

clouds a change in the weather is imminent
, .

If m i t
s

s in th e new m oon, ra i n in th e old ;

I f mi ts

s in th e o ld, r a i n in th e new moon .

An old proverb says there wi ll be as many oods a fter

M ichaelmas Day as the moon is days old at that time .

The day o f the week on which an apparent change i n

the moon takes place is also credited by the credulous with
determ ini ng to considerable extent the character of the
weathe r to follow An English weathe r saw says :
.

Sa t d a y
ur

s new a S
nd u nd ay f ll
s u

N v e w er as goo d and never w ll u .

A new moon on Monday or moon day is re ga rded a s , ,

al w ays favorable and a S i g n of fai r weather A ne w

, .

moon on Fri day is looked upon with less condence .

The Scotch say when the new moon lies sai r on her
back it is a su re si gn o f bad w ea ther and i f the new ,

moon appea rs wi th the old moon i n her a rms we lea rn ,

from the fa m ous old ballad of Si r Patrick Spence what

may be expected :
0 y n
sa m y m a t d i
a s a e, s er e r,

F I f i a d dli t m
or e r ea e s or e .

L t l t y t n I w th n w m n
a e, a e es ree sa e e oo e

\V i th a l d m n in h i a m ;

e u oo e r r e

A nd I f i I f i my d i m a t
e r, e r, e r s e r,

Th a t w wi ll m t h a m e co e o r e .

The writer has o ften heard in Central New York the , ,

belie f exp ressed in all sincerity that a fall of snow coming

in the new o fthe moon was more likely to remain maki ng ,

more probable a long run o f sleighing The poet Virgi l .

has given the portent o fappearances of the moon and other

cel esti al bodies wh ich is probably to be accepted as the
b elief pr evalent a m ong the Ro m ans two thousand yea rs
1 2 4 M AG I C AN D HUSBAN DRY

a go . A dark ened new moon beto kened rain ; a red w ind ; ,

and i f the moon w as clear and bri ght on the fourth night
of i ts appearance the weather would be fai r for the fol
,

lowin g days of the month I f the sun rose spotted . ,

showing only the center o f his orb it portended rain If , .

h is rays w ere pa rted or i f the dawn w as pale hai l w as

, ,

threatened I f the sun was of a bluish color at setti ng i t

. ,

indicated rain ; i f red wind ; i f spotted rain and wind I f

, ,
.

bri g ht at risin g and setting there w ould be clear weather ,

accompanied w ith a northerly w ind

.

The Floralia the Roman festival of owers was held

, ,

April 2 8th and continued fou r days That the cere

, .

monies w ould tend to brin g on a more favorable season

for the o w ers w as probably believed to some extent at ,

least ; but i f the period of the festival w as at the time of

a full moon g reat inju ry was feared from it A full
,
.

m oo n was li k e w ise undesi rable at the feast of the vi nes ,

th e Vinalia A full moon at these times w as especially

.

regarded w it h disfavor i f the ni ghts w ere clea r and the ai r

was sti ll The no x ious inuence o f the full moo n might
.

sometimes be ave rted by building a bonre in the elds ,

or three crabs w ere burned alive on the trees upon which

the vines w ere trained Pliny g ives Varro as authori ty .

for the use o f a painted grape wh ich had been consecrated ,

to protect the vineya rd from the evi l e ffects of un favorable

atmospheric conditions Pli ny thought that te m pests took .

thei r rise in certain noxious constellations as Arctu rus , .

Orion and the Ki ds and that when storms take place

, ,

at the full moon they have additional intensity The .

inuence of the moon in destroying vegetation is account ed

for in this w ay : emanations from the M i lky Way supply
the mi lky nutriment o f all ve ge tables and the inuenc e o f ,

the constellation S agi tta rius and o f Gemini develops i tsel f

G g i i 42 7
eo r cs, . .
1 2 6 M A G I C AND H USBAN D RY

of the latter was cons idered less malignant than that o f

Satu rn Ma rs was likened to a bu rnin g fever while Sat
.
,

urn has been compared to a lin gering and fatal consu m p

tion T ennyson said that Mars g lowed like a ruddy
.

S hield on the lion s hea rt .

Anciently and to a compara tively recent p eriod i n

,

modern history astrolo gy was reco gn i zed as a science

,

worthy of serious a ttention Belief in the inuence of .

stars and planets and the di fferent phases of the moon

upon vegetation is probably to be traced to this sou rce ,

and sprin gs p rima rily from the worsh ip of the heavenly

bodies as deities whe n they were thought to g rant or with
,

hold the supplies of food for men and beasts accordingly

a s they w ere favorably disposed towards them or an g ry ,

w ith them B rand quotes from Hall s Virgidem ia rum :

.

Th d a mn d M k A t a nd th b a i n i k ta l
ou e oc - r , ou r -s c e

Of ld A t l g i
o s ro o e

S m d ti ng g ip m ng t th C h a l dee w i ve
o e o oss

o s e s

D i d t th o d l w l d th ee t d i v ;
e cre u ou s or rs er e

A nd S p tit i n n
u d th ee v
e rs o n u rse e e r se ce,

A nd p b li h t in p f nd
u s at p tn ; ro ou er rs re e ce

T h a t n w w h p a h i n il
o ,
o lib h i w i n
res s a es , or s s s e,

B t h m t t ta k n il f th i gn
u e us rs e cou se o e s e.

P robably in all ru ral districts however the moon is , ,

s ti ll more or less looked to by the husbandman for favor

a ble signs in his a g ricultural operations Predictions o f .

th e weather are founded on the moon s changes I t is a

.

matt er of not infrequent discussion amon g them The .

w riter h as often conversed with practical fa rmers in rela

tion to it and heard them relate thei r pers onal experience
,

conrmin g thei r belie f in the importance of conforming

to the old traditions He has been assured by tillers o f
.

the soil g ray with the e xperience of many years that thei r
buckwheat always lled better i f it had come to bloom i n
the period when th e moon was waxin g to its full and lis ,
L UNA R AN D P LA NETARY I N FLU ENCE 1 2 7

tened to the tales of others with l es s fait h w h o nevert he , ,

less con fesse d to having expe rim ented for thems elves and
, , .

havin g planted a po rtion o f a eld i n the new of the moon

and th e rest o f i t i n th e full believed themselves q ualied ,

to s p ea k wi th authority upon the subject W i th others .

,

w ho had lon g since pa sse d from the condi tion of creduli ty

q
necessa ry to an a cceptance of th is anci ent su rv ival as a
w or ki n g theory it is a no less ma tter o f fre uent conversa
,

tion and comm ent sometim es of jocu lar rema rks and ri di ,
o

cu l e but th is very fact too i s evi dence o f th e vital h old the

, , ,

bel ief once h ad upon th e minds o f men i n more p rimitive

time w h en moon and sta rs w ere th ou ght to ha v e such
inu ence upon our da i ly li ves .

Of the in u ence o f the moon upon t h in gs te rres

t ria l as t h e astrolo g ers tau g ht Buti quotin g from Albu
, , ,

m a sa r says : , T he moon is co ld moist and p hle gmatic , , ,

so meti mes w a rm and gives lightness apti tude in all , ,

th i ngs d esi re o f jo y o f b eauty an d of p rai se b e ginnin g

q
, , , ,

o f all works knowledge o f the rich and noble p ros peri ty

, ,

i n li fe a u is it io n o f th in gs desi red devotion i n fai th

, , ,

su pe rior s ciences multitude o f t h ou gh ts necromancy , , ,

a cu teness of m ind i n things geom et ry knowledge of lands , ,

an d wa ters and thei r meas u re and number wea kne ss o f ,

th e sentiments noble w om en ma rriages pre gnancies, , , .

nursin gs embass i es fal sehoods accusations ; th e being lord

, , ,

am o ng lo rds servant amon g se rvants and con form i

, ,

with ev e ry man of li k e natu re oblivion thereo f timi d o f , , ,

ample hea rt atterin g honorable towa rds men useful to

, , ,

th em not betrayin g secrets a multi tude o f inrm ities and

, , ,

th e ca re o f hea ling bodies cutting hai r liberali t y of food , , ,

ch asti ty a nd of th ese inuences the wise man follows
,

the good a nd lea ves th e b ad ; though all a re good and

7
ne cess a ry to the li fe of the universe .

'
L ngf l l w
o D nt
e nt t o a nt iii f P a radi

s

a

e, o e o c o . o se .

I 2 8 M AG I C A N D H U S BAN D R Y

The movements and positions of the planets and sta rs

were carefully studied by the ancient Babylonians I t was .

deemed of the utmost importance by them A large por .

tion of the libra ry of A shu rb a na b a l which has been re ,

cen t ly excavated was devoted to the explanation of the

,

portents of the varyin g phenomena of the h eavens and ,

thei r inuence upon the wel fare of the peopl e the p ros ,

p erit y of the count ry and upon agriculture By

, such .

observations they believed themselves to be best p repa red

to counteract un favorable conditions The appearance o f .

the new moon each month was care fully watched for and
observed a nd duly repo rted to the proper o ffici als The .

time when i t was rst discerned was recorded and the ,

king was in formed o f it O f special si gni cance was the .

announcement of an ecl ipse One of their o fficial reports .

reads :
T th A g i l t i t my l d
o e r cu ur s ,
or ,

Thy v ant N b hh m iddin

ser a us u ,

A n ffi f Ni n v h
o ce r o e e ,

M ay Na b nd M a d k b g a i u a r u e r c ou s

T th A g i l t i t my l d
o e r cu urs , or .

Th f t n th d a y w
e k pt a w a t h f the m n
ou r ee e e c or oo .

T h m n ff d n l i p

e oo su e re a ec se .

One o f the tablets records the appea rance of the sun

and moon at the same time on the fo u rte enth da y o f the
month and the prediction th at the gods o f Babyloni a
,

were favorably i nclined and The cattle o f Babyloni a ,
9
will pastu re i n sa fety Th e moon bei ng seen out o f
.

season might portend a fai lure of the ha rvest and being ,

thus forewarned they were prepared to make an e ffort to

,

forestall the fu ture and escape the dreaded consequ ences .

Th e time of the appearance and disappea rance o f the

planet Venus as an evening star was giv en S peci al prom i
R l i g i n f Baby l ni a nd A y i a M i J t OW 3S7
e o o o a ss r

, orr s as l

l b id 359

.
1 39 MAGI C AN D HUSBAN DRY

s erved that the precept was annually given in his day i n

al m anacs th at hogs should be ki lled when th e moon was
,

increasing fo r then the bacon would prove the better i n

,

boi ling Old w riters say that sheep should be sheared i n

.

the incre a se a nd timber cut at the full but wood fo r fu el

, ,

in t he rst qu a rt er Cattle must be gelded w hen the moon

.

is in A ri es S a gitt a rius or Capricorn Setting sowing

, , .
, ,

g r a ft i ng a nd pl a
, nt ing were advised wh en t he m oon was in
T a u ru s Vi rgo or Caprico rn In a wo rk w ritt en in 1 6 37
, , .
,

t he re a s o n gi ven fo r geldi ng cattl e and gathering fru it in

the wa ning mo o n was because in that s eas o n bodi es
have l esse humour and b eate by which an inna t ed putre ,

faction is wont to make them faulty and unsound A

writer in 1 6 6 1 says that foals got i n the wane of the moon
a re in ferior Grimm records a saying that cattle born or
.

weaned in a waning moo n a re not good fo r bre eding .

Those weaned in the waxi ng li ght have a better ch a nce fo r

growin g Weaned in the wane they grow thin and l ea n
.
,
.

G rass is not to be cut at the new but at the full moon that , ,

it may dry qui ckly Bamboo planks cut at the new m oon
.

last ten years but cut at the full rot with in the y ea r
, , .

'

Fru its t hat grow above ground a re to be sown in the wax

ing moon those under ground i n the waning
,
3
.
1

In an almanac o f 1 6 6 1 the necessi ty o f observi ng the

proper period of the moon in cultivation is shown in the
following passage :
I f any corn seed or plant be either set or sown with i n
,

six hours eithe r be fore or a fter the full moon in sum m e r ,

or be fore the new moon in w inter having j o i ned wi th th e ,

cos mical risin g of Arc turus and Orion the Ha edi and t h e ,

Siculi it is subj ect to blasting and

,

A wri ter in the Lo ndon S pecta to r re fe rs to the common

u
B ra nd, 6 58 ; Gi
r m m , 7 1 3, 7 1 5, 1 80 8 .

a
M g i c o f t he o rse- oe, 1 8 H
"
Sh .
L U NA R AN D P LANETARY I N FLUEN CE 1 31

belie f that cabbages must be sown the rst or second day

a fter the full moon or the plants when g rown will run to
,

seed and have no hea rt .

In a work by Si r Hugh Plat in 1 6 6 0 it is sai d to be , ,

w ell to sow peas at the full moon or three days be fore and ,

till eight days a fter Onions must be sowed the nearer

.

the full th e better and wi thin e ight days a fter at the

,

fa rthest Sow your coleower at the April full says

.
,

be. He gives it as a commonly accepted opinion of his

time that those seeds you wish to bring large roots and not
seed should be sowed in the wane and those you wish to go ,

to seed aga in should be sowed in the increase 1 5

Pliny .

thought ga rlic and beans might be sowed i n the wane of

the moon The latter he sai d Pytha goras condemned
.
, ,

because they contai ned the souls of the dead and Plutarch ,

says the Egyptian priests rejected the former because it is

the only plant that grows and ourishes wh ile the m oo n
is on the wane 16
We nd Tusser in the century before
.
,

Th e Gard en o f Ed en was wri tt en followin g the teach ,

in g of Pliny i n his verse :

S w p a n nd b a n in th w a n f th m n
o e e so a e s e e o e oo e,

Wh w th th m n h w t h t
o so e e n; soo e r, e so e oo soo e

Th a t th y w i th th pl a n t m y t nd i
e , e e ,
a res a r se,

And i h w i th b a i ng m t pl nti f l w i
ou r s e r , os e u se.

Two centuries later in Tusser Redivi vus ,

the r eason assi g ned for i t i s that peas and beans sown
du ring the i ncrease run more to ha w n and straw and so wn ,

during the declension more to cod accordin g to the, ,

common cons ent of count rymen .

The moon in the w an e, g tah er f ru i t for to la ts ,

says Tusser ,

Th G a d n f E d n

e r e 6
o e , 1 0 .

N a t a l H i t y xv iii ;
ur s or Ii ,

s s a nd Oii s r s,

v ii i.
1 32 MAGI C AN D HUSBAN DRY

But w int f it ga th
er ru er wh n M iche l is
e pa s t.

T he traditional inuence of the moon upon ve getatio n

and the n ecessi t y of obse rving the proper lunar period in
puttin g the seed into the ground is voiced by Keats in the ,

rhapsody of Edym ion who exclaims : ,

I n so w i ng i m e -t ne e r wou l d

I d i bb l t ake e,

Or d pa d
ro see , ti ll t ou h w a t w id aw ak
s e e.

Th e cobs from which the corn fo r the S prin g plantin g has

been shelled are buried wi th formal ceremonies by some
o f th e southern ne g roes The cobs a re carefully g ath .

e red up a n d carried to a runnin g stream and buried beneath

its bed This wi ll save the elds from drouth or re and
.
,

be a sa fe gu ard a g ainst thi eves and prowling stock but the ,

ceremony must take place in the g rowin g moon .

Natives of Nicaragua selected the nest g ra ins o f the

seed and exposed it to the moonlight four nights before

beginning to plant the caca o The day of the full moon .

and the thi rd day a fter no farm w o rk is done by the natives

of Sarawak or the paddy will bli ght and mildew
,
1 8
Hot .

ten tots dance before the m oon and practice all sorts of ,

bodi ly contortions cryin g out at her appea rance :

, I
salute you you a re welcome G rant us fodder for our
, .

1 9
cattle and mi lk in abundance .

In th e folk lore of southern Kentucky they say fru it is

-
,

never kill ed durin g the light of the moon and that potatoes ,

must be planted in the dark o f the moon and all vegetables

that ripen in the g round but corn must be planted in the ,

li ght of the moon Posts of a ra il fence will they say

.
, ,

sink into the g round i f not set in the dark of the moo n .

A house should be shin g led in the dark of the m oon or the ,

N a ti v R a
e ii 7
ces,

. 1 0.

N a ti v f Sa a w a k nd N th B i t i h B
es o r a or r s n
or eo,

i .
40 1 .

M nLoo T Ha l y 6
o re,

. re , 1 1 .
1 34 M AG I C AN D H USBAN DRY

wide custom o f primitive people of namin g months or

moons o f the yea r a ft er that na tu ra l produ ct which by i ts , ,

abundance or usefulness emphasi zes itsel f for the time ,

being above all other products In the Oj ibwa langua g e .

the September moon is called the moon of th e g atherin g

of wi ld rice The same was characteristic of other
American Indian tribes Two moons corresponding to .

September and October in the Dakota language received

thei r names from w ild rice In I roquois and Cher o .

k ee myth the origin of the M ilky Way is traced to corn

meal which dogs dropped from thei r mouths as they ran ,

and le ft a milky tra il across th e sky

.

Again and again the moon and th e sta rs a re re ferred

to in the old poet ry of th e Gree k s as si g ns for a g ricultural
ists i n thei r labors .

Wh en bene a th the s ki
n morni ng s b ri nk
es o
'

T he P le i a d s, Hy a d s, a nd O ri on s i nk ;
Know then the plow ing a nd the seed ti me nea r
When S i riu s a nd O ri on the m id-sky
Ascend , a nd on A rctu ru s look s from h i gh
T he osy nger d mo rn, t he v i nt a ge ca ll s

r - .

n rs t brions bea my strength is bor

o i

Wh e

n,
th en thy l a bo re rs t h ra s h the s acre d co rn

Le t .

3
i
N neteent h Ann a l R p
u e ort of the B a
u re u of Am ica n Ethn l
er o ogy, 2 59 ,
443, r0 8 9 .

'
H esio d
s W orks a nd D ay s,

Elt ns
o

tr anl a ti
s on .
 CHA PTE R VI I I

P ROTE CTI N G T H E I I E RDS

B li f th a t
e e s l d m n l ng g
ru e a o a o

\Vith in a t i n ft t i m h w ;
ou r c o s o es s o

T h h a b it
e f p i m va l d a y
s o r e s

St ill l b t
c ose m d nw av ;
ese ou r o er s

A nd th g h t wou n w i t h b a tf l p ri de
s e sco r o s u ,

t p n n i g id

Our s e s, u co sc ou s u e .

TH E phenomena which impress t h emse l ve s most fc rc

"
ibly on the mind of the sava ge says the historian Lecky , ,

are not those w hich enter mani festly into the sequence of
natural law and which are productive of most beneci al
e ffects but those which a re disastrous and appa rently
,
2
abnormal At a time when it w as almost universally
.

believed that one of the ordinary occupations of witches

and evil spi rits was to sti r up hai lstorms and tempests ,

bringi ng destruction upon certain locali ties and leaving

others in close proximity untouched ruinin g one man s ,

eld and leaving unscathed his nei ghbor s what more

,

logical conclusion than that the r evengeful hand o f some

diabolical ag ent was responsible fo r such un fai r parti ality ?
I f fear that harm would come to hi s crop from such
sources was ever presen t with the cultivator of the land ,

i t was doubly so to him who was given the care and over
si gh t o f ocks and herds Any mal formation of the .

young or un fortunate ci rcumstance attendin g thei r growth

,

and a fter li fe even death itsel f pointed to the ma g icia n

, ,

H ny P h i ll i p i
e r s, r,
. in J ou r a l o n f : 1 merica n F olk-L ore, vol iii . .

R at i na l i m in E
o s u ro e, p
i .

1 35
1 36 MAGI C AN D HUSBAN DRY

or witch as the source of it To nd means to ci rcumvent .

these powers and undo thei r work or guard against i t , ,

was p raisewo rthy T hi s we cannot deny however much

.
,

th e mind sta gg ers at the ma gni tude of thei r creduli t y i n

some of the meth ods recorded in the works devoted to th e
subject in th e M iddle Ages and later centu ries In one .

o f the most noted and perhaps in famous works o f this

, ,

cha racter the M alleus M a lica ru m published in 1 489

,

, ,

was formulated in detai l the doctri ne of witchcra ft It .

was also a code of procedure a g ainst witch es Its th r ee .

principal pa rts were : Thin gs that pe rtain to Witchcra ft ,

"
The E ects 0 f Witchcra ft and The Remedies for ,

Witchcra ft One of the k inds of witches describ ed
.

therein one of the principal subdivisions of them has the

, ,

prero g ative of possessin g the power of making thunder

and li g htnin g and hail and hurtful weather and raising
,

tempests To another cla ss is g iven the faculty of causing

.

ba rrenness in man woman and beast , these can make ,

horses k ick till they cast thei r riders these can

w ith thei r looks kill either man or beast They can stay .

the pro g ress of the day or the ni g ht T hei r loo k kills a .

l a mb but fortunately the remedy is pre scribed The e ffect

, .

may be counteracted or p revented by saying : M i randa

ca n unt fed non credenda p a t e
, A bewitched beast mi ght .

be cured with h oly w ater though the beast was not to be ,

sp rin kled w ith the w ater but have it tu rned into i ts mouth
, .

Another cu re for a beast So a fflicted was the saying o f

th r ee pa ter n os ters and three ( w e: and the exh ibi t of three

cr oss es o r at Easter take dr a ps of the holy paschal candle

, , ,

that lie uppe rmost a nd mak e a w ax candle of t hem

, .

Li g ht i t on Sunday mornin g and hold i t so that it wi ll

drop upon and between th e horns and ea rs o f the beast
w hich is under the spell of the witch meanwhile sa ying z z ,

in nomin e lii duplex Then bu rn the beast a little
.
1 3s MAG I C AN D HUSBAN DRY

stuck a kni fe in an oa k en pos t hung a string on i t , ,

and made the mi lk flow out of the string or drove an ,

ax into the door pos t and took mi lk out of the helve .

They drew milk out of a spi ndle and out of a suspende d

handkerchief They tu rned good milk blue and watery or
.
,

made it the c ol o r of blood or they bewitched it so that i t

,

brou ght no butter thou g h by whipping the milk in the pot

,

o r sti rrin g it with a sic kle the cut of the lash or sic kle made

the witch danc e They made the cattle poor by strippi ng

.

the dew from the g rass which they ca rri ed to th e i r own

,

pastu res They made the herds sick by conjuring into thei r
.

bones caterpilla rs and beetles the witches elves It may ,

.

be sugg ested i n passi n g that the probable ori g i n of these

witches elves which were conj ured into the bones were the

ies from whose e ggs deposited in the back of the animal

,

as a chosen breeding place spran g the la rv a: designated,

as caterpi llars and beetles and commonly known as grubs

, .

To guard against these witches holy stones were hung ,

at the heads of horses in the stable or an elder was planted ,

before the stable door Branches of the elsb eer tree hung
.

over the stable on Walpur g is ni ght kept out the flying

dragon Red ra gs were tied round the cows tai ls the
.

first time they were driven to the pastu re i n the spring as

a preventive of bewi tchment or a bear shut i n the cows ,

s table durin g the night prev ented the witch from getting

any hold on the cattle for the bea r scratched out the stu ff
,

that held the magic When the Esthoni ans drove th ei r

.

cattle out first for the year they buried eggs under the
threshold which the cattle must pass over and that would
ensure them sa fety I n the S a a lfield country when th e
.
,

cattle were fi rst driven out axes saws and oth er i ron tools
, , ,

were lai d outsi de the stable door to keep them sa fe from

ha rm In some localities the ax was w rapped in a blue
.

apron and plac ed just insi de the stable and the cattle were
 PROTE CTING TH E HE RD S 1 39

allowed to step over it And i f when they were fe d the .

eveni n g be fore three pinches o f salt were sprinkle d be

tween thei r horns and the k eeper walked backwards out of
the stable evil eyes could not a ffect them Boughs hal .

lowed on M idsummer Day and hung at the stable door or

at the stall where the cattle stood prevented the work o f
w i tches The sheep fold was decked w ith green bou gh s
.

and a wreath hung at the gate on the celeb ration of the

Roman Pari lia An old poet has written of Assumption
.

Day
G a t b nd l th n f h b t h
re u es e o ea r e s o c u rc h the pe pl f a
o e st doe
ba e re,

T h w h i h a g a i n t a ll h t f l th i ng
e c s ur u s the pi r est d th h a ll
o ow

th ea re,

and thus expel H

every pa in ful griefe from man or

And the following v erse is an old expression o f belie f

in consecrat ed wi llows and palms as g ua rdians o f man
and beast :
B id th y a nd l p d li ght f v t li k in a ll
es es e c es u o ,
o er u e e ,

A nd wi ll w b a n h h a ll w th a t th y P a l m d
o t a ll
r c es o , e es o u se o c .

Th i d n th y v i l y b l v th t m p t n th t m
s o e, e er e ee e e e es or e s or e

C n n yt h a h t th m l v n y t th i a tt ll n th i r com e!
e er ur
"
e se es, or e e r c e , or e

Pennant in his Tour of Scotland spea ks of findin g
, ,

mountain ash and honeysuckle boughs i n use in the cow

houses to protect the herd from w itches an d bei n g
bewitch ed R ed thr ead was tied to them to prevent them
.

from losing th ei r mi lk The evi l eye was sai d to e ffect .

milk cows more than lambs To prevent its inju rious .

e ffects the good hous ewi fe took what mi lk she could get
from the a ffected cattle boi led certai n herbs i n i t a d din g , ,

R m a n F t i va l \V a d F w l 5
o es s,

r e o e r, 0 .

B a nd Anti q i t i
r
'
s 9 u es,

1 1 .

'
l bid 6 a
. .
l 4o MAG I C AN D HUSBAND RY

f
l i nts and untempered ste el Then she fastene d the door .

and i nv ok ed the sacred three This put the witch i n .

agony and he came beggi ng to the door and see k in g reli ef

by touchin g the pot i n which the herbs were boi led when ,

the woman ba rga ined with the witch for a restoration of

the mil k to the herd and so found relief To prove that a , .

cow was really a ffected by a witch a test was made by ,

boilin g a certain herb i n the mi lk I f it disti lled blood .

there was no longer any doubt about it .

M r Ma rtin while travelin g i n the Western I sles o f

.
,

S cotland was assured by the minister and others that

,

when James Macdonald was k i lled at the battle o f Keli

crank y his cows g ave blood instead of mi lk Most likely .

the story g rew out of a belie f that the death was e ffected
by w itch cra ft A method of breaking unruly cattle from
.

trespassin g on another s field observed by the same author

, ,

w as for the owner of the unruly animals to take them to

his o w n boundaries and draw a little blood from each of
them leavin g the animals on the spot They would ma k e
, .

him no more trouble du ring the season Cattle obse rved .

ru nnin g up and down the f i eld without any appa rent

reason bet ok ened the death of the master or mistress of
,

the place 9
.

I n Yor ksh i re En g lan d and in a large part o f Swi tzer

, ,

land and France i f some member of a fami ly ki lls a robi n

, ,

the fam i ly cow it is believed will give bloody mi lk ,

1
, .
0

The writer has often hea rd in N ew York State a simila r

e ffect asc ribed to the ki lling o f a toad by a member of the
family I f a swallow pass into the stable and under the
.

cow she will g ive bloody milk is reported by Grimm To , .

stop the flow of it lead the cow to a crossways mil k her , ,

'
P i nk erto ns
V ya g
o es,

iii . 69, 2 88 .

l bid iii 6 4
. . 2 .

E ng l i h F l k L
s o - o re,

T . F T .
. Dy er, 63
.
I 42 MAG I C A ND H U S BAN DRY

To- d ay
h d Id v my er ro e

I nt O L a dy g v

o ur s ro e,

I nt Ab a h a m g a d n;

o r s r e

B g d S t M a ti n
e oo ,
. r ,

T h i d a y m y a tt l w a d n
s c

e s r e ,

M y g d S t W l fg a ng g d S t P t
a oo . o , oo . e er

( Wh k y n h v n nl k )
ose e ca ea u oc ,

T h a t f w l f nd v ix n b l k
ro o o a e oc ,

B l d f m h dd i ng b n f m n h i ng !
oo ro s e , o e ro cru c

H lp m th h ly n
e e e o o e,

Wh ill h a th n v d n
o e er o e,

A nd h i V h ly w nd s o ou s

K p my h d f m a ll w d h nd
ee er ro oo -
ou s .
" I.

The ash tree was held by the I rish to be power ful

a g ainst witches Branches of i t were wreathed round the
.

horns o f the cattle and round the chi ld s cradle to keep o ff

evi l in fluences In the tales o f fa i ry dances with th e dead

.
,

mortals were sa fe i f they secu red a branch o f the ash and

held i t till they were out of reach of the spell The alder .

wa s also a sacred tree and had power to avert evil The .

hawth o rn too was sacred to the fai ries and an a bla tio n
, , ,

of milk was poured round its roots on M ay Day Fai ries .

were thou ght to be desi rous o f obtaining handsome cows ,

and o ften abducted them leaving in thei r places old and ,

diseased ones In various ways the spells o f the fa i ries

.

were made ine f fective A bunch of primroses was ti ed .

t o the tail of the cow o r a hot coal run down the cow s

back to sin ge the hai r I f witches stol e the mi lk from the

.

cows on May Day morning it was said the butter and , ,

cream for the whole yea r then belonged to the fa i ries .

Primroses scattered on the threshold protected from the

the ft especially i f they were plucked before sunrise as
, ,

then no evil spi rit could touch anything guarded by them .

The milk could be saved by peeling branches of mountai n

ash and binding them round the m ilkpa il and the churn .

G im m 2 4
r , 1 0.
 PRO TE CTING TH E H E R D S 1 43

This too must b e done before the sun w as up A h orse

, , .
-
8

shoe w ould also sometimes serve to protect the butter or ,

a rus ty nai l f rom a co ffin driven into the side of it or a cross ,

made of leaves of veronica and placed at the bottom of the

m ilkpa il w ould answ er A n I rish way o f preventing the
.

robbery of the cream from the mi lk by witchcra ft was to

sti r the mi lk seven times with the hand o f a dead man
ne w ly taken from the churchyard On M ay Day morn .

in g fai ri es w ere thou ght to h ave the g reatest power and ,

thei r i n f
l uence must be ca re fully gua rded a g ai nst S ome .

times on that day a sacred hei fer snow-whi te appeared , ,

amon g the cattle This w as g reat luck to the fa rme r

. .

It is alluded to i n an I rish son g :

Th i a cow n th m nta i n
ere s o e ou ,

A f a i w h i te ow ; r c

Sh g eE a t nd h g W t
oes s a s e oes es ,

A nd my n h av g n f l v f h ;
se ses e o e or o e o er

Sh g ew i th th n nd h f g t t b n
oes e su a e or e s o ur ,

A nd th m n t n h e f a w ith l v t h
oo ur s er ce o e o er,

My f a i w h i t cow f th m nt a i n
r e o e ou .

A peculiar custom o f the I rish i n the sixteenth century

is g iven by Th istleton Dye r on the authority of a wri ter

i n Notes and Queries I t consisted i n driving the .

cattle onto a nei g hbor s corn and lettin g them eat it It

.

must be done on M ay Eve and for a whole year a witch ,

w ould have no power over them 1 6

.

Ni ss en the good fai ry of the fa rme rs amon g the Nor

, ,

wegia ns looked a fter the cattle and made them productive

,

i f he was well treated A dish of porri d ge was placed .

upon the threshold of the stable for him on Christmas

morning When the fa rmer changes his resi dence the
.

protecting fai ry goes with him riding on top of the load ,

which carries his e ffects Pictures of this benevolent .

A n i nt L g nd f I l a nd L a dy \V i l d
c e e e s o 3 27
re72
"
, e, :0 ,
1 , I .

B iti h P p l a C t m
r s o u r us o s,

2 22 .
I 44 MA G IC A N D HUSBAN DRY

guardian adorn a g ri cu ltu ral a d vertisements an d i m a g es ,

o f him a re ca rved and sold in the stores for cu rios He .

is represented as a short fat bow le gged m a n wi t h b i g

-
, ,

w hiskers and l on g w hite hai r .

The poet Herric k g ives a cha rm for pro te ctin g th e occu

pants o f the stable from the ni g ht ha g :
a ha
h k
H ng u p oo s a nd s e rs to sca re
H en ha id
ce the h a g t a
t r es the m re,
ill h
T t ey be a ll vo er w et

W i th th m i nd th w a t ;
e re a e s e

Th i b v d th m a n h a l l be
s o ser e , e es s

Of y r h ou a ll k n t f
o rses o - ree.
"

The elves or ni g ht spi rits w hich w ere supposed to have

, ,

ri dden the borrow ed horses in the ni ght to thei r places o f

meeting left them all covered wi th sweat and foam They
, .

rolled up the manes and tai ls of the horses i n k nots El f .

all my ha i r in knots is the exclamatio n of E dgar in , ,

King Lear an allusion to this then commonly accepte d
,

belief "
.

On certai n festiva l days the Kunbi s o f I ndi a w ash thei r

horses and decorate th em with flo w ers sacrice a sheep ,

to them and sprin k le them with its blood It is a popula r

, .

belief in Indi a that the hors e once had win gs and that th ey ,

g rew formerly where now are the chestnuts or sca rs o n

its le gs 1 8
. M any people have ascribed supernatural qua l
ities to the horse It was believed in En glan d that a hors e
.

had the po w er o f seein g ghosts and could cu re certai n ,

diseases .

In the quaint boo k o f A nthony Herbert the properti es

o f a good horse are listed at L I I I T hey are classied .

as follows : I I pa rts o f a m an; I I of a badger ; 1 1 1 1

. . .

of a lion ; I X of an ox ; I X o fa hare ; I X of a fo x ; I X o f
. . . .

A t ii
c n 3
. sc
e e .

R l i g i n nd F l k L f N th n I nd i a W C k
- o re o
e o a o or er , . roo e,
I 46 MAG IC AN D HUSBAN DRY

Qu i c , u ic , u ic !
k q k q k
Bri nkg m il i nto the d u gs .

T he sa p com es in the beec es , h

T he l e af
comes on t he o a k,

and other simi lar verses d esigned to protect the cows fro m ,

witch inuence .

Professor E P Evans rel a tes an i nci dent that occu rre d

. .

in 1 89 6 not far from Perm on the Kama when the bull

, , ,

of a peasant havi ng died suddenly it was declared to be ,

the result of witchcra ft The owner demanded a test o f .

all the w omen in the vi llage in order to prove the w itch .

It was proposed that they be made to creep throu g h a

horse collar and the plan being approved by the nei g h
,

bors of the peasant i t w as put into execution thou gh no t

, ,

wi thout some protest on the pa rt of the more !corp u lent

w omen 21
.

A cow in the stable with white feet and w hite stripes on

her back has been counted a protection against wi tches ,

thou gh some stables i t was said w ould not endure whi te, ,

cattle They would die o ff or get crushed

. .

A peculia r property attributed to hay stolen the ni ght

be fore Christma s and fed to the cattle was that i t protected
the thie f from bein g caught in th e futu re as well as made ,

the animals thrive When a cow was driven rst to pas

.

ture in the spring a salutary e f fect was pro duced by mi lk

,

ing her through a wreath of ground ivy Peasants of .

Thuringi a led fresh cow s over three fold i ron to promote

a good yield o f mi lk or prev ent t he i nterference o f ,

witches C reeping between the fore legs of a cow pre

.

vented the cow from losing a horn Pigs bathed in water .

in which swine had been scalded grew famous ly Wends .

s et up an oak tree with an i ron cock fast ened on the t o p

and dro ve the cattle rou nd it to make t h em thriv e I f a

.

Th G l d n B g h iii "
e o e ou ,
. :2 .

P p l
o S i n M nth ly l i v
u ar c e 9ce o , . 2 1 .
 PROTE CTIN G THE HE RD S

person walks down the street wi th one foot shod and the
other one ba re all the cattle coming that way a re lia bl e to
,

fall sick T he old saying that all the cattle stand up

.

between eleven and twelve on Christmas ni ght it is said , ,

can only be i nvesti gated at the risk of one s li fe

.

Curious belie fs a re noted to account for the occasional

dryi ng up o f the mi lk of a cow The mi lk from two men s .

cows being mixed one of the cows wi ll dry up I f any

, .

part of a rstborn cal f be roasted the milk o f the mother

w ill dry up The Hebrews had a kindred belie f that a kid
.

must not be seethed i n its mother s milk else ina m
,

mation wou ld be produced i n the mother A beast m ust .

not b e struck with a pe eled rod lest i t dry u p Ci rcassi ans

-
.

loo k upon the pea r tree as a protector o f the cattle S o .

they carrybranches of it home and adore it as a divinity .

On th e day of th e autumn festiva l i t is carried i nto the

house with great ceremony to the sound of music and ,

covered with candl es and cheese is fastened to its top 23

, .

A poi son er o f cattle might be detected according to an ,

old belief of the Germ ans by sticking thi rty pins into the ,

hea rt o f the animal and hanging i t i n the chimn ey when , ,

probably through the e ffect of sympathetic magic the ,

poisoner consci ence stricken made con fession The use

, , .

of asa fetida a s an anti dote to witchcra ft is learned from

the story of the bewitchment o f grandmother Eiler s cow
.

A suspicious app ea ring w oman passed through the yard

-

whi le she was m ilking I was foolish enough sai d she .
, ,

to t ell her all a bout the cow how gentle she was how , ,

much mi lk she was giving and all that and she sai d I cer , ,

t a inly had a ne cow Well the next morning that cow .

,

couldn t stand on her feet and there she lay in the s table

,

ti ll father came from the mountain where he was cuttin g

E x d xx ii i 9 ; D nt iv
o us . : e . x . 2 t .

I "
Tl G ld n B gh

e o i 94 e ou ,
"
. 1 .

G imm 8 4
r ,
1 2 .
I 48 MAG I C A N D HUSBAN DRY

wood He sai d i t was all pla in enough w hen I told him

.

everythin g but he wondered I hadn t had better sense
,
.

However he k new just what to do He rubbed the cow

,
.

all over with asa fetida saying words all the time And ,
.

the next day when mother Ei ler went to the ba rn the cow
stood on her four legs eating like a hound 25
.

To learn i f the death of an animal was rea lly due to

witchcra ft the carcass was sometimes bu rnt in the open
,

ai r T hi s brou g ht the w itch to the spot the rst that

.
,

came M r Rhys relates a story told by a M ichael woma n

. .

who watched the burning of a beauti ful colt whose death

was supposed to have b een caused by bewitchment The .

woman a ffirm ed tha t she saw the witch come to the re o

,

with her shriveled face and nose and chin in close p rox ,

In ea rly times the M anx burnt a live sheep fo r

the public goo d on May Day They fast ened crosses o f , .

rowan to the tai ls of thei r cattle to gua rd them from evi l

inuences Hi ghlanders o f Scotland bu rned juniper b e
.

fore thei r cattle They sprin kled them with urine on the
.

rst Monday in every quarter It is told o f Ki ng Louis .

Phillipe that he never fa iled to urinate against the le ft

hind leg of his horse be fore mounting as according to an , ,

old caval ry tradition it had the e ffect of stren g theni ng the ,

leg o f the beast and rendering the animal more apt to sus
ta in the e ffort ma de by the rider when jumping upon the
sa ddle 28
In County Cork I reland rus ty tin dishes a re
.
, ,

scoured with cow manure which is blessed and will benet ,

the dishes and bring good l u c k Not infrequently keelers .

an d o ther dish es for holdin g the mi lk are buried under a

'
J n l ofA merica n F olk-L ore
our a , xi v 39 . .

Cel t i c Fo l k -Lo re Wel s h a nd , M a nx ,

i 30 5
. .

P i nkertons Voy a ges, iii 9 0

"
. .

S ca ta lo g ic R it J G B k
es ,

. . o u r e, 38 6 , n the a u th ori ty of a pe rsona l
o

l ette r f ro m Ca p t H n i J n f th
. e r ou a o e F re nc h navy w ho h a d it f rom P ri nce
,

of Joi nv i ll e , so n f k i ng L i
o o u s.
1 50 MAG I C AN D H USBAND RY

In some pa rts of Russi a at the feast o f the Epip h any

, ,

sheave s of va rious k inds of g rai n a re taken into the cou rt

yard a fter the morning se rv ice the cattle are driven up to ,

them and both cattle and grain are sprinkled with holy
,

water Carrying a padlock three times round the h erd

.

before letting them into the elds in the S pring is another

ceremonial for th ei r protection He who carries the lock .
,

loc k s and unlocks i t as he goes saying I lock from my , ,

herd the mouths o f the gray w olves with th is steel loc k .

I t is nally locked and h idden away ti ll the autumn w he n ,

t he cattle are retu rned to thei r winter qua rters .

In a kindred ceremony of the Bulga rians a woman t a k es ,

a needle and thread a fter dark and sews the ski rts of her
dress to gether whi le tellin g her chi ld that she is sewin g up
the mouths and ea rs and eyes of the wolves so they ca n
not bite or hea r the sheep goats or pigs A method of
, , .

protectin g cattle from the evil eye in H os hongabad i s

given by Willi am Crooke Herdsmen go about in a .

body du ring the ni ght singing and begging and they keep
, ,

the cattle from sleeping In the mornin g the wh ite cows

.

are stamped wi th the hand dipped in yellow paint a nd the ,

red cows with a hand di pped in white paint S trin gs of .

p eacoc k s f eathers are tied to their horns and as they are

,

driven out with y ells an ea rthen water j a r is smashed on

the last one and the neck of it is plac ed on the gateway
,

leadin g to the cattle sheds In the a fternoon the priest

.

S prinkles them with water and they a re presumed to be

,

h encefo rth sa fe from all evi l In M irz u pu r th ey give the

.

animals protection b y h a nging an earth en bell round th e

,

neck In Bera r a sacred rope is mad e of twisted grass

.

and covered with mango l eav es and the bullocks O f the ,

vi ll a ge a re made to pass un der i t The magic power o f .

the rop e gu a rds7fro m dis ease and accident A rope O f

.

3
s ng

f th R
o s o i a n P pl
e 3 39 S
u ss eo e,

20 .
 PROTE C T I N G TH E HE R D S 1 5 :

st ra w cov ered w it h ma ngo l ea ves may be h un g o ve r a

roa d w ay a l ong whi ch ca ttle pass or som etimes tw o p oles ,

an d a cro ss b a r are erected at th e entrance o f a vi ll age .

Th e Dra v idi a ns of Sou th Mirz u pu r ma k e a po w erfu l

cha rm by si nk in g a plowbea m into the g round near by .

Pu sha n th e Ve di c agri cultu ra l dei ty guarded th e ca ttl e

, .

an d p rev ented them from stra y in g a nd found t h em a ga in

wh en l ost He was i nvo ked to ca re for th em to keep
.
,

th em from ha rm and b ri n g them sa fe home a g ai n

, Re .

s pect for the cow and loath in g for the pi g h ave b een
, ,

sa i d to be th e be gi nnin g an d end of the reli gion of a lar ge

p roporti on of th e ma sses both H i ndu and Mo hammeda n , ,

in Indi a .

I t is l ea rne d f rom t h e famous Chapter C XX V of the .

Bo ok of the Dead that the Ka of the E gypti a ns ha d to

be a b l e to decla re in the Judgm ent Hall of Os i ris th at h e
h a d not slaugh tered the catt le set apa rt for sacri ces a nd ,

h a d not dri v en th em from the sacred p astu res ; b ut ca ttl e

whi ch wandered about and were not ca red for mi g h t b e
le d a w a y b y anyone for sacri ce

.

The re gard fo r and the clos e relations h ip wi th thei r

ca ttle by nomadic people have often been noted by w riters .

I n the sa cred hym ns o f Z oroaster the followe rs o f the

prophet a re often rem inded of thei r obli ga ti ons to have
kindly ca re over thei r animals I t is a moral and reli g iou s .

duty the ne glect of whi ch may be followed by the mos t

,

seri ous co ns e qu ences to them The des tru ction or l oss of .

th ei r h erds w ou l d drive them back to pi llage a n d murd er ,

an d ma k e them like the freeboote rs of w hom th ey com

p la ined .

'
Re ligion nd F lk Lore of Nort hern India 377 37 8
a o -
,

, .

P im i t i v C i v ili zat i n i 47 n n
r e o s,

. : , o e .

'
P apy f Sa yin
ru s gos (u p 3
-3 B .

O ldest Book in the 00 .
"
s

W ld Isa ac Mye 2 6 3
or ,

r, .

The Oa th of Zoms sm La w ence Mil l Yu a n w ill and IL

' "
. r s,
I 52 M AG I C A N D H U SBAN DRY

A story is told of a ne gro cattle driver i n M artinique

who left hi s herd in ca re of a plaster image o f the Vi rgi n ,

and re tu rning later found them strayed in all di r ce

, ,

tions In his anger he rushed upon the image breaking

.
,

it f rom its base and inicting numerous lashes wi th hi s

whip upon it For this o ffense he was tried and con
.

victed and sentenced to prison for li fe

, .

It has been sa id of N eilgherry herdsmen that i f the cow

was taken from them thei r whole society would go astray

an d fall to pieces S ays Elie Re clus : The devotional .

care with whi ch they su rround thei r herds is thei r worship ,

t hei r religion E ach Toda village owns a sacred herd
.
,

led b y a bell cow whose descent in the female line is from

an i llustrious or sacred cow Her successor is consecrated .

by the priest who mornin g and evening for three succes

, ,

s ive da y s swings the bell before it is fastened upon her

, ,

s aying : H ow fai r was thy mother ! How much m i lk .

s he gave ! Be not less generous ! H enceforth thou shalt

33
be a divinity amongst us .

Among pastoral A frican tribes the animals were looked

up on as sa cred or kindred bein gs to be killed only in time ,

of n eed or on exceptional occasions I t is customa ry

, .

when they kill thei r cattle for food to do i t without shed

ding blood Care is taken lest their blood fall upon the
.

g round as sorcerers might then make evil use of it an d

, ,

m ight brin g sickness and destruction to the rest o f the

herd The Hebrews were not permitted to use as o ffer
.

ings animal s that were blind or broken or maimed or , , ,

havin g a wen or scu rvy or scabbed or anything sup e r

, , ,
39
u ou s or lacking i n its parts These defects were .

proo fs of the evil in them and possibly were believed to ,

Two Ye a rs in the F n
re c hW es t In di es.

L a f ad i
c o Hu m 73

P i m i ti v
r e Fo lk
,

21 8 .

L v xx i i

e . . 22 .
x54 MAG I C A N D H USB A N D R Y

In ea rly tim es s a crices were o ffered to the wo lves i n

som e E a st e rncou n tries to indu ce them to sp a re the ocks
, .

The Letts sa criced a goa t to prot ect thei r ocks a t o r ,

a b out Ch ristm a s a t the cross r oa d s

, E arly le g ends say .

th a t the I rish sa criced t he rstbo rn o f every species to a

dei t y ca lled Crom Cru a ith a st one ca pp ed w i th g ol d
-

a ro und which s too d tw elve ot h e r st ones re p resentin g him , .

E a rly le gends in dicate th at a ch ild wa s a t one time s acri

ced to S t Patrick on hi s day the ryth of M arch though
.
, ,

in later times an animal was su bstituted ; it was also a

common custom to a ix la rge cros ses made o f owers and
straw to the doo rpo sts and sacri ce a black cock It was
, .

thou ght necessary that blood shou ld be S pilled The .

Dru ids o ffered the rs tlings of thei r ocks to the su n g od ,

according to the le genda ry lore of th em "

.

The Pass over wa s the most a n cient of the H ebrew rites .

It is believed to date from th e period of th ei r nomadic

'

li fe and to be older th an the a g ricultu ra l feast of u nlea v

,

ened bread with which i t was associ ated later and to

, ,

belon g to a time when in thei r desert li fe they relied for

sust enance upon manna and thei r cattle The wan der .

ing people looked upon thei r cattle as sacred and the rst ,

li ngs of them as belongin g speci ally to the Deity wit h ,

whom they p a rtook in a sacricial feast in th e spring as

an expression of thei r thankfuln ess for the annual i ncrease
O f thei r ocks and herds All that openeth the matrix.

is m ine ; and every rstling amon g thy cattle w hether ,

ox or sheep that is male sai d Jahveh
, The rstborn
, .

child was ransomed with the sacrice of a lamb thou g h , ,

says Robertson Smith the paschal lamb is unknown to

,

Deuteronomy and E ze ki el and its ritual in ,

L egen I l a nd
d s o f re ,

L a dy W il d e: 3

R ligi n f I a l t
e o o sr e o the Exi l C a l B udd
e,

r e. 74
'

Ex d xxxi v 9
o u s, . 1
 P R OT E C T IN G T HE H E R D S I 55
5
its nal fo rm ca nnot be ol der than the Exil e The .

prophets tes ti fy to the sacri ce o f the chi ldre n o f the

Hebrews a cco rdin g to cu s tom in the cent uri es before the
, ,

exil e .

Shall I give my rstborn for m y tra ns g ression ,

t he f rui t of my body for the sin of my soul ? a sks

M ica h It is unquestioned that children were Offered in

.

re to thei r deities by other Semi ti c peoples inclose prox

im it y to the Hebrews And it is su ggested by Professor .

Frazer that the lamb was su bsti tuted for the rstborn
"
chi ld a fter the development of more humane sentime nt .

That the faith ful Observance o f the a nnual ri te had much

to do with the prosperity of thei r herds and ocks a nd
thei r famil ies accordin g to thei r b el i ef ca n hardly be
, ,

questi oned .

Amon g the cattle breeders o f the Babyloni ans it was of

g reat import ance to have fami li a r knowl edge of the
lore of the omen table ts The bi rth in the ocks a nd herds .

of de formed animals or freaks and monstrositie s wa s care

fully noted and was believed to be portentous of g ood
,

or evil The death Of the owner and the destruction o f his

.

house followed the bi rth O f ve lambs at one bi rth D e .

crease of population and dev a station were foretold by the

bi rth in the ock of one with more than four le gs or lack ,

ing an ear though the extent of the impendin g misf o rtune

,

might depend upon whether i t was the ri g ht or the le ft

ca r .

I t was the same wi th colts The bi rth of one w ith .

a shortened leg was ominous of calamity I f the right le gs .

were lacking i t meant destructi on ; though i t forboded a

lon g reign o f the king i f the foal was born without le ft
T t a m nt
O ld es e in t he J wi h C h
e s u rc h "
. 44 ' 0
3 "

Mi ah vi 7c . .

Th G l d n B h ii"
e o e ou g ,
.
49 .
1 5 6 M AG I C AN D HU S BAN D RY

le gs Domestic trouble was indicated by a lackin g hoof on

.

the ri g ht foreleg ; and a dog s hoo f on a female colt fore

boded m isfortune to the land thou g h one with a lion s ,

cla w si g nied expansion o f territor y and one w ithout a ,

ta il meant death to the king 8

.

Numerous cases reported by Professor E P Evans 9

. .

in recent yea rs g ive evidence that belie f i n the bew itchment

of cattle still survives In an a rticle published in 1 8 9 5.
,

the author says Theresi a Kleitsch was crucied about a

y ear before in Rekeseley Hunga ry for bewitchin g the , ,

stall s of her nei g hbors and causin g thei r cattle to die of

m u rrain In June 1 8 8 5 X aver Endtes was sent to j ai l
.
, ,

for three w ee ks at Kempton Bavari a for swindli ng , ,

seventeen marks out of a peasant for castin g devils out

from his cattle The sorcerer kindled a re in the stable
.

and heated two i ron bars red hot then poured on them -
,

a quantity O f mi lk and told the peasant the lm o f the

,

s calded mi lk w as the skin of the witch which he had ren ,

dered harmless in the fu ture A few years later while .

,

the people of Lupest Hun g ary were rejoicin g over the , ,

death Of a reputed witch a vi llager s cow mysteriously ,

died suddenly An investigation by the C ommon Counci l

.

s ho w ed that the cow had been bewitch ed by the dead

woman and to prevent other like calamities i t was ordered

,

th a t a stallion should be made to leap over her grave As .

the fri ghtened horse could not be induced to execute the

decree the Council further ordered that the body o f the
,

wi tch should be exhumed and stabbed with red hot pitch -

forks which was apparently e ffective as nothing more was

, ,

heard Of the trouble In 1 89 2 Victori a S iefrit z was .

charged with bewitchin g the stall Of the bu rgomaster i n

Baden and causin g an epidemic o f h oo f disease and in the
, ,

R l i gi n f Ba by l ni a nd A y i a M i J a t w 39 5
e o o o a ss r

, o rr s s ro , .

S i n M nth ly xl v ii i 7 3

Th P p l e o u ar c e ce o , . .
 CHA PTE R I X
HEAL I NG

The min d d th h a p i t l f
o s e se to its ow n w a nts .
M

As long as people had faith i n plain En glish believed , ,

t h at they could be ma g ically cured of a disease they ,

thought that they or others were so cured wrote Charles ,

Kingsley . As long as they believed that witches could
curse them they believed that an old woman in the n ex t
,

parish had overlooked them thei r cattle and thei r crops ; , ,

and that therefore they were poor diseased and u nfortu , ,

"2
nate As in the rst century in the country of the Gada ,

renes men were healed by drivin g the evi l spi ri ts that

,

a ffli cted them into swine and destroyin g the animals so ,

a re the Tibetans now made whole at t he dawn o f the

tw entieth century M r Landor tells us tha t the I I u nya s
. .
3 -

believe that i f a man falls ill the only way to cure him is
to drive away the evil spi rit that has entered into him to ,

s atis fy its cravin g for blood I f the illness is slight to .

,

please and decoy the spi rit a small animal as a do g or ,

bi rd is placed near the sick man I f the illness is more

, .

serious a larger animal as a sheep or yak is produced

, , , ,

and exorcisms a re made A bowl of w a ter is whi rled three .

'

or fou r times over the sick man s head and then over th e
,

animal and then poured on the head O f the latter These

,
.

ci rcles and certain mystic words have power to draw away

the evi l spi rit from the patient and cause it to enter the
o J a nna Ba i lli e .

Th H m i t

e er 2 4 s, 0 .

M
I n t h F b i dd n L a nd
e or A H n y Sa v a ge L a nd i 39 3
e .

. e r or.

1 58
 HE AL I N G 1 59

brai n of th e a n im a l and po urin g the wate r on the h ead o f

,

the anim a l prevents its retu rnin g W hen the spi ri t i s made .

captive a n d sa fely l odged i n the animal the latter is hur ,

riedly d ra gg ed away to a cros si n g of four roads w h ere ,

a gra ve i s du g and it is b urie d ali v e T he spi ri t r em ains .

to suck th e b lood of its later v ictim an d the pa tient rapi dl y ,

recove rs Som etimes i f th e animal is small as a bi rd it

. , ,

i s torn into four pi eces and a piece th rown ineach of the

c ross ing w ays To prev ent the retu rn of the evil one the
.

Sho ka s p la ce b ranc h es of th orn a nd smal l y ing p ra y ers

i n eac h roa d .

T h e s acri fice o f a l i fe o r so met hing bou g ht with a '

p rice was an cective ch a rm for ave rtin g calamiti es in

p rimitive con ceptions D avid bou gh t the threshi ng oor
.

of A raunah and h is o x en and built a nalta r and sacri ced

, ,

u po n i t and so s tayed the plague whic h was ra va gin g t h e

,

l an d W e a re told that t h e p ri ce pai d was fty shek els o f

.

si l ver for the k in g refu sed to accep t th em as a g i ft or to

, ,

ma k e use o f tha t which had cost him nothing

.

That disease and death were brou g ht upon the ca ttle b y

th e machinations o f evi l spi ri t s and tha t t his could be ,

coun t eracted b y ceremoni es and s acri ces and by appea ls ,

to dei ti es mo re po w e rfu l than these evi lly dispos ed spi ri tu a l

be in gs was as w e have seen a common beli e f i n certai n
, , ,

st a ges o f cu ltu re It has al so been an accepte d belief that

.

mu rra in was sometimes b rou g ht upon the herds by the

benef ioen t deiti es them sel v es as puni shmen ts for t ra ns gres
,

sions or ne glect in devotions Jahve h even x ed an .

a ppoin te d time for the d es t ruction o f the cattle a n d she ep

an d a sses o f the E g yptians Nothin g belong in g to the .

Isra elites woul d be ha rmed And t h e Lo rd did that .

th in g on the m orrow a nd all the cattl e of E gypt died

,
"
,

and whe n the me ss e ng er of Pha raoh wa s sent to in ves ti ga te

a Su n . xxiv . a t -a g.
1 6O M AG I C AN D H U S BAND R Y

i t behold th ere wa s not one of the cattle of the Israel

, ,

ites
When a destructive murrai n invaded the herds in the
rei gn of Emperor Charlema gne it was attributed to G ri
m o a ld the Duke of Benevento one of his enemies who
, , ,

was char ged with sending his emissa ries throughout the
land to distribute a ma g ic powder Large numbers O f .

un fortunate people suspected of having assisted in it were

captured and pu t to death 6
.

The belief has been a most common one that the herd
might be saved b y the sacri ce o f one of thei r number and ,

i t is undoubtedly closely allied with that of the Tibetans .

The victim selected for destruction was supposed to bear

a w ay from the herd the evi l spi rit that a fflicted them .

The H u nya s entice into an animal the S pi rit that troubles

the man T he R ussi ans have sometimes reversed the
.

process and expelled the devi ls from the herd by trans

,

ferrin g them to a hu man bein g a man or woman chosen ,

by lot who was then buried alive with a black cat or a

,

cock S ometimes the cow death was reputed to wander

.
-

throu g h a R ussi an villa g e in the form of a black do g or

ca t as a m ottled cal f or as a tall sha g gy man with hoofs
, , ,

instead o f fe et To expel the mu rrai n they ca rried round

.

the vi lla g e a pic tu re o f S t Vlas the shepherd successor to . ,

the pre-Chri sti an cattle-god Volos and sang as they ,

went :

De a th Oh thou Cow -De a th

, ,

De p a rt from ou r v ill a ge .

F rom a b l f m th
the st t!e, ro e cou r

Th gh ro u v i ll a g g h l y V l a y
ou r e oes o s ,

W i t h i n n w i th t a p ce se, e r,

W i th b ni ng m b ur e e rs

'
Ex d ix 4 7
o us .
- .

H i t y f th
s or o e In u q i i ti
s o n
, H C . . Lea , iii .
i6 a M AG I C AN D H U S BAN D R Y

ness amon g the calves In the S cotch Highlands bulls .

were sacri ced to cure sickness i n 1 6 7 8 In 1 80 0 a lamb .

was burned in Cornwall to save the ock To stop di sease .

cattle w ere bu rned in Wale s in 1 8 1 2 a nd in En g lan d i n ,

In 1 534 S i r Anthony Herbert g ave this remedy for t he

murra in : Take the bare head O f t he beast that dies an d
put it on a lon g pole and set the pole in a hedge fast ,

bounden to a stake by the H yghe waye syde that everye -

man that rydethe or g oeth that waye maye se and knowe ,

by that signe that the re is sycknes of cattell in the town

,

s hyp . S i r Anthony does not express absolute condenc e
in the success of the remedy but records that the hus ,

bandes holde an opynyon that i t shall the rather cease , .

A Hindu cure for the murrain is to hi re a man o f a low er

cas te to take the evi l upon himsel f and bea r i t a way into .

th e jungle They tu rn his face from the vi lla ge and brand

.

him with a red hot sickle and the murrain g oes with him
-
,
.

In Queen E lizabeth s time an owner of cattle havi n g

, ,

lost one threw the next that died into a pit and consumed
,

it with fagots a fter which all his cattle di d well
, Bu ry .

ing a dead horse ox or sheep under the threshold of the

, , ,

stable was thought to pre se rve the rest Of the an imals .

When m any cattle died in Scotland the rest were dri ven
past a tub of water containin g two enchanted stones and ,

each head was sprinkled with the liquid I f one was .

unable to walk and likely to die i t was drawn to a hole

prepared into which it was put and all the rest were made
, ,

to go over that place and in this devilisch maner they ,

were cured as chronicled in the reports of the tri al of

,

Notes o nthe F lk L
o - f th
o re o e Nort h ernCou nties o f E ng l a nd , \Villia m

H nd n, 49 ; C a m p b ll o n th e S p i ri t Ba s i s o f Be lie f a nd

e erso :6 7 , 1 e s Notes

C u s to m , 352 .

B k oo of H b a nd y
us r ,

34 .
 H E AL I N G 1 63

J n
ohne Bru g he in , In I reland
a speci es o f cater
pi lla r was re ga rded as inju riou s to the ca ttle and im a g es ,

of i t w ere ma de use o f to protect aga inst it and cu re t h e ,

mu rra in A la r ge si lve r one used for that purpos e w as

.

found in C ork County in 1 845 Bulga ri ans have a tra .

di t ion that w hen the spi rit of the pla gue w i shes to lea v e
the loca lity som eone is noti ed i n a dream that they ma y ,

p repa re re f reshm ents for i t on its depa rture and he pre ,

pa res brea d sm ea red w i th hone y and with sa lt and a ask , ,

o f wine h e g oes to a desi gnated pla ce a nd de pos i ts them "

, .

Nine l ea ves o f the ma l e c rowfoot b rui sed on a st one

tha t ne ver w as m oved and mi xed w i th salt and s p i ttle a nd
,

plaste red in th e ea r o f a be ast w as an ancient I ri sh cu re

,

for si ck beasts T h e l i tt l e a rrow h ea ds known as el f st on es

.

w ere val uab l e ch a rm s C ry sta l charms a re still in use

.

to hea l cattle w ith amon g th e I ri sh A rock cryst al a .

l i tt l e l a rger th an an oran ge ci rc l ed i n t h e middle by a

q
,

si l v er b an d is p res e rv e d a t Cu rra hmore th e seat of t h e

, ,

M a r ui s of Waterford w hich has g reat rep ute i n h ealin g

,

cattle attacke d with mu r rain The stone is sai d to have

.

been b rou gh t from the H oly Land an d to have be en a gi ft ,

from G odfre y de Bou i llon The cu re is e ffected by plac

.

ing t h e bal l in a runnin g stream th roug h w h ich the ca tt l e

,

a re d riven b ackw a rds and fo rwa r ds I t is still s ent for .

f rom dis tant p a rts of the cou ntry T he el f stone i s .

g ene ral l y foun d nea r a ra t h and a fter ,b e in g once li fted

up by a spade t h e tra dition is tha t i t m us t nev er a gai n
,

touch the ea rth or i ts healin g vi rtu e wi ll be g one A

, .

h ea rt shaped pebb l e kno wn as t h e L ee stone is memo n

-

a b le in Scotla nd for its h ealin g pow e r in curing the b it e of

a mad do g O f cou rse i t ha s a le genda ry history to a ccount

.

The D a rker Su perstitio n of Scot la nd 1 85 ,

.

C ndu lit ies P a s t a nd Preve nt Ra c ing

Songs of the
' "
336 ; . 353.

Aocient Legend s of I rel an
"
d. 1 0 9 .
1 64 M AG I C AN D HUSBAND RY

for its remarkable vi rtu es I t was pa rt of the ransom o f .

a Moorish Chieftain cap tured by the pa rties who went w ith

the heart of Robert Bruce to the Holy L and The way o f .

usi ng it was to plun ge i t into water a certain number o f

times ; t h e cattle a fterw ards drank o f the water and were
healed It was borrowed by the people o f Newcastle to
.

cure t h e pla gue in the reign o f Charles I who left si x .

,

thousand pounds as a pled g e for the loan of i t so grea t ,

was its value Lady Bai rd is also sa id to have been cured

.

o f hydrop hobi a by drinkin g of t h e w ater in w h ich it ha d

been immersed and bathin g in it 1 5

, .

Various diseases were char ged to the el f s h ots e the , .

,

stone arrowheads of the old inhabi t ants o f Scotland .

They were sai d to be the weapons of the fai ries For .

tunately the el f st one itsel f was a cure for the wounds i t

caused I f the S ick cattle were touched with the stone
.
,

or drank the water i n which one had been boi led t hey ,

were made well again The adder stone w as l ike w ise .

reputed to be possessed of similar power Thomas Pen .

nant i n his tour in Scotland i n 1 7 6 9 was s hown one by

, ,

Captain Archibald Campbell a spheroi d set in silver to

,

see which people came a hundred miles and ca rried h ome ,

with them some of t he water in which i t had been dipped m .

Cattle injured by the shrewmouse were cured by g ivin g

them water in which the adder stone had been dipped .

The English p oet Collins referrin g to the belief in el f ,

stones in the Hi g hlands says : ,

Th ere e ery v
h d by d xp i n kn w er sa e e r e ce o s

H w w ing d w i th f a t th i
o lf h t a

w e e r e -s o rro s y,
Wh nth i k w h e mm
e s c f df g e e er s u e r- oo o re oes,

O t t h d n a t h th h a t m i t h i f
r s re c e o e r e e r -s e e rs lie
.

The Finns had prayers against the e ffects Of el f s hots ,

C d li ti P a t nd P nt 35
re u es s a rese ,

0.

P i nk t n V ya g ii i
er o

s o es,

.
1 66 M AG I C AN D H U S B AN D R Y

i f they c ra wled throu gh i t An incu ra ble di sea se k nown .

to the S ervi ans as m etil is referred to by Grimm 1 9

O nce .

the Germans a re sa id to have cau g h t the de vil and a sked

of him a cu re for the metil and were told by him that when ,

all the sheep were dea d but one they must ca rry the remain
in g one ro u nd the pen a nd then no more would di e bu t
that one .

B rand writes o f a pra ctice int h e Orkney s of spri nk ling

catt l e oxen and sheep wi th a sp eci al mixtu re known as
, ,

forespoken wat er and of the u se o f charm s w h ich by

, ,

repeatin g w ould stop bleedin g in the throats of oxen and

,

Th e Spell alludes to th e

sheep 20
Herrick s poem
.
, ,

use of the m i x ture for sprin kl in g to drive away evi l :

Ho y l w ate r nd b ring ;
co me a

C as t in s a l t for se a soni ng ;
Set the b ru s h for s p ri nk l i ng ;
Sacred s pitt le bring ye hi ther ;
Mea l a nd it now mix together ;
A nd a li tt l e oil to e i ther ;
G iv th t p h th i li ght ;
e e a ers ere e r

Ri ng th Sa i nt b ll t a ff i gh t
e s

e o r

F f m h n th v i l p i t
ar ro e ce e e s r e .

Nea r the vi llage of Cu ldoff C ounty Done gal I reland , , ,

there i s a deep pa rt of the riv er where diseased cattle were

wont to b e plun ged while at the same time p ra ye rs were
,

o ffered to S t Bodham to intercede for them To hea l a

. .

sickly beast the I rish housew i fe waved a li ve coal ove r i ts

'

head 21
. Ralston describes a R ussian ri te for preventin g
the murra in from enterin g a vi lla ge M en and cattle .

a re shut up in the vi llage whil e the women in thei r shi fts ,

with hai r han g in g over thei r shou l de rs a nd ca r ryin g ,

T t ni M yth l gy " 6 3
eu o c

o o , .

A nt i q i ti 7 3
u es,

2 .

Ta r ces f th E l d
o F a i th f I l and W G Wood M a rtin i
e er s o re

, . .
-
, .

33,
 H EA L I N G 1 67

S hovels and tongs yoke the oldest woman to a plow w hich

, ,

i s drawn three times around the village w hile all follow and
S ing .The malignant S pi rits are supposed not to be able
to cross the lines thus drawn and get at the cattle in the vi l
lage A young gi rl sometimes carries an image of St Vlas
. .
,

and an old woman in her shi ft rides on a broomstick w hile ,

other women shout and dance and si n g or other Old ,

women with lighted r splinters ci rcle round a w idow -

clothed with a horse colla r only and as th ey halt at each ,

fa rmya rd they cry : Ai ! A i l Cut hew the Cow Death ! ,

-

There she goes ! I f a cat or a dog run out it is taken for ,

the cattle plague and killed Agai n two camp res a re .

lighted at mi dn ight at the ends of a street in a vi lla ge ,

and g i rls i n thei r shi fts drag a plow to one of them ca rry ,

in g a holy pi ctu re A black cock is taken to the other by

.

the older wom en in black petticoat s and di rty shi fts The .

cock is ca rried three times round the ames one of the ,

women runs to the other end of the vi llage with it while

the rest cry out to the black disease : Cattle Pla gue !
Ca tt le Plague ! Spare our cattle ! Beh old we o ffer thee
a coc k ! The fowl is thrown into the bu rni ng heap ,

the gi rls dance round it and the plow is drawn three times ,

round the village A similar cerem ony is reported at

.

Altmar k They pl ow round a vi llage and sit under the

.
,

plow placed up right and this enabl es anyone to see the

, ,

witches In some villa ges bits o f a plow a re hung up

.

o ver the doorway throu g h which cattle pass N O demon .

can then approach them 22

.

In A rgyles h ire threads with three knots are used to cu re

ai lments in man and beast The witch healer rubs the .

cow w i th the knotted thread and burns tw o o f the knots ,

in the re saying : I put the disease and sickness on top

,

S ng f th R i an 39 5 ; D m n l gy nd D v i ! Lo
o s o e u ss

s, M D e o o o a e re,

. .

C nw ay i 2 6 8
o , . .
1 68 M AG I C A N D HUSBAN DRY

of the re and ties the rest of the thread a round the tai l
,

of the cow so as to conceal the remainin g knot As .

kn ots of s om e w itch a re supp os ed to cause the sic kness ,

undoing them or countera cting the e ffects of them w it h

,

other knots w ork s a cu re The shadow of a man or be as t

, .

being a vital p a rt o f the livi n g being an i nju ry to it en ,

dan ge rs the li fe and health A small sna il that frequents .

the limestone hills of Pera k is thou g ht to suck the bloo d

o f cattle throu g h thei r shadows and the beasts grow lea n ,

and sick en and die from the loss o f blood

, .

We lea rn from Pluta rch that w hen severe drouth

b rou g ht on pesti lence the priests of the E gypti ans took ou t
the s acred animal s q u ietly by ni g ht and threatened them ,

an ficient to cause the trouble to abate

d i f this wa s not s u f ,

the a nimal s w ere k illed

O n account o f its associ ation
.

w ith thei r semi divine persons extraordina ry and supe r

-
,

na tural pow ers w ere attributed to the re g alia of kin gs and ,

i n some districts o f Celebes when plague threatens cattle ,

or men the k i n g s reg alia is smeared w i th bu ffalo s blood

and ca rried about I f the beast of a Hessian fa rmer

.

brea ks i ts le g he binds up th e bro k en le g of a chai r or table

,

w ith banda ges and splints and for nine days the bandaged ,

leg must not be touc hed a fter w hich the le g of the beast ,

w i ll be healed Why the treatm ent is not given di rectly
.

to the le g of the an imal is not easi ly explained except ,

tha t it w ould be more di fficult to do and Operating on the ,

le g o f the cha i r by mimetic or imitative ma g ic w ould be

, ,

a s ef fec tual .

Fort y yea rs a go a ccor d in g to a recent w ri ter in the L on

,

don Specta tor i f a nai l pierced the fro g of a horse s foot

,

the driver did nothin g to the foot but too k the nai l and ,

Th e G ld
o B e n ou g h i ,

. 2 87 .

I i nd O i i
s s a s r s,

73 .

Th G l d n B
e o e ou g h i ,
"
.
59 , :42 .
1 7 o M AG I C AN D HUSBAN DRY

arrow in the morning it lighted on the sowthis tle and the ,

plague disappeared on usin g i t It was also nai led insi de .

the swine trough that the animals mi ght eat over it and
-

receive its benets 28

.

A work written in the si x teenth cen tu ry contains the

followin g charm :
Ta k m a N pkyn f l te
e e a o

W i th th bya f a b lte ; e s o o

F th h a ling f a l te or e e o co

No better thynge ca n be ;
F or L m a pa
nd fo r ottes s a B
ak
T e me S a ynt W ilfride s knottes,

And o S a ynt h ly
om s Lo ttes, Th a
On my Lyfe I w a rra nde ye

S t A nthony healed the hogs ; St Hubert ,

. . the do gs ; S t .

L oy loo k ed a fter horses and k ine and S t , . Pela g ius the ,

oxen A S ix teenth cen tu ry comedy says :

.

L0 h ere is a be lle h a ng p
to e u n your hogge,
o

A nd s av e you r c a tt ll f m th
e ro e bytinge of a d og ge

.

O n S t Stephen s day December 2 6 th it
.
, , wa s fo rmerly
held that it was g ood to bleed the horse .

F or t hi s p n th i d ay th y y d th d th m
be i ng d o e n u o s , e sa o o e goo d ,

An th m f m a ll m a l a d i th g h th

d k p ee es an
e d i kn ro es s c esse rou e yes t e .

Tu sser says of the custom :

C h i tm a b pa d l t h l t bl d

Y er rs b s e sse , e orses e e oo ,

F m a ni a p p or it d th th m m h g d ;
e u r ose o e uc oo

T h d a y f S t S t v n ld f a th
e odid . ee e , o ers u se,

If th a t d m i lik th m th od y h se s e ee, so e o er a c u .

Among receipts and disburse m ents of the canons of S t .

M a ry in Huntingdon for 1 5 1 7 is this entry : Item for , , ,

3
letting our horses blede in Ch rystm a ss e VVeke iiij d .

Blessings were also i m plored upon the pastu res on S t .

G imm
'
r 8 ,
r2 0 .

Q t d by B a nd f m B a l I nte l d
'
uo e r ro es r u e.

B and 2 88 Dy C t m 49 G imm 6 60
r ,
. er s

us o s,
"
2 . r , .
 H EAL I N G .7 1

S tephen s Day O n this day Finns throw a bi t o f si lver
.

into the trough out of which the horses drin k thinking it ,

contributes to thei r welfa re The Pope s stud was .

physicked and bled and the blood saved to be used as a

,

remedy in various disorders A Welsh ceremony on St . .

S tephen s Day which consists i n whippin g one another s
,

le gs ti ll the blood ows is probably associated i n some way

,

wi th the bleeding of the horses and both are modied ,

forms o f some old sacri cial rites supposed to promote

the welfare o f horses and cattle It is probably connected .

with ancient horse worship as is the custom of hanging ,

heads of horses in the stable to keep o ff cattle plague and ,

of puttin g the head of a horse in the fodder in the crib

to curb the power of the night hag that was wont to ride -

the horse to exhaustion S t El oy in the seventh cen tu ry . .

, ,

condemned the han g ing of amulets on t he neck of man

or bea st for even though they were called holy thin gs
,

and contained words of Scrip ture they were fraught not ,

w ith the remedy o f C hri st but w ith the p o ison of the ,

31
Devi l .

In the H o lyru dhou s Ki rk S e ssion R e g ister A pril 6 th , ,

1 6 41 , M r Da lyell has found a cure for a distempered

.

horse wh ich consists of the la y in g on of the hand and ,

uttering :
Krie b itters hes the tt bi
I n th e ru ng, the eye, the ha rt , t h at
s worst
Ot h e r th rie thy b it m n b
e a e

I n the n me a o f t h F a th
e e r, Son, a nd H olie

A healer in recent times in Kentucky having been called , ,

upon to cu re a case of bots rubbed the an imal nine times ,

from the ti p of his nose to the end of his ta i l while repeat

in g a charm then slapped the animal on the si des and
, ,

C d li ti
re P a t nd P nt 88
u es s a re se ,

1
m.
T h D a k" s persti tion f Scot l a nd 2 3
e r u s o ,

.
1 7 2 M AG I C A N D HU S B A N DRY

assu red the o w ner that the horse would b e up an d eatin g

grass in hal f an hou r 33
.

In ancient times fro gs w ere held to b e valua b le m ed icin e

for both man and beast and ma rvelous power was credi te d ,

to them A live one a dm inistered to a dog destroyed the

.

power of b ark in g and a liniment made of a decoction o f

,

f ro gs and water cu red itch s cab in horses and a fter one

-
,

treatment the cu re was permanent .

To p rolon g the li fe of an a ged and decrepit man s eeme d

usel es s and absu rd amon g savages and some civi li zed
nations of the p ast and the same feeling towa rds animals
,

past thei r b etter days still largely ex ists am ong enli g htened
people thou g h i t is true tha t in some countries from a ve ry
, ,

a ncient period hospitals have b een in e x istence for diseased

,

and decrep it beasts In India there are asylums for such

.

a nimals supported b y public chari ty and private m u n

, i
cenc e .In ancient E gypt w ere hospitals for su pera nnu
a ted cats In large Eu ropean cities there a re refuges for
.

st ra y a n d homeles s cats and dogs Ellen M Gi fford . .

founded at B ri g hton in En g land a refu g e for the sus, ,

ten an ce of needy animals and M iss Lindo a hospital for ,

consumptive and worn out horses nea r London In the -

, .

contract for the white elephant which M r Ba rnum pu r .

chased Of Kin g Th ibo of Siam the kin g stipulated that the , ,

rich buyer S hould love and cherish the sacred beast m a k e ,

its li fe pleasant and keep i t sa fe f rom pain or inju ry Yet

, .

it is probably true that in the main the care and protection

,

of domestic animals even in modern times is la rg ely , ,

dependent upon thei r marketable value or usefulness to the

owner S ocieties for the protection o f animals from the
.

crueltie s of man a re essentially the product of modern

times .

"
J n l fA m i nF lh L xi v 3o
ou r a o er ca o - ore, . .

P li ny x xii 5,
. 0.
1 74 M AG I C AN D HUSBANDRY
3
upon the alta r ; it sh all never go out A never ceasing .

re burned in the temple of Pan at A rcadia 4

I t is still .

kept up by the Parsis Perpe tual li g hts bu rn at the .

shrines of Christian saints .

In many traditions deities mani fested themse l ves to

mortals through the medium of re or were encompassed ,

with it The Israelites beheld Jahveh in the burning bush

. ,

and he descended from Sinai in the midst of ames thun ,

ders and lightnings To Ezekiel Isai ah and St John he

, .
, , .

came in the midst of re A s a pi lla r of re he led h i s .

people through the wilderness He is a consuming re . .

5

Fi re resides in a ll thin gs that have li fe say the sacred ,

writers of the Hindus The whole world was once a .

g lobe of re according to the belie f of some Cali fo rn i a

,

Indians but the re passed i nto the trees and then only
, ,

came out by rubbing two pieces of wood toge ther The .

sava g e looked upon the trees as rese rvoi rs of hidden re .

The same word in some Aus tralian languages means wood

and re Two pieces of wood one of w hich gu ratively
.
,

was male and the other female produced it when rubbed ,

together In the Hi ghlands of Scotland this wi ld or

.

forced re known as needre counteracted the e ffects of

, ,

sorcery and healed thei r S ick cattle I f other res were

, .

extinguished and re kindled from the sacred ame it were -

,

well for them When thei r cattle were made to smell of

.

it they escaped from the plague and murrain Boughs of .

many sorts o f wo od were so metimes rubbed together to

produce the needre M r M artin in 1 7 1 6 described the . .

method of ma k in g a re called Tin egin on the Isle of -

Lewis and the use of it in cu ring mu rrai n in the cattle

, .

All the re s in the pa rish were extin guished and ei ghty ,

'
Le v i ti vi 3
cu s, . 1 .

P a a ni a v iii 37
us s, . .

'
Ex i i i ; xix 8 ;
. . 2 . : Dent . iv . 2 4; I a i ah v i
s ,
.
4; Ez k i l i
e e .
4; Rev . i . :4.
 FI RE S 1 75

one ma rried men were ga thered to get her and subdivided , ,

i nto sections of nine they took tu rns in rubbi n g one plan k

,

a g ainst another till re was produced Each family took .

some of it and rekindled the re upon its hea rth over ,

wh ich a pot of wa ter w as quickly heated and sprin kled

on the diseased animals Another custom noted by the .

author in the same Isle was that O f ma k in g a ery ci rcle

round horses cattle co rn and o ther crops belon g in g to the
, , ,

family ; and a man carryin g re in his right hand went

a round the ci rcle He says the ceremony was known as
.

de ssi l from the right hand which in the ancient lan
, ,

gua ge w a s called dess This rite sai d the author at.
, ,

that time had not b een in use for fo rty years thou g h it wa s ,

attempted in the villa ge of S ha die S ixteen years be fore ,

when it un for tunately proved fatal to the one performin g

the rite for the following night his horses cattle and corn
, , ,

w ere consumed with re The pow er of needre wa s .

q uickened i f two brothers or two of the sam e C hri sti an

name participated in i ts production .

Colonists took thei r re with them when they w ere to

found a ne w colony and i f i t was su ffered to go out it
,

could only be rekindled w ith re from the mother ci ty It .

is told that Peruvi an fa m ilies seekin g a home northward

along the Cordilleras used the re test at a place where
they halted on the banks of a river to lea rn i f the gods ,

were favorable to the location A brand w as placed in .

a hole in t he g round and i f they found it exti nct in the

morning they construed it as an un favorable omen and
moved on nally selectin g a location where the test wa s
,

s u cces s ful
I
.

The usual manner of taking possession of lands by the

Norse colonists was by li g htin g res a round them or by ,

'
P i nk t n V ya g
er o

s o es,

iii . 61 3
.

N a ti v R a ces v 430
e

, . .
1 7 6 M AG I C AN D H U S B A ND RY

li g htin g res at the mou ths of the strea m s B y shootin g .

a ery a rrow across a river they forma ll y took p ossessi on

of the land on the other s i de of it In this way Orm u nd .

the Wise who occu pied the eastern s i de of a valley throu g h

,

w hich a small stream ran took possession of the other si de ,

of t he stream to k eep i t from fallin g into the hands of

E irek 8
.In order to limi t the territory of the g rasp in g
chieftains it wa s established by a later rule that no man
should have more than he and hi s followers could enclose
and dedi cate by res li g hted a t sunrise and kept bu rning ti ll
sunset the distance be tween the res not to be g reater than
,

w ould enable a man placed at one to discern t he smoke

of the other by da y and the ame b y night .

Giving away re was absta ined from in R ome an d is ,

s ti ll rega rded un favora b ly in ru ral pa rts of En g land

9
.

It is a sayi ng i n Ireland that giving a w ay re on M ay Day

gives away the luck for the year I t w as consi dered .

a sa feguard from evil upon that day and must not be , ,

carried away from the house Neither must milk or salt .

be carried away I f the re g oes out on a M ay Day m o m

.

ing that too is very unlucky and it must be rekindled by

, , , ,

bri nging a li g hted sod from the priest s house The .

ashes of the blessed tu rf were then sprinkled on the oor

and threshold Of the h ouse 10
A t an annual festival of .

the C reek Indi ans a fter a th ree da ys fast all the res
, ,

were put out in thei r houses and on the fourth morning ,

the priest rubbed tog ether two dry sticks ti ll they i gnited ,

when the re was distributed i n all the dwellin gs Not till .

a fter this ceremony was performed were the w omen at

libe rt y to car ry home the new corn from the harves t eld .

At a prescribed time of year in sprin g and au tumn a speci al

No rt h n A nti q i ti
er 87
u es ,

2 .

R l i g i n nd F l k L f N t h n I nd i a W C k
- "
e o a o o re o or er ,
. roo e. 37

An i nt L g nd f I l a nd L a dy W il d
c e e e s o re 3 ,
"
e, 1 0 ,
1 7 3 M AG I C AN D HUSBAN DRY

twelve a t night and it bu rned all the time stea d il y the

, ,

power of the wi tches was foiled for the season b ut i f the ,

light went out i t boded ill for the bearer .

The M idsummer festival of St John was ob se rv ed all .

over Eu rope in the M i ddle Ages Fi res were k indled in .

the streets and ma rket place s Sometimes they were .

blessed by the priests Youn g men and mai dens danced.

a round them leaped over them and cast g arlands and

, ,

herb s into them It was believed bene ficial for men and
.

cattle Evil and sickness were expelled by them Bon

. .

re s were lighted with bi rch for that was reputed a foi l for ,

wicked S pi rits I f one slept on this ni ght the devil mi ght

.

ta ke away his wandering soul Does this account for the .

custom of sittin g up all ni g ht on S t John s Eve ? There

.

is scarcely room left for doubt says Dr B rinton that , .

,
"
b onre was ori g inally bone re and ori ginally -
,

b on es were bu rned as symbolical of sacri fice To this .

day says he in the remoter parishes of Munster and
,

C onnau g ht g reat fires a re lighted on S t John s Eve .

5
( June 2 d
3 ) in each of which
, a bone is bu rnt A cere .

m ony in Little Russi a on St John s night c onsisted in

, .
,

wrapping a stake in straw driving i t into the ground and , ,

s etting it on fire whi le peasants threw upon the ames the

b oughs of bi rches and sang : M ay my ax be as tall as
t his Apparently the cerem o ny was magical .

F i re sym boli zed the wa rmth and heat of the sun needed
for the growth of the crop The herdsmen ma ke torches .

of bi rch bark on the day before the M idsummer fires in

S ervi a and lighting the m march around the sheep folds
, , ,

an d cattle pens The ocks are led over the res whi le
.

hym ns of praise are bein g sun g The mornin g a fter .

B iti h
r s C u stom s , 39 5

.

"
J n
ou r a l 0 / xl m erira n F olk-L ore, iii . :8 .

S ong s o f t he R i a n P pl
u ss eo e,

2 5 0.
 F I RE S 1 79

wa rds the cattle a re sometimes driven over the embers as

a speci fic a g ainst murra in and ma g ic and also a ga inst ha il ,

and li g htni ng .

The extensive ob serv ance of these rites ma y b e i n ferred

from the fact that e fforts w ere made to suppress them at
va rious times The Town Council of N ii m berg June
.
,

2 0 th 1 6 53 prohibitin g the heathenish use on S t Jo hn s

, , , .

Da y of fires and dancin g and leapin g over the flames and

,

carryin g brands to the fields They were forbidden in Aus .

tri a in Long be fore this by the sixth Council of ,

Constantinople A O 6 80 by its 6 5th Canon bon fires w ere

, . .
, ,

pro hibited in the followin g language : These Bonefires
that a re k indled by certaine people on New Mo ones before
thei r shops and houses over which also they use ridicu ,

lou sly and foolishly to lea pe by certa ine ancient customs ,

we command them from hence forth to cease Whoever .

therefore shall doe any such th ing ; i f i t be a cler gyman let ,

him be deposed ; i f a layman let him be excommunicated , .

Under Pope Z acha ry A O 7 42 were prohibited those , . .
,

sacrile g i ous res which they call N edfir [or bonefires ] ,

3
and all other observances of the pagans whatsoever

The M anx drove thei r cattle throu g h the fire on M ay

Da y and singed them a litt le l9
In the Voi gtland on M ay .

Day Eve children carri ed blaz ing brooms on the hi lltops ,

whi ch w as supposed t o have a favorable e ffect on the

ha rvest and the vintage At Shroveti de in F ra nconia they .

drew a fiery plow kindled by a re cunningly made there

,
"
on ti ll it fell to pieces Servians at Christmas l i ghted a
, .

log of oak newly cut and poured w ine upon it \Vhen , .

Pennant made his tour of S cotland i n 1 7 6 9 the ceremon y , ,

of the Bealtine Beltane or Baal fires on the 1 st of M a y

, , , ,

G i mm
r not
, !

B a nd 7
r , : 3 .

C l ti c F l k L
e o -
o re, \Ve lsh a nd M a nx "
. R hY'v i 309
'
1 80 MAG I C A N D HUSB A N DRY

thou gh va ryin g in di fferent distri cts of the Hi gh

lands w as yet instrict obse rv ance says Walter S cott and
, , ,

the ca k e w hich was then b aked with scrupulous attenti on

,

to certa in rites a nd forms w a s divi ded into fra gments

, ,

which w ere formally dedicated to bi rds or beasts of p rey

that they or rather the bein g whose a g ents the y we re
, ,
2
m i g ht spa re the ocks and herds The manner of bak .

in g and distributin g the cake i n Perthshi re has been

described as follows : The boys in the township met on the
moor cut a table in the sod and kindled a fire They
, , .

kneaded an oatmeal ca k e and baked it in the embe rs a fter ,

wards dividing it into as many pieces as there were persons ,

blackening with charcoal one portion All the pieces w ere .

put i n a bonnet and drawn b y lot The one to whom the .

black ened piece fell was devoted to B aal a s a sacri fice t o ,

secure his favor in makin g the year producti ve and accord ,

ingly he leaped three times through the ames G rimm .

says that in the early mention of the Bealtine res two

fires w ere lighted side by side and to pass unhu rt be tween
,

them w as wholes ome for men and beasts 2 1

E igies were .

frequently burned in these fires or a p retense was mad e of

,

puttin g a living person in them In the E i fel Mounta ins .

in Rhenish Prussia a hut was built of stra w and brushwood

w hich had been collected from house to house and a straw ,

man placed in it and burned with it I f the smoke blew .

towa rds the corn fields i t boded fortune to the ha rvest .

In S wa b i a the image of a h u man bein g was fastened to a

fir tree and b u rned the f irst Sunday in Lent and t he ,

charred embers ta ken home and planted in the ax fields .

The ceremony was termed bu rning the w itch In some .

pa rts of Germany a bon fire was kindled on E aster Eve in

an Open space nea r the church to whi ch the people ca rried
,

Letter: n Dem ono l ogy, 7 8

o
"
.

Teu to i Myt h l
nc o ogy,

1 82 MAGI C AN D HUSBAN DRY

arrows some impaled and some bu rned alive Colossal

, , .

images o f wood or w ickerwork were made and lled w i th

live men and animals and then the images and thei r living
,

contents were bu rned The wi ckerwo rk gi ants o f the .

Druids survi ved in the later festivals o f modern Europe ,

colossal giants made o f osiers moved through the streets ,

by means o f rollers and ropes controlled by men enclosed

within the gures form ing part o f the annual procession
,

at Douay Similar wicker g iants were led about in the

.

spring carnivals in the towns o f Belgium and French

Flanders Articial gi ants were used in England at the
.

M i dsummer festival and these were sometimes burned i n

,

the bonres As men and animals were bu rned in the

.

wicker giants o fthe Dru ids so serpents were bu rne din hol ,

low columns lled with li ght materials at Luchen in the

Pyrenees on M idsummer Eve live cats were burned at ,

Paris and Metz a white cock in Russi a and elsewhe re

, ,

squi rrels and horses heads 23

That human sacrices and

.

the sacrice o f cattle originally were a pa rt o f the rites

connected with the Baal res is apparently true Later .
,

as an acceptable equivalent children and cattle ma rched ,

be t we en the res or leaped over them The ca ttle were .

so metimes singed with the ame o f a lighted torch or cu t ,

so as to spill blood which as a substi tute fo r the ani

,

mal was o ffered as a sacrice to Baal the sun god The

, , .

ha zel stick o f which the t o rch was made that singed

the yea rling was preserved fo r use in drivin g the cattle
to the watering places .

An account is given by Grimm of an observance at a

M idsummer festival in 1 8 2 7 at Konz a German village ,

on the M oselle Men and yo u ths assembled towa rds

.

evening on the top of the Stromberg and eve ry house ,

Th G l d n B gh iii
e o e ou ,

.

A n i nt L gend f I l a nd " 3
c e e s o re

,
 FI RES 1 83

de l i v ere d a truss of straw with w h ich a h u ge w heel w as

wra p ped so tha t none of the w ood w as left v isible A .

strong pole w as passed throu gh the m iddl e s ti ck in g out ,

some distance on each side for t h ose to g rasp w h o w ere

to gu ide th e wheel A t a si gn al th e whee l w as li g h ted
.

an d set in mo ti on dow n the hi ll to t he M os ell e An .

ab undant vintage wa s thou ght ass ured i f the bu rnin g

w h eel reached the river be fore it went out I n the same . .

way butche rs o f T reves sent down a w h eel yearly from the

top of the Pa u lsberg The use of wheels at M idsummer
.

res in France i s att ested by w rite rs of the twelfth and thi r

teen th c enturies From the fteenth to the seventeenth o

q
.

cen tu ries in grea t ci ti es a p ile of w ood was rea red in the

p ublic s uare be fore the town hall d ecorated with ow ers ,

and foli a ge and set on re by the mayo r A b u nch of

, .

white m u llein and a lea fy sp ra y of w alnut we re sometimes

w h isked through the ame and a fte rwa rds na iled up over
t h e cowh ou se door T h e yout h l ea p e d over the ames
.

an d da nced and san g a nd the old men put some of the

,

coals in th ei r w ooden shoes as a sa feguard a g a inst innu

m era ble woes 23
.

G rimm gives a ninca nta tion ceremony descri b ed by M i ss ,

Austin w hich took place in 1 7 6 7 in t he Isle of Mull o ff the

,

w est coast of Sco tla nd for the purpose of cu rin g d i sea se

,

among the black ca ttle They ca rried to the top of Ca r

.

moor a whe el and nine spindles of oak wood Every re .

in eve ry house in sig h t of the hi ll was put out T h e wheel .

was tu rned from east to w est in the di recti onof the mov e .

ment of the sun over the nine spindles long enou gh to

,

p roduce re b y friction w hich m us t be accomplis h ed be fore

,

noon to be success fu l For se v eral days the e ffort fai led

.
,

an d the fa ilu re was attributed to the obstinacy of one of

th e h ou s eholde rs w ho re fus ed to a ll ow the re inhis h o u se
Te t ni Myth l gy 6 3 6
u o c o o
"
, 0, 1 s.
1 84 MA G I C AN D HUSBAN DRY

to be extingu ished Finally one of his servants was bribed

.

to put out the re and then the incantation was successful

, .

New re was produced a hei fer was sacriced pa rt o f it , ,

being burned while yet alive New fi res were kindled on .

thei r hea rths from the magical ames and all pa rtook o f ,

the feast ; but the master of ceremon ies being un fortunate ,

a fterwards and reduced to begga ry was accounted accursed ,

by the people of the surro u nding country 26

.

While schola rs disag ree as to the o rigin of the word

Yule some notably Bede have traced its derivati on from
, , ,

a word meaning wheel Brand expresses an Opinion that .

the Yule block in its rst use may have been only a
counterpart o f the M idsummer res made within doors ,

because o f the cold weather at the winter solstice In .

some pa rts of Schleswi g a wheel was rolled into the village

at Christmas time and this was sai d to be trundling Yule,
"
into town When the bu rning Yule log was st ruck and
.

the sparks ew upwa rd the Serv i an exclaimed : As ,

many sheep as many goats as many swine as many oxen

, , , ,
28
as many god sends and blessings as here y sparks
-
, .

The cu stoms of the period at the feast of St John are .

pictured in an interesting manner in the Popish King

"
dom a book written in Latin i n the mi ddle o f the six
,

teen t h centu ry by a erce German P rotestant named Ki rch

meyer unde r the litera ry name o f Thomas N a ogeo rgu s ,

and translated into English by the Puritan Ba rnaby ,

G ooge from which the following is an extract :

,

Th n d th th j yf l ] f a t f J h n th Ba p ti t ta k h i t n
e o e o u e s o o e s e s u r e,

Wh n b n g a t wi th l fti a m in v y t w n d b
e o ers re , o e e, e er o e oe ur e n ;
A nd y ng m n
ou nd a b t w i th m id
e d
rou d n in v y ou a es, oe au oe e er s t reete,

W i th g a l a nd w ght f M th w t
r s l w i th Ve v in
rou o o er or ,
or e se r a e s w eete,

T t ni M yt h l
eu o c o ogy,
"
6 08 .

A nti q i ti 49
u es ,

2 .

G i mm 7
r 36
, 02 ,
1 2 ,
note .
1 86 MAGI C AN D HU S B AN D R Y

sacri ce of the children themselves as was pra cticed by ,

the ancient P haenicia ns when the pri est tossed t he children

into the a rms of M oloch whose statue was so a rran ged ,

that the addi tional wei ght o f the o ffering changed its bal
ance and the vict im rolled o ff into the e ry fu rn ace
below Hebrews were forbi dden to carry thei r children
.

throu g h the re 30
The prohibition was accompanied
.

with that of divination witchcra ft and enchantment , , ,

and the lan guage indicates some de gree of con d ence i n

the magical e ffects of the practice Th es e were appeals .

to other supernatu ral powers and an abominati on to

Jahveh When in the days of Hosea they fell into
.

the hands o f the Assyri ans the chi ldren of Isra el secr etly
lea gued with the gods of the forei gn powers and caused

thei r sons and daughters to pass through the re So .

M anasseh used enchantments That the children of .

Judah sacriced thei r sons in the re in later times is evi

denced from the denunciations of the prophet Jeremi ah .

It is pla in says R obertson S mi t h that t he sacri ce of

, ,

children to M oloch before the captivi ty was re g arded by

, ,

the worshipers as an oblation to Jehovah under the ti tle

of Kin g In the more ancient Hebrew rite the same
.
,

author says the children sacriced to M oloch were slaugh

,

t ered befo re they were burned At H ierapolis the .

sacriced chi ldren were called oxen and Baal or M oloch ,

is i dentied with S aturn who plays so conspicuous a pa rt ,

in the ceremonies of the ancient Ital ians as the god of the

h u sbandman 31
.

The Arca di ans according to Pausanias sacriced to

, ,

thunder and li ghtning on a legenda ry battleeld o f

the gi ants and the gods where re still came out of the ,

D eu txv i ii
. . to .

2 K i ng xv ii s . 17 ; xx i . 6 ; 2 C h ro n. xxxii i . 6 ; J e re m i a h v ii .
31 ; xix
.
5;
R l i g i n f th
e o o e S mit
e es ,

352 , 388 .
 F I RE S 1 87

ground not fa r f rom a ri ver ca ll ed Bat h os nea r wh ic h

, ,

wa s a sprin g that ow ed only every other yea r The re .

were speci al cham b ers in a te m ple of the Lydians in whic h

we re ashes on the alta rs not li ke other ashes in a ppea r ,
"
ance into w hich chambers the ma gici an entered and
, , ,

ca ll in g on th e gods in a forei gn ton gue and c h antin g i nc a n

ta tion s re w as k indled
,
.

Because fe rtili z ed and impregnated by t h e li g h tni ng of

the th u nder cloud ra inwater ha s been thou gh t to be more
,

nu t ri tive and p roli c than other wate r Th e th u nder .

bolt thus b ecomes a n a gent of fecu ndati on a nd nu tri tion

as we ll as o f destructi on Plu ta fch sa i d a gri cul tu ri sts .

thou g ht l ig h tning the fertili zer o f th e wa te rs the impre g ,

"
nati o n o f the w a ters by the t h un der ca us in g vi tal bea t I
.

I t is undou b tedl y true that to a large ex tent the cere

monies o f the agri cultu ral festiva l s of the a nci ent G reeks
and Romans w ere connected w ith thei r belie f in ma gi c ,

and i t is e q ua ll y t rue o f the kind re d ri t es wh ic h con

tin ned till a compa rativel y recent peri od amon g the nati ons
of E u rope Fi re an d wa rmt h coul d be p ro duced by im i
.

tating them The Romans let loose a bu rni n g fox at the

.

feast o f Ceres whose rst temple was built acco rdin g to

, ,

tradi ti on 49 6 B C in obedience to the Si bylli ne o ra cle on

, . .
,

the occasi on of a famine The story of Ov i d is an attem p t .

to ex plain the origi n of a cu stom t h e rea l si gni cance of

w hich was p robably forgotten in hi s time The s t o ry .

of the poet is that at Ca racoli l ived with her husband a

fru g al peasant w oman on a bit of land worked by them
"
selves , when thei r sporti v e son in the dawn of li fe , ,

c a ught i n a s l op in g corner of t h e eld at t h e en d of a

wi llow g rove a she fox which was believed to have been
-
,

gu ilty of man y a the ft from thei r poultry ya rd Wrap ped .

De c i ption f G reece v :7 ; viii a 9

s r o ,

. . .

Sym pm iae iv s,
"
. a.
1 88 MAG I C AN D HUSBAN DRY

in stubble and hay which the son red the capti ve fo x , ,

escaped from his hands and set a re the elds which were ,

then clothed with the ha rvest Lawmakers of Ca rs eoli .

then forbade that any captured she fox should again be -

a llowed to escape alive but should be burned at the feast ,

of Ceres the corn goddess ,

34
to atone fo r the injury to -
,

the harvest The relati onship is obvious of the tale of

.

the Fasti and that o f the Hebrew Samson s three hundred
foxes tied ta il to ta il with reb ra nds between which ,

destroyed the corn and vineya rds o f the Philistines The .

revenge of S amson upon the Phi listines fo r denying him

his wi fe is an interpretati on that probably bears t he same
relat ion to the latter sto ry as the Roman tradition does to
the former M r Steinthal suggests that the bu rning foxes
. .

were a sym bolical reminder o f the damage done to the

elds by a mi ldew called red fox which was i n thi s ,

way magically exorcised 36
M r Fowler thinks the fox s . .

tail suggesting an ea r o f co rn was supposed to possess

, ,

some fertili zing power which mi ght be impa rted to the

fields " .That in some form o r othe r the custom grew out
of belief in imitative magi c and the supernatural power of
re is hardly to be questioned The ceremony was to
, .

stimulate an abundant ha rvest The tai ls of the foxes .

suggested a patte rn for the bearded wheat as they ran over

the elds and the burning brands tied to thei r tai ls sym
,

bo liz ed the li ght and wa rmth desi red and needed to perfe ct
the crop .

At the F o rdicia and Pa ri li a and other fes ti va ls amon g

the Romans there we re likewise characteri sti c symbolic
rites One cow for the Capital and one for each of the
.

thi rty a t ria were sac riced at the feast of Tellus Thei r .

F a ti i v 6 87
s ,
. .

J d g xv
u es .

L g nd f S m n in G ld ih
e e o H b w Myth l KY- 39 3
a
n so o z

er s e re O O

R m a n F ti v l 7 6
o es a s,
"
.
 CHAPTE R X I

P RO C E SS I O N S AND L ITA N I E S

Wh a t me ns, ah i d v il p
I s a y, t s e

s rocessio n,
W i th m n f th d x p f i n?
e o or o o ro ess o

Ti
'
th n
s e i nd id l atc a o rou s

F m h a th ni m d i v d t
ro e e s er e o

INnea rly all cases a featu e o f the ceremonie s with re r

described in the preceding chapter was the processi on .

Burnin g torches were often ca rried by the people in thei r

marches that by this means the inuence of the re or the ,

sunshine which it represented mi ght be disseminated far ,

an d wi de .

Church records in the time of Edwa rd IV contain .

ch ar ges for garlands and fo r men to bea r torches about

the parish on Corpus Christi Day ( June 1 4th ) In the .

Count ry Pa rs on published in 1 6 5 2 it is sai d the, ,

count ry parson loves the processi on and maintains it One .

of the advantages enum e rated as being deri ved there from

is the blessing of God for the fruits o fthe eld Of Corpus .

Christi Day Googc s N a ogeo rgu s says : ,

T he H b a nd m n a b t th i
us n d id
e ou e r co r e oe r e,

W i th m a ny C Ba nn nd S i J h n th i p i t b i d
ros ses, e rs, a r o e r r es es e:

Wh in a b g a b t h i n k d th b a th b l
o a ou dB d s ec e o e re e es se re a e,

A nd ft ntym b d w n lig h t
o e nd G p l l w d d t h
e e o ad a es, a os e o e o re e .

Th i ly k p th m f m wi nd nd a i n nd f m th b l a t
s s u re ee es e co e ro e, a r e, a ro e s ,

S h f a yth th P p h a th ta g h t nd y t th P a pi t h l d it f a t
uc e o e u , a e e s es o s .

Processions bearing statues relics and holy emblems , ,

H di b a
u r s .

B nd 6 4
ra , 1 .

1 9 0
 PROCE SS ION S AN D LI TAN IE S :9 :

h
t rou g h the streets were d evices for brin g ing to nau g ht the
powers of the a i r Rai n and storms i t was th ou ght
.
, ,

cou l d be dispe rsed by them or d rou g ht could be c ounte r ,

acted a nd ra in produ ced The relics of S t Taur in w ere . .

pote nt a ga i n st dry w eath er and th ose o f St P iat in fallible

, .

'

a gainst w et By formulas and readin g litani es the evil

.

spi ri ts w hich caused the storms and distu rbances i n th e a i r

mi gh t b e dri ven away and the evil effects of thei r m a ledic
ti ons countera cted A formula ascribed to G re go ry
.

X I I I reads :
. I a p ri es t of Christ
, do com
m a nd ye m os t foul spi rits who do sti r u p these clou ds
,

th at y e depa rt from th em and disperse you rselves ,

in to w ild and untill ed pla ces that ye may be no longer ,

able to harm men or anima l s or fru its or h erbs or what

, , , ,

3
soe v er is for human use Accordin g to medieva l belie f
.

th e wild and unti ll ed pla ces were t he proper habi tati ons of
e vil spi ri ts and demons Other cerem onies to accompan y
.

the use o f t h e formu l a g i v en accord in g to th e ru b ric w ere :

, ,

A great re must b e ki n dled on an open place over it the ,

s i gn of the cross b e ma de and the 1 1 4th Psalm chant ed ,

while su lphur asa feti da an d Other l i ke substances w ere

, ,

throwninto th e am es .

The cust om o fpublic perambulations onone of t h e three

da ys precedi ng Ascension Day or Holy Thursday is t raced
to Ma m ertu s bishop of Vi enne in the middle of the fth
, , ,

centu ry and it be gan to be obse rved in England about the

,

seventh centu ry Ma m ertu s is said to have introduced

.

the p ractice on account of the frequency of ea rthquak es

and the in cu rsions of w i ld beasts T he people accompanied .

the bishop or s om e of the cler gy into the elds where ,

t hey repea ted li tanies and imp l ored God to avert f rom
.

them pla gues a nd pes til en ce and to give t h em seasonable ,

weath e r and th e fruits of the ea rth in thei r season Boys .

"
W a f r f Scien w i th Th l gy ii 34
r a e o ce eo o ,
"
. 0.
1 9 2 MA G I C AN D HUSBAN D RY

with g reen boughs in thei r hands and others si ng in g hymns

sometimes formed part o f the procession After the .

Reformation the recitation of the L itany was discontinued ,

but th e memorial of the processions long su rvived in the

perambulations of Rogation week a rou nd the parish es ,

known as beatin g the bounds when the boys were some ,

times whipped a t the boundaries to make them remember ,

them it is sa id or as otherwise explained the custom su r

, , ,

vived as a memorial of earlier sacri ci al rites at the

terminal points Googe has transl a t ed N a ogeo rgu s
.

account of Procession Week as follow s :

Now d ay w h i n th y g d b d w i t h
co mes the e re in h a nd e a a ro e, cros se e,

T b nd
o ou f v y ld
es o nd
e er nd a b t th i n i g h b
e , l a nd
a ro u ou e r e or s

e:

A nd th y g
as th y
e i ng nd p ay t v y i nt a b
o e s a r o e er sa ou e ,

B t t
u L ad i
o ou r p i a ll y w h m m t f a ll th y l
e s ec , o os o e ou e.

Wh n t h y t t h t w n
e as e o m th C h
e oh th y nt ine a re co e, e u rc e e er ,

A nd l k w h a t a i nt th a t h
oo e h d th g id th y h m b ly p ay t h im
s c u rc o u e, e u r o ,

Th a t h p e v b th m nd f i t f m t m nd t m p t g a t
rese r e o co e a ru s ro s or e a e es re

A nd th m d f nd f m h a m
e e e nd nd th m t
ro f d i nkr nd m a t
e, a se e s o re o r s a e .

In the annual processions in Ro g ation week certain trees

along the bo u ndary lines were known as gospel trees or
holy trees beca u se of t he reading o f t he gosp el under th em
by the clergymen in thei r annual perambulations Herrick .

re fers to the custom in these lines :

Da e res t, b ry m u e

U nd e r.th a t H l y Ok o - e, or gos pl e -t ree,

Wh ere ( t h g h th ou ou see s t no t ) h
t ou m ay
st t h i nk p u o n
Me , w h n th y ly
e ou ere go s t
-
p roces s o i n.

A ceremony is reported as taking place in Cheshi re o f

reading the gospel to the sprin gs on Ascension Day when ,

t hey were visited in the perambulations It was believed .

that the water was better a ft e r it The S criptures were .

also read at wells in Derbyshi re on Ascension Day and

prayers o ffered
.

B i ti h P p l a C t m T F T DY"
r s o u r us o s,

. o
, 3
1 94 MA G I C AND HU S BAN D R Y

M an s a u in the island was perambulated by youn g men on

, ,

Hallow Eve and rhymes in M anx were stuck up at the

,

door o f eve ry dwelling and res ki ndled This counter , .

acted the baneful inuence of fa i ries and witches In .

1 7 1 6 in the Isle of Lewis the poorer people still retained

the custom of blessin g thei r co rnelds and at the same time ,

they went a round them thrice sun ways 7

Old English - .

records tel l of blessing the corn upon S t M ark s Day .

,

April 2 5th the day of the old Roman Robi gali a on whi ch
, ,

occasion in divers parishes p rocessions of citi zens wi th

bann ers marched and san g in Lati n S u rvivals of the .

Old ceremonies still rema in The New York Tim es of .

October 7 th 1 9 0 1 Copies from the London Teleg ra ph

, ,

a description of the Observance of the ancient cu stom of

beating the bounds at M a i denhea d on the day before ,

when the M ayor and corpo ration perambulated the enti re

boundaries of the borough the p roceedings occupying the ,

entire day M any amusing inci dents occurred Ladies

. .

encountered on the ro u te were permi tted to choose be t ween

being kiss ed on the bounda ry stone or bumped a g ainst a
tree or a wall .

On one of the last days of M ay the R omans ha d a

festival known as the A m ba rva lia the ceremonies of which ,

were presided over by the Arval priests or priests o f t h e ,

elds The word itsel f signies to go round the eld

.
,

and the Latin ri te s u ggests the English perambulations

o f Rogation Week o f which i t is perhaps the pa rent
, .

According to Pliny the Arval priests were rst established

by Rom u lus and consisted of himsel f and the sons o f
his foster mother The chaplet bestowed upon them by .

Romulus consist ed o f a wreath of ea rs o f corn tied with a

white ll et The obj ect of t he p rocession was to puri fy
nI l f S t l nd vl g
"
in P ink t n "
VV lll
i
u
es t e r es co a er o s o a c v
'
s o ,

N l H i y x viii
a t u ra s to r ,
"
. 2 .
 P R OCE SS ION S AN D L ITANI E S :9 5

the c rops T he victims to b e sacri ced were l e d t h ree

.

t i m es round the elds while the process i on ca rri ed Olive

bran ches and chanted songs Accompanyin g the Offerings .

were p rayers to M a rs invo kin g protection f rom un season

able inuences a pros perou s is sue o f the sea son and sa fety
, ,

to the shepherds and ocks I t is perhaps to this festi .

v al that Vi rgil a l lu des when a dmonishin g a ll t o remember

to pa y thei r annual o fferin gs to Ceres sacri cing ami dst ,

the j oyous blades of corn T hrice let the auspicious .

vi ct im be led round the youn g corn ; then s h ould follow th e

whole choi r of rej oicing compani ons O vid says white .

ga rmen ts were worn at the feast of Ceres the goddess of ,

corn , as mos t bettin g and the w ea ring of da rk woolen ,

robes was not allow ed At the G a mes of Ce res of which .

,

the poet says both the Ofce a nd meri ts of th e g oddess a re

p la i n to be perceived and there is no need of any ex plana

tion of thei r o ri gin on the rst day th ere was a procession
,

from the C apitol to t h e C i rcus M a x im us wi th t h e Office rs

of state at the head and the men of age for mi lita ry se rv ,

ice fol l owing o n foot and hors e b ack Cha ri ots followed .
,

and musici ans a nd dance rs and the p rocession clos ed with ,

images of the g ods carried on the shoulders of men or in ,

cha ri ots .

T h e h onors pa i d to t h e go dd ess Demeter at H e rmi one

a re descri bed b y Pausanias A n annual festiva l was hel d .

i n the summe r T he priests o f the gods and all the to wn

.

aut h o rities led t h e process i on and men and wom en fol ,

l ow ed T h e boys too clothe d in w hite formed in pro

. , . ,

cess ionwith garl a nds on thei r heads A fu ll g ro wnhei fer .

v
,

tightl y bo un d was dra gged i n the rea r of the proc ession

,

to the temple w here Old w omen in w ait ing cut its throat
,

Rom a nF ti v a l es s,

1 36 .

G g i i 34
eor cs , . 0.

Pa ti i v 39 3
s ,

. .
1 9 6 MAGI C AN D HUSBAN DRY

with a sickle Other hei fers followed and were slai n in

.

the same way Pausani as sai d that no man in Herm i one

.

knew the special object of the ceremony which would1 2

,

indicate that in his tim e the signicance of the p rimitive

custom of which this was a survival no longer ha d a ny ,

hold upon them although the ancient rites from force of

, ,

tradition cont inued to be per formed From the season of

, .

the year when the festival took place from the implement ,

used in slaying the sacrices and from the character of the ,

goddess it seems clear that it was a fertili zing ceremony

,

and believed to inuence the growth of vegetati on .

The possible origin of horse racing among the G reeks

and Romans in agricultural rites to promote ferti lity of
the land is suggested by M r Fowler 1 3
Horse raci ng . .

and chariot racing formed a part o f numerous agricu ltu ral

festivit i es as in modern times racing survives in the attra e
,

tions of our annual festivals of husban dmen Ea rly .

Roman writers record that one of the pa i r of victors in

the chariot race on th e Campus M artius was sacriced to
M ars originally protector of herds and crops and the dei ty
,

of the cultivator though in later times more celebrated as

,

the god of war .

Most interesting in the stu dy of these rites is the festi

val O f S t Bernard at Monte San Berna rdo Observed
.
,

annually on the 1 5t h of June M onte Rubello the .

,

former name of the now sacred mou nta in had been one o f ,

the n o ted fastnesses on the mountain top where F ra Dol

cino the heretical re former prophet and leader had long
, , , ,

withstood the forces of the church in the ea rly yea rs of the

fou rteenth c entury till he was nally captu red and tor ,

tu red to death From his a ssociation with i t this moun

.

tain fastness became known as an accursed sp ot whithe r ,

D
1 a to
i pti n f G
esc r 35o o reece,

.

R m a n F ti va l
o 46 es s,
"
3
:9 8 MA G I C AN D H U S BAN DR Y

e ffigy was borne on a bier at the head of which was a

mock pries t w ith torchbea rers in advance M usic of pipe .

and drum accompanied the s low marchin g proces sion -

,

which nally brought up in the public square where the

image was burned The ceremony is some times known as
.

the car ryin g out of D eath Images are made of st raw or .

of bi rchen tw igs They a re sometim es un g into the water

.

from a hi gh rock though oftener consumed by re A g ain

, .

the ci gy is carried by the procession into the eld and set

on a pole a ro und which th ey dance Finally t hey t ea r .

the ima ge into pi eces comm itting the fra gm ents to the ,

ames while they sing lines like these :

We c rra y d a th e ou t o f thev ill a ge ,

a i nt
A nd the New Y e r o th v i ll a g
e e.

D a S p i ng w b i d y
e r r , e ou wl m e co e,

G ng a w b i d y
ree r ss, e ou w l m
e co e.

W l m d a S mmer
e co e e r u ,

G n litt l c n
ree e or .

Giv e us a goo d yea r

For wh at e a nd for rye .

A strug gle som etimes takes place for the bu rn in g frag .

ments of the e ffigy and those who secure them car ry them
home and tie them to the trees in thei r g ardens or bu ry
them in thei r elds to make the crops g row bet ter o r a ,

wis p of the straw from an egy is placed in the man ger to

make the cattle thrive The extinct spark of ve getation
.
.

of the Old yea r is pe rsonied in the ima ge destroyed .

The Romans had annually a ceremony of expellin g M a rs ,

who was as already mentioned primari ly a g od of vege

, ,

t a t io n
. Westphalians have an annual ceremony o f
expellin g evi l by driving out the butter y on S t Peter s .

T h G l d n B gh
as "
e o II 84
e ou , . .

R m an F ti va l 43
o es s,
"

 P ROCE$ I ONS AN D LITAN I ES 1 99

D a y wh en the chi ldren go from house to hou se knock in g

,

on th e doo rs and singin g rhymes bidding the but te ry

depa rt Om i ssion of the ceremony ex pos es th e ca ttle to

.

si ckn es s and other mis fort unes .

E z ek iel descri bes the w eepin g and w ailin g o f the

women for T ammuz a t the door of the ga te of t h e tem p l e .

T he annual rite w as to ren ew and q ui cken ve g etable li fe .

The ceremoni al death o f th e yo ung go d w as followed b y h is

res u rrection and t h e im itative ma g ic p romoted t h e rea l i ty
d esi red Under v a rious fo rms the Babyloni an ce remony
.

w as ad opted amon g other A ryans w ho ca me i n contact

w i th Sem itic ideas The Babyloni ans celebrated i t just
.

be fore the su m mer so lstice The mourn in g w as followed .

by the reap pea rance of the g od A d onis was th e Syri an .

Ta mmuz At Byblu s hi s dea t h was annua lly mou rned

.

wi th weepin g and wa iling an d bea tin g the breast Ne xt .

d a y he w as believed to come to li fe a ga i n and the red ,

an em one spran g from his bloo d I n the ft h centu ry .

be fore th e Ch ri st i an E ra t he rite was adopte d by t h e

G ree ks T h e songs o f thei r poets co mmem orated it and
.

w ere sun g at th ei r festivals Beside the image of the d ead

.

god w ere placed all ri pe fruits that the tall trees branches
bear and the de l icate ga rdens a rrayed in bas kets of si l
, ,

ver wi th golden vessels of incense and dainty ca k es

fashi oned b y t h e w omen m inglin g b losso ms mani fold
with th e w hite w h eaten ou r al l th at is wroug h t of hon ey ,

sw e et and in soft olive oi l a ll ca k es fashioned i n the su n

. ,

blance of th in g s th at y and of thi ngs th a t creep In .

t h e m orn ing the ma idens ca me and ca rri ed him fort h

amon g the w a v es that broke u pon the beach an d wit h ,

l ocks unloos ed and ungi rt raim ent fallin g to t h ei r ankl es

, ,

an d b os oms ba re they beg an th ei r shri ll sw ee t s on g :

, ,

Th G l d n B gh iii 9
e o e n teou ,

. 2 , o .

E ki l v iii 3
"
oe e . .
z oo M AG I C AN D H USBAN D RY

Woe woe for Adonis he hath perished the beauteous

, , ,
"
Adonis dead is the beauti ful Adonis
, Cyprus sheds a .

tear for each blood drop o f Adonis and tea rs and bloo d
-
,

are turned to owe rs on the ea rth The blood brin gs .

forth the ros e the tears the windower
, .

By invocations litanies and songs evil thin gs could be

, , ,

put away The origin of musi c has been ascribed to the

.

loud noises made to drive away evi l spi rits It was a

2
.

tradition of the Swedes and No rwe g i ans that lame horse s

had been healed by snatches ofson g Such remedial agen .

cies were not unkn own to the ancient R omans It was a n .

ancient Irish belief that a beast c ould be rhymed to death .

Reginald Scot mentions i t in the Discovery of Wi tch

cra ft . Rats and other vermin could be driven away by
persistent use of metrical cha rms and incantations Rosa '
.

lind says : I was never s o berhymed since Pythago ra s

time that I was an Irish rat and Shylock :
, ,

Wh a t i f h b t b l d with a t
my ou se e rou e ra ,

A nd I b pl a d t g i v t n th
e e se a nd d ca t o e e ou s u s

T h a v it b a n d ?
o e e

Brownin g s poem has made immortal the l egend of B run s

wick of the old man o f Hamelin who contracted to ri d the ,

town of its rats by a secret cha rm by which he could dra w

A ll a tcreliv i ng b n a th
u res e e the su n,

Th a t p w i m y
cree or s or o r ru n
.

Simi lar le gends of the piper a re told in other count ries ,

which are a s u i cient proof of a wi dely extended belie f in

the power of such cha rms over the rodents at s ome peri od
o f the past A le gend of Lorch is that when the Bishop
.

of Worms had insti tu ted a procession and litanies to rid th e

'
Th i t I d y l n ; B i n I dy l I
eoc r u s, u o ,
.

W h i p f th R m a n F a nk G a ng
o rs o e 8 o s,

r r er, 2 2 .

A Y s Lik Itouii i ; M ch a nt f V ni
e

. iv . 3 er o e ce.

. 1
202 MAG I C AN D H U S BA N D RY

who rmly beli eved i n its efca cy His book wa s publishe d .

in 1 8 7 1 Acco rdin g to one o f the le genda ry accounts of

.

the origin of the ceremony in the eighth centu ry all the ,

h o rses cows sheep and goats were a ffected with an epi

, , ,

demic of dancin g in thei r stalls and re fused to eat .

Medicine failed to overcome i t and the p eo ple vowed to

dance a round the g rave of S t Willibro rd When the vow . .

w as fullled the pla gue ceased This dance ar ound the .

s aint s tomb is still a prominent featu re of the ceremony .

Another t radition connects it with the black death whi ch

p revailed about the m iddle o fthe fourteenth centu ry In .

a ll probabi li ty says Profess or Evans i t is a surviva l of
, ,

th e old pa g an feast which was celeb rated at the summer

s olstic e in honor of the sun and changed by Willibro rd ,
2
into a Chris t i an festival S tatistics deriv ed fro m o i.

cia l sources a re g iven relatin g to the obse rv ance of this

festival on M ay 1 5th 1 8 9 4 w hen pers ons pa r

, ,

t icipa ted includin g 1 40 cler gymen and one bishop

, ,

s in ge rs I , sp rin gers and there were 1 3 prayers , .

M r Frazer calls attention to a cu stom o f certa in peoples

.

of p ro poundin g enigm as to each o th er on special occasions ,

as at ma rriage or burial or durin g the pres ence of a co rpse

, ,

in the house Amon g the A lfoo rs of Central Celebes

.

ri ddles were proposed durin g the season for cu ltivating the

fields and while the crops were growing but at other times ,

they were forbi dden When someone had guessed the .

answer to the riddle the res t cried aloud M ake our rice ,
25
grow .

The Khonds of Orissa besou ght Bo o ra Pennu and T a ri

Pennu and all other gods that the sown seed mi g ht appea r
, ,

to the eating bi rds a s earth and as stones to th e eati n g ,

animals The Finns invoked Ta hva nu s lord of the horses

.
, ,

1 "
A t i l inP p l S i n M nthly v l xl vi ii 84
r c e o u ar c e ce o , o . . .

T h G l d n B gh iii 6 9 n t
e o e ou , .
,
o e.
 PROCE SS ION S AN D LITAN IE S 2 03

to gua rd thei r herds to g ive them feed to w atch th em , ,

w hen no roo f sheltered them and to defend them in the ,

bushy woods when on beds o f pine tree sprays onpillows -

,
3
made of tw i gs th at not a ha ir be broken off
, .

Lullabi es w ere sun g by th e mil kmai ds of U ist to soo th e

thei r cows and they fre quently chan ged the song to suit the
actiono f the mil k in g The cows w ere said to become so .

accustomed to the m ilkin g s on gs or lilts that they would not

g ive thei r mi l k w ithout th em Ow ners of stock preferred .

maids with v o ices pleasin g to the cows Sometimes when .

the ca l f of a cow died and th e cow was restive and would

not yield her mi l k the s k in of the dead cal f was placed on
,

a skeleton frame before the cow w ith the des i red effect
2'

of soo thin g her but the cows refused t o be com forted i t

, ,

is sai d i f the s k in o f anothe r cal f thou g h of the same

, ,

color had been used The sham cal f was made of wick er
, .

w ork i f the material was obtainable and a boy nea r by ,

moved it now and then to make the cow b elieve that i t w as

all ri ght W hile the maid was busy t a k in g the mi l k she
.

san g :
Oh my h i f ! Oh m y gent l h i f !
, e er , e e er

My h i f f ll f h a t g n
e er nd k i nd
so u o e r , e e rou s a ,

I nth na m f th H i gh K i ng t a k t thy ca l f
e e o e , e o .

Th ou b l a ck cow , m nei ow n g entle b l a ck cow !

T he am d i a
s t
e se se a ffli c s t hee a nd me !
Th ou t g i vi ng f
ar thy b a ti f l r t ca l f !
re or e u u s

A nd I f mi n w n b l v d
or n nd the o e o e so u er e sea .

An invocation formerl y sun g by old men and women while

tending th e i r herds in the Hebri des is quoted by Lo rd Arch
ib a ld Campbell in The Reco rds o fAr gyll from Gra z

ing and Agresti c Customs of the Outer Hebrides b y ,

A Ca rm icha el as follows :

.

'
P nd P m H i t i F i nn J h n A b r mby ii
re a ro - s or c s

, o e cro , .

'
P ink t n V ya g iii 6 4
er o
'
s o es,

. 2 .
2 04 MA G I C AN D H U S BAN D R Y

I pl ace th i fl k b f e m s oc e or e,

A tw a d d by th K i ng of the w orl d

s s o r e re e ,

M a y V i gi n t k p th m t
r r o ee e , o w a i t them, to w a tch them,
Onb n ng l n n p l a i n
e ,
o e , o ,

On ben n g l n on p l a in
,
o e ,
.

A i th B i d g t the gentle the f i

r se ee, r e , , a r,

T a k inth in h and thy c mb nd thy h a i ;

e e o ,
a r

S ince th t th m m a de t th ch a m
ou o e s e r ,

To k ep th em f m t ayi ng t
e a ve them f m h a m
ro s r , o s ro r .

F m k f m n w w a th f m treams
ro roc s, ro s o - re s, ro s ,

F m ro k d w ay f m d t ti v ts
croo e s, ro es ru c e ,

F m th a w f the f a i y w m n
ro e rro s o r o e ,

F m th h t f nvy f m th y f ev il
ro e ur o e ,
ro e e e o ,

F m th h t f nvy f m th ye f v il
ro e ur o e , ro e e o e .

M a y m th t nd th th ff p i ng ll l
r ,
o er,
,
e ou e o s r a

B i d g t f th wh i t p a l m ! h i l d th u my fl ck !
r e o e e s s e o o s

C l mb a b l v d ! th a int f b t v i t
o u , e o e ou s o es r u es,

Enc mp a th b ed i ng a tt l b t w thy p t ction nthe he d !

o ss e re c e, es o ro e o r
2 06 MAGI C AN D HUSBAND R Y

inuence or in the former case to su iciently p ro p itiate

, , ,

the powe rs that were cha stiz ing them was the problem ,

w hich con fronted them H owever ludicrous in the li g ht .

,

of present knowled ge may seem some of the ea rlier con,

cept ion s of the human mind it is intere stin g to trace the ,

evidences of serious thought and stu dy given to p erple x ing

prob lems for w hi ch they w ere a s y et u n a b l e to find a ny
better s o lution .

That S hakespea re s lines on the fea st of the Lu percal

nd th e i r inspi ration in Pluta rch s account o f it in the

bi ographies o f Romulus and Julius C e sar is mos t ,

like ly It wa s one of the oldest and most interes tin g fes

.

tiva ls of the R omans and was c elebrated only one month

,

before the death of C e sar How lon g cont inued the .

obse rv ance of it had been at that time is u nknown b ut so ,

stron g w as its h o ld upon the peop le that it su rvived more

th an five centu ries a fte rwa rds when Pope G elasius I one , .
,

hundred and seven ty yea rs a fter the R oman people ha d

be en constrained to accept Ch ristianity as th ei r state reli
g ion put an end to the old order of festivities by ch an g ing
,

the day of the Lupercal ( Februa ry I sth ) to that of the Pu r

ica tionof the Vi rgin M a ry Ovid s st ory o f the ori gi n
.

of the Lupercal is that when because o f lon g-continued , ,

b arrenness o f the Roman women the oracle o f Juno was ,

consulted the response w as let the rou g h goat approach

, ,

the Troj an matrons and the ceremonies of the festival
,

w ere insti tuted in an attempt to car ry out thei r conceptions

o f the meaning of the c ommunication from the goddess .

The place for the me eting o f the celebrants o f the rite was
at the spot where tradi t ion sai d the twin children had been
deposited by the T i ber at the ca ve Lupercal a name for , ,

the ori g in of which there i s no satis factory agreement

R m a n F ti v a l Wa tl F w l 3
o es s,

t e o er
I
F ti
u n
's ii 437
. .
 M A K ING TH E H E RD S PRO L I FI C 2 07

am on g authoriti es There was an offerin g o f sacred cakes

.

made by the Vesta ls f rom the first ears of th e last ha rvest

and goats and do gs were sacri ced Selected youths of .

hi gh rank smea red thei r foreheads w ith kni ves bloody

from the slau g hter of the vict im s who were then wi ped ,

wi th wool dipped in mi l k and made to l au gh as th ey gi rded,

them selves with the skins of the slau g htered goats and , ,

with strips o f ski n cut from the covering o f the victims as ,

th ey ran a round the b a se of the Palatine Hi ll they struck

a ll the women wi th w hom the y came in contact or ,

who o ered them sel ves or thei r hands T hat the striking .

wi th thon gs w as to p roduce fe rt i li ty is e x plicitl y a i rm ed ,

b y Roman authors That the thon gs b eing a pa rt of the

.
,

sa cri fici al vi ctim were conceived as poss ess i n g puri fyi n g

,

an d even ma g ical pow er i s probable and by the b lows , ,

in icted the pow ers of natu re were quic k ened and th e hos
ti l e o r hinderin g spi rits causin g steri lity we re put to ig h t .

G rimm relates a custom o f the T eutons of beatin g t h ei r

ca ttle with staves on thei r way home from the ceremonies
for th e e xpulsi on of Deat h to ma k e them more fru itful
, .

Branch es a nd rods of ce rtain trees w ere credi ted wi th ma gi

cal inuence over wom en and herds i n p roductiven ess and
in facilita ti ng bi rt h Leto cla sped a palm tree and an olive
.

tree or two laurel tre es when about to g ive bi rth to Apollo

and Art emis W onderful vi rtu es were ascribed to the
.

sacre d cedar of G ilgi t B ranches of i t were ta ken to the

.

vi llage and placed on a stone bes ide running water where ,

the blood o f a sacriced g oat was pou red over i t and each ,

m an carrie d to his h ome a s p ri g of th e ceda r The ne x t .

day the wi fe drove th e goats to the Chi li stone and pelted

them with pebbles From th e omens she divined the sex
.

o f the ki ds e xpected duri ng the ensui ng yea r T he ferti .

oR man Fe ti v al no nt 7
s s,
"
, o e .

Te t nic Myth l gy 7 a
u o o o ,

.
2 08 MAG IC AN D HUSBAN DRY

liz ing inuence of the ceda r w as imparted to the goats in

drivin g them to the stone In Europe the M ay tree or .

M aypole says Pro fes sor F ra zer is supposed to p oss es s
, ,
3
simi la r powers over both women and cattle .

Flora was one o f the deities of t he ea rth or ve geta ti on , ,

o r g eneration The Fl o ralia of the R omans held in

9
.
,

h onor of this goddess p robably ori g inated i n the Ori ent , .

T he May festi vals introduced into Bri ta in a re be liev ed to

be its survivals In later times they de g enerated i nto
.

merrymakin g festiviti es but they had eve ryt hing ori g ,

inally writes Profes sor Frazer quoting f rom M ann
, ,

ha rdt , a seri ous and so to speak sacram ental signi , ,

cance ; people really believed that the god of growt h w as

present unseen in the bou g h ; by the p rocession he was

brou g ht to each house to bes to w his bl es sin g He rric k .

speaks of them as the ha rmless folly of the time

S ee how
Devoti on g i v es
ahh a b gh e c o u se ou

O b an h ; a h p
r r h ahdc th i
e c o rc , e c oor, e re s,

A n k a ta b na l i
ar , er ce s,

M a d p f w h i t th n n at ly i nte w v
e u o e or e r o e .

O ne o f the le gends of Flora is that she wa s a cou rtesan

who left her weal th to the Roman people on condition tha t
her bi rthday should be celebrated with an annual festival ,

whi ch w a s held on the 2 8 th of Ap ril and a fte rwa rds ,

extended to M ay 3d T acitu s re fers to the consecra .

tion of her temple nea r the Ci rcus M aximus in the rei gn o f

T i berius 1 1
. In the same year 2 38 B C ) g ames were insti . .

tu ted in her h o nor Accordi ng to Ovi d they were su p

.

ported by nes levied upon th os e who i llegally pastu red the

public lands The festival was a time of great licen se
. .

T h G l d n B gh
e o i 93
e ou ,

. : .

R m a n F t i va l 6 7
o es s,

.

T h G l d n B gh
e o ei ou ,

. 2 1 2 .

A nna l i i 49
s,

. .
2 1 0 MA G I C AN D HU S BAN DRY

I rv in g describes the deli g ht he experi enced in seein g one

o n the banks of the Dee They were also comm o n i n .

France and Germany In 1 6 44 the Puritan Pa rli ament

.

ordered a ll the M aypoles down in En gland and Wales ,

but they were again revived on the restoration of Charl es

I I in 1 6 6 1
. .

S tubbs in Qu een Eli za b eth s time w rites of th e M a ie

,

,

Poole which t hey brin g from the woods with great ven
,

cration

They have t wentie or fou rt ie yoke of oxen ,

every oxe ha vyng a sweet nocega ie of owers tyed on the

tippe of his ho m es and these oxen drawe home this M a ie
,

poole ( th is st inckyng I doll rather ) which is covered all ,

over w ith owers and hea rbes bounde rounde aboute with ,

st rin g es f ro
, m the top to the bottome and s o m et ym e ,

painted with va ri able colours with two or three hundred ,

men w o men and children fo llowyng i t with g reat devo

, ,

tion And thus bein g reared up with ha ndkercheifes

.
,

and a gges strea m yng on the toppe they stra we the ,

g r o u nd e aboute binde g r e ene bou

,
g hes a bout it sett up ,

S ommer ha u les B o wers and Arbou rs hard by it And

, ,
.

then fall they to banquet and feast to lea pe and da u nce ,

aboute it as the Heathen people did at the dedication o f

,

thei r I do lles where o f this is a perfect pa ttem e or rather

, ,
1
the thyng itsel f .

Sometimes brush wood and other combustibles w ere

placed around the tree and the whole set on re and when ,

consumed g arlands were thrown across t he embers and

, ,

couples wi th joined hands leaped over them The singed .

garlands were carri ed home and preserved They w ere .

thrown on the hea rth when a thunder storm burst and ,

w hen the cattle were sick and durin g parturition they

w ere given the garlands to eat .

Thom a s Morton who came to Plymouth in 1 6 2 2 has

, ,

B a nd 9
r ,
:2 .
 MA KING T HE H E R D S P ROL I F l C 2 1 1

hi ms el f des cri bed the introduction of the M aypole into

th e New W orld and th e ceremoni es on the occasion of th e
,

e rection of one at M a re Mount by himsel f and compa u

-

ions, w i th the help of salva g es A goodly pine t ree .

ei ghty feet long w as rea red up w i th a pai r of buck ho m s ,

-

unto the top o f it where i t stood ,

ind out t h e way to

eti o ns ; how to f

re M ount Of the scanda l connected
.

Morton himsel f has w ri tten He was .

in Standis h on the order of the Gover

E sca pin g from the guards he su bse ,

u rren dered and was sent back to England

, He .

the n ex t y ea r to Pl ymouth to find that Gov ernor

h ad orde red down h i s M a ypole Go v e rnor .

him a ga in to Engia nd where he fou nd h is ,

in g his New England Canaan .

wrote in 1 7 2 4 o f a M a ypole Hi l l nea r

re t h e b o ys a nnua ll y w ent in procession
t rying w hite willo w w ands wit h the ba rk

a ce rem ony which stron gly sug gests t h at at ,

e r pe riod the peeled rods ha d some special si g

,

There is a t least a possibi lity th at thei r se rvice

b een someti m e a k in to th at o f t he goat s k i n
-

the hands of the runners at the feast of th e

gi ven speci al f ructi fy in g po w ers to t he

has
l and m istletoe In one o f the rites of t he
, .

the spri ng o f th e yea r the oor wa s strew n , ,

lodge decora ted with wi llow boughs .

of t he hazel :
I f h ph d t ll n t e th y w a nd h a h p we r
s e er s e o ru ,
t o ,

W i th g a i i n n t a v t th h a rm
r c ou s ue ce, o er e

O f mi n o ou s

i . 1 58 .

A e ld,
"
L H . . B a il y q
e , uot ing f rom the

Tk
o e n .

2 I 2 MAGI C A N D HU S BAN DRY

O n spits of hazel wood for to asting fork s the choice , ,

entra i ls of the sacri ficial goat were placed at the feas ts o f

"
Bacchus .

A featu re of the midsummer festi v als of the a n

cient Druids was the gathering of the sacred mistletoe .

Under the sacred oa k they prepared for a feast and a sac

ri f
ice . Two whi te bulls whose horns h a d never been
bound before were taken to the spot where the mistletoe
was to be gathered A priest clad in a white robe cl imbed
.

the tree and cu t with a golden sickle the precious bou g h ,

and it was caught in a white cloth The victims were .

sacri ficed with prayers to God tha t he would ma k e the

gi ft prosperous to them T hey believed a potion ma de .

from the bough given to ba rren anima ls removed thei r

sterility 1 8
. A Worc este rs hire fa rmer was accust om ed to
give his bough of mistletoe to the cow tha t had a cal f rst
a fter New Yea rs to bri n g good luck to the dai ry M any
, .

old write rs speak of its remedial prope rties and it was one ,

o f the ingredients with which the goddess Kod prepared in

her caldron the water of inspiration science and im , ,

mortality 19
I t was s acred to Fri g a the Sca ndi na v i a n
.
,

Venu s .

The use of whi te bu ll s in th e ceremon y o f g atheri ng the

sacred mistletoe by the Druids recalls the ancient laws
compelling the tenants of the church lands attached to the
church of the shrine o f Bu ry S t Edmunds to breed and .
,

p rovide as many white bulls as might be requi red for t he

ceremony wh ich too k place when barren w omen visited the
shrine to be relieved o f thei r sterility T he wom en .

walked to the shrine with a hand on the white bu ll .

V i g il G gi
r

s eor cs,

ii .
39 6 .

"
J n l / Am i
ou r a 0 er ca x
n F o k L ore,
l - .
35.

S t l gi Ri t Ca pt J G B k

ca a o c es, . . . ou r e, :0 8 .

"
J n l fA m i
ou r a o er ca n F lk L x o - ore, .
355 .
2 1 4 M A G I C A N D HU S BAN DRY

importance to us centers in the fact that i t is the record

of that which was not rega rded as improbable at the p eriod
in which i t wa s wri tten and i t is on this accou nt wo rthy
,

of careful c onsi deration A fter long and fa ithful serv .

ice to the father of Rachel and Leah Jacob becomes rest ,

less and desi rous of retu rn ing to his own count ry , and asks
for permission to depa rt at the same time reminding his ,

father inlaw how greatly the ocks and herds have pros
- -

pered and multiplied under his ca re and how li ttle were ,

his possessions at the be gi nning of his se rvice La ban .

,

unwill in g to lose so v aluable a n as sista nt s ee ks to delay ,

his departure .

What shall I g i v e th ee he a sks to rem a i n? , ,

I f thou wilt do this responds Jacob thou shalt not
, ,

give me aught and I will aga in keep a nd feed thy

,

ock .I t was thereupon agreed be t ween them that ,

according to the proposition of Jacob all the speck led ,

and spotted cattle and all the brown cattle a mong the
,

sheep and the spo tted and speck led am ong the goats
,

be removed three days journey from the ocks o f Laban

.

They were to be the hi re of Jacob and such were to be his ,

portion of the ocks and herds therea fter for his con ,

t inu ed service Then Jacob took him rods of g reen

.

poplar and of the hazel and chesnut tree ; a nd pilled white

,

strakes in them and made the whi te appear which was i n

,

the rods And he set the ro ds which he had pilled before

.

the ocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the

ocks came to drink that they should conceive when th ey
,

came to drink And the ocks conceived before t he

.

rods and brought fo rth cattle ringstraked speckled and

, ,

spotted And i t came to pass whensoever the

.

stronger cattle did co nceive that Jacob laid the rods be fore ,

the eyes of the cattle in the gutters that they might con ,

ceive among the rods But when the c a ttle were feeble
.
,
 MA KI N G TH E HE R D S PROLI F I C 2 1 5

h e put them not in ; so the feebler were Laban s and the

stronge r Jacob s
.

That the white pi lled rods would force the concepti on

of striped and spotted o spring is but a repetition of the
beli ef in the c ommon principle of sympathetic magic The .

rain maker brin gs ra in by making an imitation of i t and an ,

emblem o f the sun or a wheel of re rolled down the ,

hillside bri ng sunshine Leaping in the ax makes it grow .

as high as the l eap and arti fici al thunder stimulates the

,

real reverberation in the heavens In the power ascribed .

to ha zel and poplar one surmises a lingering tradition of

,

the worship o fthe m oon the governess o f oods which , ,

may have come down from the da ys o fbondage to the H e

brews The Egypti ans had a belie f according to Plu
.
,

ta rch
,
s
in the generative inuence o f moonlight and that ,

the god Apis the animated image o f Osi ris was conceived
, ,

by a strong generative li ght from the moon falling upon a

cow for which reason many o f the d ecorations o f Apis re
,

sembled the appea ra nce o f the moon and his fest ival was ,

held at the new moon of the month Pha m a na th which was ,

called the entrance of Osi ris into the mo o n being the ,

commencement of spring The moon being impregnated .

,

by the sun again emi tt ed and dissem inated i n the ai r the

,

generative principles The placing o fthe pilled rods in the

.

water wher e t he cattle d rank suggests also a possible con ,

nect ion o f the story with the phi losophical theory that
hum idity is t he s ou rce o f all thi ngs and moisture the ,

female principl e as Pluta rch says 20

from which is gen
, ,

crated existence o r as Hippoc rates taught that all living

, , ,

creatu res including both animals and men originated from

the two principles re and water one o f which gives li fe ,

Isi nd O i i xli ii
s a s r s,

.

I i nd O i i xxxv i ;
s s a s r s,

S m y b l i a l L a ng a g
o c u e of Ancient A rt a nd
Myth l gy R P K ni gh t s
o o ,

. .
,
r r .
2 1 6 MAG I C A N D HUSBAN DRY

a nd the other nourishment or as the old E gyp ti an priests , ,

taught that not only th e Ni le but everyt hing moist w a s the

, ,

ou t ow in of Osi ris 27
g .

Of the mystical connection of hazel and water there

sti ll su rvi v es a trace in the widespread belief that a divi n
ing rod made of a forked bra nch of hazel by its move ,

ments in the hands of ce rtain ones will reveal the l o cali t y ,

of subterranean wate rs I f the recent statistics of a Ber .

lin publication be true showing that the poplar next to

28
,

the oa k is more frequently struck with lightning than any

other tree of the forest the credulous wi ll be inclined to ,

accept that as evidence o f its intimate relationsh ip with the

higher powers .

The spring decorations of the medicine lodge of the

M andans with willows has already been referred to but ,

another ceremony of these Indi ans known as the bull ,

dance is also described by M r Catlin

,
29
and in some .
,

respects it reminds o fthe Lupercali a It was thought that .

without a strict observance of it the bu a lo would not

return at each season It is not apparent to what extent .

is was supp os ed to inuence fecundity but the ceremony ,

se ems t o indicate a belie f in its ferti li zing powe r T here .

were four repetitions o f the rite the first day eight the ,

s econd twelve the thi rd and sixte en the fourth

, The , .

ei ght men w ho too k pa rt in it like the runners at the ,

Roman festival were naked except fo r the bu a lo ski n

,

with which they were robed with horns and hoo fs and ,

tail on it T hey looked through the eyes of the bu a lo

.

as through a mask Each had a lock of bu a lo ha i r .

tied to his ankle and carried on his back a bunch of g reen

,

willows like a bundle o f stra w

, .

'7
I i nd O i i xxx v i
s s a s r s,

.

S
ee J n l fA m i nF lk L x i v 59
ou r a o er ca o - ore, . .

M a nn nd C t m f th N th Am i a n I ndi a n i
e rs a us o s o e or er c s,

. : 64.
2 1 8 MAG I C A N D HUSBAN DRY

or neglect o f these commands we may rightly accept as the

int erpretation o f thei r belie f as to what evi l consequence s .

would follow thei r neglect When ye have gathered in .

the fru it of the land ye shall keep a feast unto Jahveh ,

seven days And ye shall take you on the rst

.

day the boughs of goodly tre es branches o f pal m trees , ,

and the boughs of thick trees and willows o f the brook , .

Obe ying the command the ra in shall fall in due season , ,

and the land yi eld her increase I wi ll have respect unto .

you and make you frui tful and multiply you

, and
i f ye walk contra ry unto me wild beasts
shall rob you o f you r chi ldren and destroy ,
33
your cattle and make you few in nu m ber,
The .

ri g hteous shall ourish like the pal m tree s ays the ,

Psalmist 34
I t ouri s h ed in dry and ba rren la nds
.

where other tre es would not grow It signies longev .

ity and was the symbol of generative power Beside

, .

the j ambs of the vestibule in the temple of So lomon

stood real palm trees and within the templ e w ere ca rved ,

ones .

As at the feast of the Tabernacles the Hebrews

carried branches o f palms and willows and my rtle in thei r
hands so the Egypti an Th o th carried a branch o f
,

pal m in his hand and his priests wore th ornin thei r sandals .

Homer says never b e fore grew so goodly a shoot fro m the

ground as the sapling o f the palm which spran g up by the
altar of Apollo at D el os The a rti fici al fecundation o f .

the sacred pal m was an important reli gious ceremony sym

bo lica l of fruit fulness and p rosperity That the English .

M aypole is a m odern substitute for the mystic palm tree

is suggested by Dr Inman 35
. .

L v xx iii 4 ; xx v i 9
"
e . . o .
,
2 1 ,
22 .

P l m x ii
sa s c . 1 2.

An i nt P g n nd M d n C h i ti a n Sym b l i m 6 9 ; O dy y
c e a a a o er rs o s ,

sse ,

vi. 6 ;
1 Symb l i a l L ng a g f Anci nt A t nd M yth l gy
2 o c a u e o e r a o o ,
"
 M AKING THE HE R D S PROLI FI C 2 1 9

The festival o f the booths with its ce remoni al use of the

boughs o fthe palm is believed to be a survival o fthe older
tree wo rship when the trees themselves were really objects
-

of ado ration and fear lest failu re to properly propiti ate

the m should result in un fru it ful yea rs and u nprolic

herds and ocks In ea rliest tim es says Dr Toy
.
, .
,

the tree was itsel f divine ; later it became sacred to some

36
deity . Boughs of palm t rees carried in processions
in modern tim es a re according to the Ri tualists in imita
, ,

tion o f those which we re str ew n in the pathway o f Jesus

upon his entry into J e rusal em and that perhaps may be ,

regarded as a recognition o f the earlier use o f th em i n the .

ceremoni es o f the older Jews and the su rviving cu s ,

toms are relics o fancient and forgotten rites C eremonies .

repres enting the marri age o f the powers o f vegetation

have been common all over the earth The tragedy of th e .

youthful Tammuz and the goddess o f ferti lity is enacted

ove r and ov e r again All such ceremonies says Pro
.
,

fes so r Frazer it must be rememb e red are not or at least

, , ,

were not o rigi nally m ere sp ectacula r or d ramatic exh ibi

, ,

tions They are magic a l cha rms d esi gned to produce t he

.

37
e ect w hich th ey d ramatically s et forth Modications .

o f the belie f s once associ a t ed with the m are embalmed in

religious cre eds and adaptations o f the m are introduced
,

i nto r eli gious festivals o f t he hi ghes t ci vi li zations .

There is sca rcely roo m fo r doubt says Pro fessor M or ,

ris Jastrow that in the sto ry and ritual o f the resu rrec
,

tion mythical elements i llustrative o f the changes of

,
33
seasons have be en embodied .

I n the o rgi es o f Dionysus is was usual to consecrate an

egg as the representati ve o f that which generates and con

P ly h
o c rom e B ib l Ez ki le, e e ,
no te 1 0 to c hap . 6, p . 1 07 .

T he G l d n B gh i
o e ou
"
,
. 227 .

T he S t dy f R li g i n
u o e o s,
"
2 64 .
2 2o MAGI C A N D HUSBAN DRY

tains all thi ngs in itsel f E ros the god of love was sai d .
, ,

to have sprun g from the egg o f night An egg was the .

materi al o f gene ration conta ining th e seeds and germs o f

li fe and motion 39
That the use of Easter eggs in modern
.

times is to be traced to thei r use in ancient ri tuals when

they were connected with ceremoni es of fecundity a nd fer
t ility will ha rdly be questioned
,
.

In fes tivals and ri tes throughout Europe in later a g es

phallic symbols had considerable signi ficance It has been .

held by prominent wri ters that the palm tree was a phallic
emblem and t h at th e M aypole was a su rvival of p hallic
,

wo rsh ip 4o
Phallic images of Osi ris were ca rried in p ro
.

cession by the E gypiia ns to si gni fy his procreative power .

Le gend says that Isis m ade and c onsecrated such an i m age

and instituted festivals in i ts honor Pausani as says that .

statues of Priapus were especi ally honored amon g the

Greeks where there were herds Festivals to the Russi an .

god Jari llo corresponding to the Greek Priapus were held

, ,

at the end of June and a re noted by wri ters o f the s i x teen th

,

centu ry .

I h Inverkeithin g in Easter wee k in 1 2 8 2 the , ,

Chronicles o f L a nercro ft relate that a Cath o lic pri est

g athered the gi rls o f t he vi llage and made them dance
a round a statue of Priapus himsel f l eading and carrying a ,

phallic image Called to an account by the Bishop he

.
,

gave as an explanation that such per formances were com .

mon i n his pa rish In a ceremony to p roduce needre .

by friction o f two pi eces o f wood which took place in ,

S cotland in 1 2 6 8 the image o f the phallus w a s elevated

,

and prayers recited It w a s done to promote t he wel fare .

of the ca t tle in the time o f plague The worship o f the .

K ni g h t
s A n i nt A t nd M th l gy
c e r a y o o ,

1 3
.

Mid . 1 2 ; A n i nt P g n nd M d

c e a a a o er n Ch i ti a n Sym b li m
rs o s ,

69 ;

Re gli i o na nd L t D J mus \V i
,
"
86 r
. a es e r, .
2 2 2 MAGI C A N D HUSBAN D R Y

fecundity A tall straight tree stri pped of its branch es

.
, ,

except those close to the top w a s set up in the court of the ,

temple A crossbeam thi rty feet long was fastened to it

.

close to the top and above this was an image o f the g od

,

made of dough fanci fully clothed and decorated wi th ,

strips of paper Naked and b o und captives were borne to

.

the summit of the temple by the priests and sacri ficed the ,

p eople danced and sang and boys scrambled to the top o f ,

the pole and hurled the fragments of the image among

3
the crowd .

Of the signi ficance of the winds in thei r relation to soul ,

spi rit and li fe in the belie f of ea rly American races Dr , .

Brinton has ably written He finds in the cross the emblem .

of the winds the symbol o f the four points of heaven
, .

It is probably to some kindred conception of the wi nd

as the sou rce o f li fe that the tale of Roman w riters of ,

the impregnation o f breeding ma res by the wind is to be ,

traced It is menti oned by both Vi rgil and Pli ny
.
,

though the latter expla ins that the foals of mares so fecu n
dated do not liv e above th ree yea rs Vi rgi l places the .

mares wh en in the spring thei r k indled hea rts have cau g ht

,

the ame o f love on high rocks with thei r faces tu rned to

,

catch the zephyr and s nu the li ght breezes and so they ,

become wi th foal Then as they run hith er and thither .

headlong over the rocks and cli s towa rd the qua rter ,

wh ence blows dusky Auster saddening the heavens with ,

chilling ra in a substance disti ls f rom thei r si des which is

, ,

gathered by malicious stepmothers who mix i t wi th herbs ,

and bane ful cha rms Pliny appa rently gives credence .

also to belie f that t he sexual passi on in ma res could be

extin guished by cropping the m a nes He thought i t pos .

a i Ra
N t ve ii 3 9 ; m 46 9 $9
ce s,

. 2 . 0

My h f th N w \V l d
t s o e e or
"
.

G gi
eo r iii 7 ; N a t a l H i t y v i ii
cs,

. 2 o ur s or ,
"
. 67 .
 M A KI N G T H E H E R D S P R O L I F I C 2 2 3

si b l e th at some animals we re engendered by animals not

them selves en gende red M any crea tu res had a mys .

t erious ori g in A se rpent was p roduced from th e spinal

.

ma rrow of a man and mi ce w ere generated b y li cking, .

Pliny hes i t ates to accept t h e latter however althou g h i t , ,

was app roved by Ari stotle and Alex ander the G reat .

The Opini on is exp ressed b y a philosope r of the seven .

t een t h centu r y S i r Kenelm Di g b y that the ea rt h g row n

, , ,

ba rr en and lean no lon ger brou ght fort h of its ownaccord

,

perfect animals but yet produced such insecta as mice

,

and f ro gs and sometimes new fas h i oned anima l s .

One method of faci l itatin g concepti on of which G ri mm ,

h as made a note in his m onum ental work i s to bu ry a ,

b l ind do g alive just insi de the stable door I t a l s o p re .

"
vented cow s f rom ru nn in g a w ay Give us plen ty of .

8
cattle , ex claims th e Hottentot as he tosses a stone upon ,

one of the g raves of his hero god H eits ieibib as he passes , ,

b y i t in t h e narrow d efil es in the mo untains I t is hi g hly .

imp robable t hat the savage could give any clea r idea o f
his rea son for doin g it but by con formi ty to the custom he ,

hopes in some way to s ecu re the favor of t h e god who i n , ,

his myt h ical lo re has al ready died and been res u rre c ted
,

several tim es I s the act a magical rite for conn ecti ng

.
,

th rou g h h imsel f and his stone hi s herd with the fe rt iliz ,

in g powe r of th e god or does he cast away from ,

h imsel f and ca ttle by this means whatever hos ti le and

, ,

hind erin g spi ri t mi ght ma ke h is h er d ba rren a nd

unprofitab l e ?
It i s wel l auth enticated t h a t o l d Scotch fa rmers tied red
t h re ad upon thei r wi v es and th ei r cattle to prevent mis ,

a t a l H i t y x 87
N ur s or

. .

q
,

T t ni Myt h l g
eu o c 8 o o ,
"
1 08 .

T h G l d n B gh
e o ii
e ou .
"
. a, i ng f r m S ir Ja m
u ot o es E A lexa nd r
. e s

Ex p diti n f D i v y int I nt i f Af i a
"
e o o sco e r o t he e r or o rc .
2 2 4 MAGI C A N D H U S BAN D R Y
9
carria ge I t is referred to by Pennant a nd others
. .

Whether this custom was a relic of the old R oman festi val
or not a kinship is sug gested T he thread has taken the
, .

place of the goat thongs and its color symboli zes the blood
,

with which the ru nners forehea ds were smeared

.

S ee M di in
e c e men of the Apa h J G B k
c e,

. . ou r e, i h A nn a l
N nt u

Rp
e o rt o f th B e
.a u re u of Am er ci a n E th n l gy 57 8 57 9
o o , , .
2 2 6 MAGI C A N D HU S BAN DRY

the American Indians could tu rn to coyotes or wolves .

In some countries it was more commonly a cat Wri ters .

o f t he early seventeenth century describe the process by

which so rcerers anointed thei r bodies w ith un guents p re

pa red under the Devi l s auspic es put on an enchanted
,

gi rdle and assumed the likeness o f wolves or oth er ani

,

m als as they appeared to others and had the shape and

, ,

n a ture o f such animals to thei r own thinking That fo r , .

m a ny c enturi es the te rror o fthe werewol fwas a reali ty i s a

historical fa ct The origin o f the belie f is not so easily de
.

term ined Undoubtedly beli ef in the poss ibili ty o f such

.

trans form ation was the suggesting cause which led m any
to believe the change ac tually took place in thei r own per
sons Some have traced i t to the Pythagorean doctrine o f
.

transmigration ,

Th a t l so u s o f a nim a l i nf
s u se t h em se lv es

I nt th t
o e ru ns k of m en .

Dr Tylor calls the doctrine of werewolves a tempora ry

.

metempsychosis and points out its consistency wi th the
,
5

theo ry that a man s soul may go out o f his body and into

th a t o f a beast or bi rd and with the opinion that men may ,

be t ra ns fo rm ed into ani m als ideas which have had an ,

i m po rtant place in the b elie f of manki nd from savage ry ,

onwa rd .

The connection o f evil spi rits and animals goes back

to the remotest antiquity In the old Egypti an Papy .

rus o fSayings ( ci rca 1 30 0 B C ) is is said the ugly one . .

,

a pp e a rs with his limbs wrapped in ornamen ta l cloth

ing , suggesting the enchanted gi rdle o f the werewol f .

In the ea rly beli e fs o f the Babylonians the demons were ,

always given so m e sh a pe animal or human The seven , .

N i nth A nn a l R p t f th B ua f A m i a n Eth n l gy 458 459

e or o e u re u o er c o o , , .

P i m i ti v C l
r 5 e u t u re.
"

O l d t B k in th W l d 1 My
"
es oo s 54 e or . e rv 2 '
 P U N I S HM ENT OF A N I MA LS 2 2 7

evil spi rits were said to be horses bred on the mountains .

They were powerful amon g the gods and hostile to

mankind
T w k m i h i f in th
o or t r t th ey
sc tt l th m l v
e inth h i g h w ay
e s ee se e e se es e .

E v il th y th y
a re v ile , e a re e ,

S v n e th y th y
e e ar ev n e v n nd a ga i n v n e th y
, e a re s

e , se e , a se e ar e .

Neither men women or animals were sa fe from the power

, ,

o f the demons They drove bi rds out o f thei r nests

.
,

struck down lambs and bulls They gli ded noiselessly as .

serpents into homes and dwellin gs and made thei r way ,

into the food and drin k of men and beasts in this way ,

acqui rin g possessi on and control of them and thei r acti ons .

It was the crowning grace of the wisdom of S olomon that

he lea rned the formula for expellin g demons and was ,

able to impa rt it to those who came a fter him by vi rtu e ,

of which knowledge according to the Jewish historian , ,

Eleaza r i n the p resence of Vespasian and his sons and his

, ,

captai ns and the multitude of soldiers drew the evil

, ,

S pi rit from the nostri ls of the demoniac The a rch end

8
.

himsel f could assume the form of any beast of the eld ,

and his first appea rance in Hebrew tradition is as a ser

pent M i lton says he roamed the orb to nd
.
,

F it v es se l tt
, es t imp of fa dr u , wh m
in o

To e nte r , a nd h is da k r su gge ti n h ide

s o

F rom s ha p r est s i gh t ,

and a fter due d elib e ration enclosed himsel f in the ser

pent s mazy folds fo r which service as intermediate host

, ,

swi ft and certain followed the punishment inicted upon

the un fortunate beast humiliated evermore and cursed , ,

above all cattle or as t he Jewish histori a n says
, de ,

p rived of his S peech and the use o f his le gs and with ,

R li g i n f Baby l ni a
e o o o a nd A y i a M Ja t
ss r ,

. s ro w ,

Ant i q i ties f th Jew

u o e s,

v iii 2 . .
2 2 8 MAG I C A N D HUSBAN D RY
9
poison inserted under his ton gue I f the statement of .

Josephu s is accepted the conclusion of Wesley would seem ,

to be warranted that the serpent was ha rmless unti l a fter

the Fall of Eve when the poison was inserted un der his
,

ton gue M ilton says his shape was

. pleasin g and
lovely as he approached Eve ,

not w ith i nd nt d w av e e e,

P rone on the grou nd ,

in b t n h i
as s ce , u o s re a r,

C i rcu l a r b a se o f ri s i ng f l d th at t w d
o s, o e re

F ld v f ld a
o o er o , g i ng m a z
su r e.

However men may wran gle over the si gnicance of the

Fall of M an verily the fall of the serpent has been com
,

p let e There
. is little i f any doubt that the sto ry cam e to , ,

the Hebrews a fter the captivity and was of A ryan ori g in ,

and old at the time i t was adopted into the sacred records
of Israel A simi lar Persian legend is told of Ahri m an
.
,

the evil spi rit who trans formed himsel f into a se rpent by
,

eatin g a certa in kind of fru it and then went g li din g abou t ,

the ea rth annoying mankind .

In examinin g some of the curi ous cou rt trials of ani m al s

that took place durin g several c entu ries in many coun
tries of Europe it has se emed p roper to call attention
,

briey to some of the strang e beliefs long wi dely accepted ,

which s eem to the writer to have be en the real source from

which the famous prosecuti ons o fthe Medieval and M i ddle
Ages sprang It has be en customa ry wi th some writers
.

to hold the lawmake rs of the period as void of sensibi lity

and conscien ce and to regard these cases as spectacula r
,

exhibitions of fa rcical jurisprudence The attorneys have .

been charg ed wi th brin g ing the actions for personal notor

iety and merc ena ry ends We prefer to re ga rd thi s .

episode in t he history o f humanity more serious ly and ,

G en . iii . 1 4; J phose u s, Anti q i ty

u o f the Jw
e s,

i . 1 .
2 30 MAGI C A N D HUSBAN DRY
Th y w ill a ffi m th a t th y h a ve n e r e see

C k whi h I d l a

gg oc s e s, c ec re,

I n my p ini n m ak in o o see s

gg l a i d by a m a

T o e s re .

It was held by the prosecution in this case that the pun ish
ment of animals for wron g doin g found au thori ty in the
le g islative code of the ancient Hebrews I f an ox gore .

a man or a woman that they die ; then the o x shall be su rely

stoned and his esh shall not be eaten ; but the owner of
,
2
the ox shall he quit True i f to the knowled ge of the .
,

owner the ox had been wont in times past to push wi th h is

, ,

horns the guilt was sha red be tween them I f a man

, .

servant or a maid servant was the injured party it m i g ht -

,

be settled on the pa rt of the owner with shekels of si lver

, , ,

but the ox was still to be stoned S o at certain fes tivals .

of the Athenians oxen were brou g ht to the alta r a nd

received thei r sentences One of them was someti mes .

o e red up in sacrice and the rest spared the punish ,

ment of one bein g accepted as an atonement for the o ffens es

of all One of the laws of S olon sai d that i f a do g ha d
.

bitten a man it was to be delivered up bound to a lo g fou r

,

cubits in lengt h
1 3
.

In t he Hebrew law the trans g ressions of t h e people ,

gave occasion for the i n i ction of punis hment upon thei r

beasts The oxen as ses and sheep of Achan were stoned
.
, ,

and burned because thei r owner had coveted and stolen t he

Babylonian ga rments thei r shekels of silver and wedges , ,

o f gold To punish the E gyptians for thei r obstinacy
.
,

the rst born of the cattle were smitten For diso be .

dience thei r vines and thei r sycamores were d estroyed an d

, ,

thei r cattle given up to the hail and thei r ocks to ho t ,

C d li ti P a t nd P nt 46 2 ; Na t a l H i t y Lor nd

re u es s a rese

, ur s or e a

L g nd

e e 36 , 2 .

n
Exodu s xxi . 2 8 .

Pl ta h S l n
u rc ,
o o .

J h a vii 4
os u . 2 .
 P U N ISHM ENT O F AN I M ALS 2 31

t h un derb o l ts T he goat selected by lot was burdened
.

w i th the si ns of the people and driven a w ay i nto the wi ld e r

ness and the blood of slaughte red vi ct ims sp ri nkled in
,

t h e holy p l a ces made at onement for the uncleanness of the

unri gh teou s people .

I n later cen turies as already noticed the e v ils that

, ,

a lict hum anity by ma gica l cer emon ies a re t ransferred to

animals T he dev ils of the dem oni ac are driv en into

.

s w ine The M oor su ering from headache beats a lamb

.
, ,

or a goa t ti ll i t falls down and the disea se is comm u n i

ca ted to the b east The Bechu a na kin g sea ts himse l f u pon
.

an a x stretched upon the g round the doctor pou rs wate r ,

ove r the kin g s h ead till it runs down over his body and

,

the head of the o x is held in a vessel of water ti ll death

ensues It is t h en announced to the people that the kin g s
.

diseas e t ra ns ferred to t h e beas t caused i ts dea th

, , .

Certa in b easts in the M iddle Ag es were h eld to be espe

cia lly w il lin g to com p a ct w it h ev i l on es and anima l s once ,

conse crated to t he gods follow ing the fortunes of th e cast ,

of f deiti es we re pressed into the service o f the de v il and

, ,

became the embodiment of evi l The sacred w hite hors e .

whi ch reverentl y acc ompanied the a rmy o f Cyrus and p re

ce ded X e rx es in h is famous retreat w h ose nei ghin g elected ,

Da riu s king whi ch in the tim e of Taci tu s was proph etic

, ,

of good or evi l with the Germans becoming an omen of ,

d eath by i ts nei g hing and snorti ng and the cow whi ch ,

h ad dra wn the a rk o f Jahveh and been yoked to the ca r

of Nerth us wh ic h had gu red in the creation of t h e sons
,

of the a n cestor of O din a nd his brothers by whom t he

frost gi ant Ymi r was s l a in and the ass which Jahveh had ,

"
u sed as h is mou th piece to comm u nica te w ith Ba ls a m ,

'
Exodu s xii 2 9 ; Pa in lxxviii 47 ; Lev xvi 4
. . . . 1

Th G l den B g h iii 4
"
e o ou ,
. : .

h a p x ; G imm 6 6 3; t Sa mu l v i
c . r . e . 8 ; Num bers xxii . 2 8.
2 32 M AG I C AN D HU S BAN D RY

were degraded in the evolution of rel i g ious belie fs to com

mon male factors and pai d the penal ty of t h ei r evil
associations and trans g ressions in public e x ecuti on .

S ymbols of animals became conspicuous in ecclesi asti ca l

architectu re and church furnishings and those o f evi l ,

omen were forced into the service of the church This was .

deemed accordin g to Professor Evans a ha rd hi t at the

, ,
3
devil and a masterly stroke of pious poli cy
, To free .

the de g raded beasts from thes e evil reputations whi ch had

been forced upon them it is probable the custom wa s intro,

du ced of blessing them b y t h e sa ints and sprin k lin g t h em

wi th holy water

They have been subjected to trial and prose cu ti on as

malefactors alike by rude and uncultured tribes and by
civilized pa g an and Christi an nati ons Crim inal cou rts .

have condemned them to death within the last hal f cen

tury in M ontenegro and other countries of Eu rope
l
.

In the trials of the M i ddle Ages from the tw elfth cen

tu ry onwa rd advocates were appointed for the defense of
,

the animals and due processes of law were obse rved .

From I 2 0 to 7 4 there a re records of nine y two suc h

1 1 1 t -

processes i n the French courts Domestic animals were .

tried in the common criminal cou rts and deat h was the
punishment on conviction Wi ld animals of noxious c h a r .

acter were brought b e fore the ecclesi astical cou rts where ,

it was held that the church had full power and aut hori ty
to exorcise anathematise and excommun icate all an im ate
, ,

and inanimate things Accused animals were co m m i tted

.

to p rison at the place where the trial was to take pl ace .

Accusations were made in pro p er legal form depositi ons ,

of witnesses were taken and i f the prisoner was p roved ,

gu ilty of homicide he was condemned to deat h by t he

,

A ni m a l Sy mb l i m
o s

,
1 79 .

E v l ti na l E th i
o u o cs a nd A ni m a l Py h l
s c o ogy,

1 3
.
2 34 M AGI C A N D HUSBAN DRY

taken in the act of committin g a crime Asses foun d in .

a cultivated eld not belongin g to the owner of the beasts

were condemned to los e one ea r for the rst o ffense and
both for the next and for the thi rd o ense th e anima l was
,

conscated by the prince T h e M ayor of S t M arti n de . .

Laon in 1 49 4 presided at t he trial of a hog for ki lling a

, ,

c hi ld in its cradle and passed sentenc e upon i t that it ,

be stran g led and hanged upon a g ibb et at Avin In 1 49 7 .

a sow was condemned to death for eatin g t h e chin of a

child in t he village of Charonne and the esh was ordered
, ,

by the cou rt to be thrown to the dogs The owner o f the .

animal in this case was ordered by the court to make a

, ,

pilgrimage on the day of Pentecost in atonement fo r his

, ,

culpable negligence it is to be presumed In a case i n the , .

fou rteenth centu ry in the vicinity of Lausa nne t hou g h a

, ,

child which a pig had killed was restored to li fe by brin g

ing out an image of S t Pancrace t he pi g w as nevertheless .
,

haled be fore the B ishop s court and sentenced to deat h

for murder In the latter part of the succeedin g cen tu ry

.

in the same locali ty on account of the great numbe rs of ,

cockcha fers infesting it they were cited before the Bis hop s ,

cou rt to answer cha rges a g ainst them One Perro det .

,

who had then been dead six months was assi gned to the m ,

for counsel but as neither counsel nor culpri ts appea red

,

j udgment was rendered aga inst them by default and t he ,

insects w er e excommunicated in the name of t he Hol y

Trinity and the Blessed Vi r g in and ordered to qui t foreve r ,

the diocese 2 1
'

M moi res de la S oci ete Royale Acad mi que de

Savoie show that in 1 545 a species of beetle made ra v

ages in the vineyards nea r St Julien de M aurienne an d .

that legal proceedin gs were begu n against them A .

Fo r a ccou nt of t hi nd nu m e rou s
s a ot h er tr ial s, see

C d li ti
re u es P a st

a nd P rese nt,
by i Villia m ones, c J h a p v ii
. .
 P UN ISHM EN T OF AN IM A LS 2 35

l a wyer w as assi gned to defend them but the sui t was dis ,

continued because the ins ect s sudd en ly le ft Forty two - .

yea rs later the insects retu rned a ga in and the p roce edin gs
were ren ew ed A jud ge w as named to try them and an
.
~

a ttorney to defen d them T he concl usion o f the tri a l was

.

an order from the cou rt for th e inha bi ta nts to provi de a

piece of l and ou tside the vineya rds of certain e xtent con , ,

t a inin g trees and shrub be ry w here the insects mi g ht li ve

,

wi thout troublin g the vines The land was pl ed ged by

.

t he inhabitan ts on con
, diti on of ri g ht of wa y t h rou gh i t ,

and re fu ge upon it in case o f wa r A few da y s later on.

,

refusal o f de fendants to accept of the land the cou rt w as ,

asked by co unsel for the people to prescri be other penal

t ies
. T ri al w as resumed and counsel for the de fense plead
t hat the land assi gned to his clients was worthl ess and p ro
du ced nothin g . The nal ending of the case is un known .

Simila r proceedings were taken aga inst caterpilla rs i n

Po nt du Chai tea u in A uver gne in 1 6 9 0 w h en t h e anima l s
o -
, ,

were excommuni cated and rel e g ated to an uncu l ti v ated

spot desi gna ted .

T h ere a re records of l e ga l p roces ses a g ainst dov es i n

Canada in the seventeen t h centu ry against ants i n Bra zil
, , ,

i n the eighteenth centu ry and co ws in Poi tou Leona rd

, .

Vai r a Spanish m on k w rote a work about t h e mi ddle of

, ,

the fteenth centu ry in which he held that a n imals were

,

engend ered from the rubbish of the ea rt h and the execu ,

t ion of them was condemned The R i tual of Evrcu s

.

d ecla red i n 1 6 0 6 that no one shou ld ex orcise animals nor

use praye rs or form ulas a ga inst them without perm uss lo n
o f t he ca rdina l .

W h i l e sows p i gs and vermin seem to h ave b een mos t

, ,

frequ ently the subj ects of these legal p roces ses the ch ron ,

icles o f a F rench savant M Be rria t Sa int -Prix published

, .
,

in 1 8 2 9 show that m a ny ot her animals between I 1 2 0 and

,
2 36 M AG I C AN D H U S BAN D R Y

1 741 were b rou g h t to t h e b ar of j usti ce to an swe r seri ou s

,

charges a g ainst t hem for crimes and misdem eanors A .

horse was condemned to deat h in 1 38 9 at Dij on a bu ll i n ,

1 5 1 4 in Compte de Valois pon ies in 1 6 0 0 near Dieppe, ,

in 1 6 0 1 at Provins in 1 6 0 4 at Joinville in 1 6 0 6 nea r

, ,

L an g res in 1 6 2 1 a t La Rochelle in 1 6 33 a t Bellac i n

, , ,

1 6 6 6 at Tours and in 1 6 9 2 at Moulins

, The trial of a .

mule is recorded a t M ontpelier in 1 56 5 a nd a t C he f ,

boutonne in 1 6 2 4 of she-asses at L oudun S en s Le M ans

, , , ,

Corbie Vaudes and t he Parliament of Pari s from 1 542

, , ,

to 1 6 6 7 .

It would b e tediou s to follow at g reater len gt h the

details of these curious le g al proceedin gs and onl y brie f ,

reference will be made to t wo more cases of consi derable

celebri ty A sow a nd her six pi gs were tried at a town i n
.

F rance for havin g murdered and eaten a baby T he .

m other ho g was condemned to deat h but her o spring were

a cqui tted on the g rounds of thei r yout h the ba d example ,

o f thei r mother and the lack of p roof that the y had eaten
,

o f the c h ild At a trial of rats in the diocese of Au tun

.
,

a fter numerous delays on the prete x t of g ivin g t h e culprits

a chance to appea r it was proposed to take jud gment by
,

default when Cha ss a u n the distingu is hed advocate for

, ,

the defense denounced the whole proceedin gs as ille g al

, ,

and demanded protection from t he cats of the locali ty

for his clients t he rats while goin g to and from the cou rts
, , .

T he prosecution bein g unable to gu a rantee this the case ,

was dismissed .
2 38 M AG I C AND HU S BAN D RY

ru in threatened all thei r su m mer s hus b and ry when i n

,

thei r distres s they set apart a day for fas tin g and p rayer
to deprecate the calamity that might bring them to fast

in g through famine The mo rning of t h i s da y showed
.

no si gns of rain but before night the sky was ove rcast
,

wi th clouds and such easy gentle and plenti ful showers

, ,

followed that thei r corn was revived and t h ei r ha rves t

saved and even the pagan Indians were forced to reco g
,

ni ze the go odness of the E nglishm ens God who had sen t

rain unaccompanied with such tempest and thund er as
they were accustomed to have with the ra in t hat followed
a fter thei r powwowing for it Then the lea rned and .

devout author adds : The harvest w h ich God thus g ave

to this pious p eople caused them to set apart another day
for solemn Thanks g ivin g to the glori ous Hearer o f
P raye rs ! 3
While the lan gua ge of the histori an woul d
s eem to warrant the in ference of belie f in these ob serv

an ecs and the character of thei r worship as facto rs i n

, ,

se cu rin g satisfactory results from thei r a g ricul tural labo rs

an d the p erpetui ty of thei r ha rvests it is ea rlier ri tes o f
,

natives races upon the continent th at give e xpression t o

the more primi tive and vital si gni cance of them The .

beginnin g o f harvest festivals in America as in oth e r ,

countries is lost i n the m ists of preh istori c times

,
.

In the tradition of the M em ono m ini Indi ans S heka t ,

cheke n a u was made out of the bea r by thei r hero god

.

I n the cha rge of this chief was placed the wild rice t o ,

them a m o st im po rt a nt a rticle of food and when the tim e ,

for the ha rvest came says the legend he called his peopl e
, ,

together and made a feast and smoked and asked t he

, ,

G reat S pi rit to give them fai r w eather during the ha rvest

s eason and they always had stormless ha rvests a fte rwa rds
, .

The Indi ans o fWhite Ea rth rese rvation M innesota g ave , ,

M gn li
a a C tt n M a th i 54
a,

o o e r,
 HA RVE STI N G 2 39

a ri ce feast know n as th e M a nom in in t he fall a ft er gath ,

erin g ri ce and be fore the winter hunt a thanks g i vi ng

, , ,

with p ra ye rs to M anitou Be fore the rice is gath ered the .

,

Oj ibwa in Canada ma k e a feas t and none a re allowed

, , ,

to ga th er th e gra in be fore T he rst frui ts of the Da k ot as .

a re set apa rt for a ho l y feas t at w h ich those I ndi ans ,

only who a re en ti tl ed to wea r the bad ge of h a v in g slain

an enemy a re in vi ted The G reen Corn d a nce of the
, .

Cherokee was held prelimina ry to eatin g the rst new

corn It wa s sa ys M r M ooney
.
, a most solemn tribal .
,

functi on a propitia tion and expiati on for the sins o f the

,

past yea r an amnesty for public criminals and a pra yer

, ,

for happiness and p ros pe ri ty for t h e year to come Onl y .

those were a llowed to ta k e pa rt w ho had prepa red th em

selves b y p ra yer and fas ting and pu rica ti on No one .

dared to taste t h e co rn t i ll a fte r t h e ce remoni es S even .

ea rs of the last yea r s crop wer e al w a ys put aside in order

to a tt ra ct t he corn ti l ! the new cr0 p w as ri p ene d and i t w as

time for the dance when th is wa s eaten wi th the res t , .

Ca re was takenineat in g the rst new corn a fter the dance ,

not to blow upon i t to cool i t les t it cau se a Winds torm to ,

beat down the standin g crop i n the eld

.

An a nnual thanksgi ving is ob served by the Mina t a rees

of Uppe r M i ss ou ri which ta kes place wh en the mai ze is
,

t fo r ea ting green w hen th ey dance and feast and sacri,

ce for a w eek or ten days Be fore anyone is allowed .

to eat of the new co rn a k ettle full is boiled for the G reat ,

Spi ri t as a sa c ri ce while four medicine men with sta lks o f

corn in one hand and a rattle in the other dance a rou nd the
ke ttle chant ing a son g of than ksgiving The re and
, .

ashes a re thenbu ri ed in the g round and ne w re by fri ction

is made onthe sa me s po t .

i
N neteent h A nn a l Ethnol u ogic al R p e ort, 42 3, 1 09 1 . 1 09 3.

Geo g Ca l in i
'
r e t 89
, . 1 .
2 40 MAGI C AN D HU S BAN D R Y

The chie ffes tival of the y ea r of the C ree ks is that of the

rst fru its None must taste or h andl e the new co rn ti ll
.

a fte rwa rd s A strict ri tual is ob served in prepa ration for

.

the sacred rite Pu rgativ es and fastin g a re preliminaries

.

with them a s wit h t he S eminoles b e fore eatin g the ,

new corn D an ger mi g ht follow t he inte rmin glin g of the

.

sacred rst fruits with common food in thei r stom ac hs .

In t hi s connection Pro fessor Frazer calls attention to the

custom of Cat holics in pa rtakin g of the Eucharist fasti n g ,

and of the Mexicans i n refusin g to eat ot her than conse

crated b read on the da y of thei r solemn communion w hich ,

t hey revere as the ve ry esh and bones of thei r God ,

and dare not dele the porti on of God in thei r

6
stomachs with comm on food .

At festivals held in Nicara gua w h ich D r Brinton s a ys , .

took place at the time of t he ma i ze ha rvest pri ests c hie fs , , ,

and all the men drew blood Wit h kn iv es o f int from thei r
ton gues and genital organs let it drip upon t he sheaves o f ,

ma ize and ate the g rain as a blesse d food A t a simila r .

festival in Peru a human victim was immolated and t he

Vi rg ins of the Sun m i x ed his blood with meal and b aked i t
into ca kes which were distributed and eaten and one of
, ,

them sent to every holy shrine and temple in the kingdom .

At an Aztec ha rvest festival a victim usually the m os t ,

atroci ous criminal found in t he j ails was crushed betw een ,

two g reat stones perhaps to symboli ze the g rindin g of

,

the mai ze and rst fruits were o ffered to the sun I n t he

, .

Aztec rite in honor of Tezcatlipoca of whom one of th ei r ,

hymns says a dreadful god is ou r god Tezca tlipoca

, ,

he is the only god he will answer us a youth was chosen
, ,

and named for the god For months his every wish w a s .

gratied and he receiv ed the honors of divini ty a nd th en ,

at the appointed time on the summit of t he sa cred p y ra

,

T h G l d nB g h ii 340
e o e ou ,
. .
2 42 MAGI C A N D HUSBAN DRY

priest o ffered up a lamb in sacrice wi th prayers a nd

tha nksgiving the cerem onies continuing for four days
, .

Tu rning to the peoples o f the Old World whether we ,

examine the records and traditi ons of extinct civi li zations ,

those o f greatest present power and prominence or the ,

cu stoms o f people not yet fa r advanced from barba ris m ,

there a re to be traced some common features i n all thei r

ceremonial insti tutions associ ated with the ingatherin g o f
the products o f the elds .

The song o f Theocri tus glo ries the goddess wi th pop

pies and S heaves i n her hands whose ha rvest fes ti va l ,

he attended wi th his chosen friends where the fa i r ,

robed Demeter was receiving her la rge ss o f rs t fru i ts

o f the season fo r veri ly in rich measu re she had
, lled
1"
thei r threshi ng o o r with barl ey grain - .

M in was the god o f the generati ve power of n a tu re

with the E gyptians and it was to him the ha rvest fes tivals,

were dedicated fo r the abundance which he caused to

sprin g forth from the ea rth Sculptu res o f the go d .

rema in from the p rehistoric age S howing him decorated ,

wi th a feather and a garland o f owers 1

O fferin gs o f .

rst frui ts are beli eved to have been established among the
E gypti ans more t ha n two thousand yea rs be fore the Chris
ti an E ra and to have been associ ated with ha rvest
,

festi vals from a ve ry early date though it is probable t h a t ,

wi th the E gypti ans as with the Babyloni ans and the ,

Chinese such o fferings in the ea rli est times were m ore

, , ,

S pecically made to the m a n es or S hades o f the deceased

anc estors as indicated in the lan guage in which the

,

P i i v Ci v ili za ti
rim t e o ns,
E J S im x ii
. . co ,
.
455 ; Ri t
es o f t he Inca s,

52 .

I dy l v ii .

1 1
H is to ry of E gy p t P t i i
,
"
e r e, . 1 4; R li gi
e o no f t h e An i
c e nt E gypt i a n
s,

W i d m a nn
e e , 1 2 7 .
 HARVE ST I N G 1 43

deceased in t he ch a racter of Horus desc ribes th e service

rendered to hi s fat her Os iris as given in the ri tu al : I ,

have wor ked the elds for th ee I have lled the wells .

for thee . I h ave made thy bread f rom T u of

red corn I have made thy dri nk from Tepu o f whi te co m
, .

I have plow ed for thee in t h e fiel ds of the A a hu I have ,

" 2
mow n it for thee there .

I n the Chinese boo k of rites t h e L i C hi one of th e , ,

live cl ass i cs is a passage supposed to have been retained

,

from the earliest material from which the book in its later
form wa s com pi led whic h g ives a descri pti on o f a g rea t
,

sacri ce made b y th e son of h ea ven in which o erings w ere ,

'
made to the legenda ry inventors of the dill erent g ra ins and
a rts o f h usbandry a sort of ha r v est festiva l in whic h
,

proper retu rns were made to the anci ent w i se men under
whom they were blessed Beas ts and bi rds were repre .

sente d a t th e sacri ci al ce remonies T he cats also w ere .

p e rmitt e d to ha v e representati v es at t h e feast because ,

they d estroyed the rats a nd the m ice w hich inju red the
frui ts of the elds and the ti ge rs were li kewise remem
,

be red for they destroyed the wi ld boa rs w hi ch ru ined the

,

crops O erings were made to thes e representa tives and

.

to the inventors of d y kes and water channels as th ese w e re .

a ccoun ted accessori es of hu sb a ndry Ia

.

M any odes and hym ns o f t h e Chinese a re i ndica ti v e o f

a close relati onshi p be tw e en thei r ancestra l ri tes and cere
moni es connected with agri cultu re I n spea king o f th em .

M r Le g ge sa ys :
. T hose g rea t sea sonal occasi ons have
a l wa ys been what we mi g ht ca ll grand fam i l y reuni ons ,

w h ere the dead and the li ving meet eating and d ri nkin g ,

tog et h er w h e re t h e l ivin g w orshi p the dead and t he dead

, ,

bless th e l iving An ode in p ra ise of H i of Lu 8 ,

P im i t i v Ci vi li z ati n
"
r e i 33 o s, . : .

Mid i 48 f ing t L i Ch i i n
. . : , re e rr o . t . .
 M AG I C AN D HUSBAN DRY

descendant of How ih who be g an his rei gn i n 6 50 B C

-ts
, . .
,

commends him as one who was never remiss i n sacri ficing

the red unblemished bulls to his a ncestors in the sprin g and
a utu m n ceremonies A ha rvest ode is translated :
.

Ex u be ra nt ya ! is th e e r

Of m i ll t nd i e w h at t !
a r ce s ore

A nd th n l ft h i g h
e co r ll d o s a re e

W ith m illi n l a d nd mo o s a o re,

For b w i ng w t d i nk nd t
re s ee r s a s ro ng,
For o ing t er i s o ou r s res

A nd g a nd a m
r g n b f es o e e o re,

A nd f a ll a h i t q i
or e c r e re u res.

The beginning o f the vinta g e amon g the Romans in some

places was made publicly by the priests At Rome t he .

F lamen B i alis commenced t he v inta g e When it wa s ti m e .

to be g in pluckin g the g rapes he sacri ficed a lamb to Jup i

ter The ritual law of Tuscu lum forbad e the sa le of
.

wine till the priest ha d performed the initiato ry rite .

O fferin gs o f rst fruits are thought to have been ma de

primarily for magical e ffects and subsequently rega rded , ,

in pa rt as se rvice of a S pi ri t Vacuna the ancient god

, .
,

dess of leisure was worshiped by the husbandmen a fte r

, ,

the gathering in o f the ha rvest that they might obtai n her ,

favor fo r the winter of repose ; and Vesta the mistress of ,

the hea rth used to bake the bread and honor was done to
, ,

the ass that turned the mi llstone 3 Behold says th e

poet the loaves o f bread han g down from the ass es

,

bedecked with ga rlands and the wreaths of owers cov e r ,

the rough millstones When the horse was sacri ficed in
.

October in the Campus M a rt ins the head was decked w i t h

ca kes Vi rgi l writes : Nor let a man of them da re t o
.

put a sickle to the ripe corn ti ll in honor o f Ceres he ha s , ,

T he S h i Ki ng Wi ll i a m J
,

e nni ngs , iv ii
. .
4; iv iv
. .
4; The R e l igiou s
f C h i na J am L gg

o , es e e,
2 46 MAGI C AN D HUSBAN D RY

d e rin g spi rits i n t he rice at ha rvest a mini ature fiel d s o wn ,

with all the plants that grow was dedicated to them It .

i s not uncommon to leave fra gments of the cr0 p for th e

spi rit of vegetation Hand fuls of flax were left in Ba va r
.

ian fields for the Wood woman the Scotchman left a few -
,

stalks for the aul man though it was more comm only

,

le ft for the Old Woman or the Co m woman : ,

-

We i v it t th Old W
g e o e om a n;
Sh h a ll k p it
e s ee .

N xt y a m y h b t
e e r a s e e o us

A s kind as this tim e she has been .

The source of many cu rious customs seems to ha v e b ee n

t he belie f that the last shea f or last g rai n taken fro m t he

eld was the pecu li ar property of the indwellin g spi ri t tha t

gave li fe to the plant which would a g ain come to li fe in
,

t he new grain Thi s spi rit wa s sometim es conceive d a s

.

taking the form of some animal which fled before t he ,

reapers or was captu red in the last shea f and k illed A

, .

sudden i llness of the reaper wa s cha rge d to cont a ct w it h

this spi rit I t was a wol f a goat or a cock a nd woul d
.
, , ,

h ide itsel f in the gath ered g ra in to be dri ven ou t fina lly , ,

perhaps with the last strokes of the flail Children w ere

, .

wa rned against the cock that sat in the corn field A s .

the last shea f was bound a live cock might be let l oos e in,

the field to be chased by the ha rvesters till they ca u g h t

,

it or the last shea f was made up i nto the form of a cock

, ,

and called the ha rvest cock or the image of one wa s some ,

times carried on a pole and attached to the ha rves t wa g on .

Again the figure of a cock was nailed o v e r the door a nd

,

remained ti ll the ensu ing ha rvest or a l iv e c ock wa s bu rie d ,

in the ea rth excepting the head which w a s strick en o f!

, ,

with a blow o f the scythe and the f eathers a nd s k in p re

se rved and mixed with gra in from the last shea f w h i ch ,

Th G l d n B g h ii 2 36 note
e o e ou , .
, .
 HAR VEST I N G 2 47

was scatt e red on th e eld to be tilled I nScot land th e last .

shea f wa s somet imes made into the form of a woman and ,

in S we den the grain of the last shea f mi g ht be b aked into

a loa f inth e shape o f a littl e gi rl which w as divi ded amon g ,

th e h ou seho l d and ea ten w h ile i n La Palise Fran ce a

, , ,

m a nmade o f dou g h and h ung u pon a r tree w as carried

on the last ha rves t wa g on to the mayor s hous e w here at '
, ,

the close of the ha rvest i t was torn to pi eces and eat en b y

,

the people suggestin g as some a re fa in to beli e ve a

, , ,

h u m an sacri fice as pa rt of ha rv es t ce rem oni es sometime

in the dis tant p ast .

Bra nc hes of t rees deck ed w i th ea rs of corn w ere ca rri ed

home w i th the l ast wagon from the ha rvest el d b y Ge r
mans and F rench an d fastened to t he fa rm h ouse or ba rn
, ,

w here the y remained for the yea r w hi le in anci ent G reece ,

branches of olive or lau rel bou n d w ith ribbon and hu ng

wi th fru i t w e re ca rri ed in p rocession at ha rves t festiva ls , ,

an d t h en fasten ed o v er t h e door wh ere th e y rem aine d ,

throu g h the y ea r that the li fe g i vin g power of the bough

,

mi gh t fos ter the growth o f the crops When t h e corn is .

ri pe B echuanas go with axes and each man b rin gs h ome a

, ,

bra nch of the sacred hackth orn wi th which th ey repa i r the ,

ca tt l e ya rd At harvest festi vals in Z ul ul and a bul l is

.

k i ll ed and the gall dra n k b y king and peop l e ; t h e esh is

ea ten and burn ed and a g reencalabash brokenby the k ing
,

in the p resence of the peo p l e b efore anyone is allowed to

pa rta ke o f the ne w fruits I f one ta s t es of th em be fo re
.
,

h e ei th er di es or is k i l l ed " .

i
The poet H err ck sin gs of t h e Hoc ca rt or H a rv est
k-
,

H ome

Some b l e e the C a rt ; me kis e the shea v ;
ss so s es

o S m p ank th m p w ith a k n l a v ;
e r e u o e e es

o S me cross the ll h n ; m w ith g a t

- o e so e, re

Devot ion t e a k th ha m -b rn w hea t

, s r e o e .
"

The G lden Bou gh i

38 n
"
o , 2
. ote , .
2 48 MAGI C AN D HUSBAN D RY

With obse rvations on Au gust in a seventeenth centu ry ,

alm anac is this stanza :

,

H oa cky is b rou gh t
H m w ith h ll w in
o e a o ,

B y w i th pl m a k
o s u -c e

Th C a t f ll w i ng
e r o o .

B rand notes a cu stom mentioned i n the history of North

u m berla n d occu rrin g on the last day o f the reaping
, An .

image apparele d in nery a nd crowned wi th owers w i th ,

sickle in hand and a shea f of corn under its a rm is ca rri ed

into the eld I t was called the Harvest Doll or Co rn
.
-
,

Baby A gure made of the last ea rs of the harvest was

.

known as the Corn Lady in Sc otland In Kent it w as .

called the Ivy Gi rl Peruvians made a similar gure pu t

.
,

up in rich garments and held in great veneration as the

n
M other of the M ai ze which they called the Pirva , .

Grimm mentions a custo m which prevai led in Sweden a nd

elsewhere of t hrow ing the last bundle o f the ha rv est up o n
,

the g round for the horses o f the wi ld huntsman les t a s a ,

penalty for not d o ing i t thei r cattle should die Ot her .

sayi n gs n oted by him a re the following : Lay a few o f the

rst s h eaves from the harvest cross wis e in the fou r corners
of the barn and the dra gon cannot get any o f t he g ra i n .

I f you bu rn wheat straw the crop i n the eld will tu rn ,

s oo ty M ake the last shea f at the ha rvest big and you r

.

next crop will be so good that e v ery shea f can be made a s

large 22
.

I t is a Russ i an custom to ca rry home the rst shea f o f

the ha rvest and place it nea r the h o ly pictu res I t i s .

thrash ed repeatedly and the grain care fully treasured to be

mixed with the n ext year s seed as a pres e rver o fthe futu re
,

crop from all manner o f evils The straw of i t is also .

B a nd
r

s A nti q i ti
u es,

I bid 30 2 , 30 3
. .

Teu tonic Myth lo ogy,

9 44, 1 7 87 , r7 9 2 , zyga .
2 50 MAGI C AN D HU S BAN DRY

I n New Gu inea they commence digging the yams about

the end o f April a nd in the followin g month the great
,

annual yam festival ta k es place which o ften lasts fo r a

-
,

week or ten days during which all business is suspen ded

, ,

the time being given up to feasting musi c and danci ng , , .

The gi rls are dre ss ed in new grass petti coats and ga r -

,

landed with owers a nd the men paint thei r faces in gor,

geo ns style Pi gs are slaughtered in great mtm bers w h ic h

.
,

are contributed together with ca rtloads of yams the pi gs ,

being cu t up and distributed by lot each man rece ivi ng a ,

po rtion correspon din g to a pi ec e o f twine which he h a s

drawn 25
.

When the M alay is ready to b e gin reapin g his rice he

must rst get permission of the Pawan g who is the i nte r ,

media ry between men and spi rits ; he must burn benzoi n in

the eld and must take the rice soul out o f his elds ;
,
-

to do this he chooses a spot where the rice is best w here

, ,

the bunch of s ta lk s is bi g and there are seven joints to th e

stalk He cli ps se v en a sacre d number of stems fo r
.
, ,

the sou l of the rice He clips another handful to be the

.
,

m o ther seed for the following year The rice soul is

- .
-

wrapped in a white cloth tied with a cord o f bark a nd , ,

m a d e into the image of a little child in swaddlin g clothes ,

and put in a small basket The mother god is put in .

another basket and both a re fumigated with benzoin a nd

take n home He then waits three days a nd begin s t he
.

cutting o f the ri ce Eve ry day when th e reapers com

.

mence thei r work they repeat this cha rm :

A w a ll w
s o f a ll n t i k i ng th g
ha s e , s r e rou nd,
S t i k i ng th
r e g nd in th m i dd l
rou f e e o ou r h ou se - y
a rd ;

B u t ye, O s h a d w nd p t a l a p
o s a s ec r re ers,

See t t ye ha m i ng l n t w i t h
e o u s.

Tw o Y e a amrs ng the
o Sa v a g es o f New G in a W
u e

, . D . P i tca i rn, 6 6 .
 HARVE STING 2 5 I

W hen reapin g t h e y co v er thei r heads a nd face the sun so ,

as to prevent thei r shadows from fallin g upon the rice in

the basket at thei r sides Thei r shadows must not fall .

upon the rice during the reaping neithe r must thei r hai r ,

be cut A light must be placed at the head of the rice

.

child s bed and must not be allowed to go out at nigh t

.

Neither must the fire on thei r hearths du rin g the reapi n g

be su ffered to go out They perfo rm certain ceremoni es .

to make the husked rice white and smooth and others will ,

make it rougher if desi red I f they wish to make the

, .

whole eld of rice break into waves they stand up and ,

clap thei r hands and they push each hand up the sleeve
,

o f the opposite a rm and repeat a cha rm to ma k e the ,

g ra ins swell and prevent them from shrinkin g or gettin g

emp ty A lump of ea rth is dug with the great toe of the
.

le ft foo t and inserted in the midst o f each clump of g rain

which has been tied up fo r the rice chi ld and they repeat : -
,

Pa
e ce w i th y
be ou , P ph t T ap
ro e

, in wh ose c ha rge is a h
t he e rt ,

C n m t h i my
o r s chi ld .

D it n h a m
o o r or sc a th e,

B t
u m v it f
re o e ar f mdmn ro e o s a nd d v il
e s.

A fte r ta k ing home the rice soul the sh ea f which is l e ft -

,

standing is called the mother o f the rice soul and treated -

as a newly made mother by being fed with prepa red salad , ,

and fo r three successive days young shoots of trees pounded

together are scattered broadcast Sometimes the women .

reap naked from the wa ist up a magical method o f mak

, ,

ing the rice husk s thinner They repeat cha rms b e fore .

leavin g the house and again be fore depositing thei r ,

'

baskets on the ground The last shea f is reaped by the .

owner s wi f e who thrashes i t out and mixes it with the

,

rice soul
- 20
.

M a l ay M. gic ,
"
w . \V. Sk a t
e , 22 5
-2
49 '
2 5 2 M AGI C AN D HU S BAN D R Y

An annual ha rvest festival is observed in S iam the cere ,

monies o f which a re believed to be of Brahmanical o rigi n .

It take s place insi de the ci ty walls on a lawn nea r a large ,

church and is generally attended by the people t he

, ,

thoroughfares bein g b locked by them and their carri ages

and rickshaw s and bands and processions with decorated

,

bu ffaloes and carts O fferings of fru it and owers and

.

bundles o f rice expre ss thei r g ratitude fo r the gi ft o f t he

ha rvest There a re swinging games and pri zes Afte r
. .

the Cambodians have gathered and stored the paddy

( rice ) in thei r granaries they send fo r the a ch a rs t he reli g ,

i ous litera ti who come and read prayers and invocations

,

o v er the ga rnered cra p It is placed under the protecti on

.

of a certain magical st one wh ich they hold in great rev ,

erence It is an Iban custom in Borneo for the women a t

.
,

thei r harv e st festivals to take down the old skulls a nd

,

ca rry th em with the new one s in thei r dances No one , .

will ventu re to cut the paddy in Java be fore a priest h a s

m ade an o f ferin g The feast of N y ipaan the gatheri ng
.
-
,

of rst fru its among the natives of Sarawak lasts tw o ,

days ; there is music and dancing ; a fowl is killed ; no one

must cu t his paddy till this is over A second feast i s h e ld .

at m id ha rvest and a thi rd at the close when the crop i s

-
, ,

stored Ei ght days a re given up to the last one duri ng

.
,

which no stranger must be allowed to enter the v i lla g e .

A feature of the festival is the ceremonial captu ri ng o f

the soul of the paddy which is mix ed wi th the seed for t he
,

next yea r Pigs and fowls a re sacri ced I f durin g t he

. .

ha rvest a basket o f paddy is upset that fa rm must rest fo r ,

a day and a fowl be killed or the paddy wi ll rot I f a tr ee , .

fall across the path a fowl must be ki lled and the pa t h

, ,

remain unused fo r a day to ward o ff portending evi l ,

.

On the Gold C o ast a harvest festival is held in Septe m

b er when the yam crop is ri pe It lasts a fortni ght a nd .
,
2 54
. MAGI C AN D HUSBAN D RY

a ttainmen ts ; tha t they ha v e been adapted to a ll form s of

reli g ious bel iefs and higher ethical ideas have ma rke d the
,

abandonment o f thei r repulsive features ; that it is p rob

able that the harvest home of cultu red humani ty n ds its
origin in the crude ma g ical fo rmulas by which less civi l i ze d
man thought to defend himself from the hostile inu ences
a roun d him and re gu late a n
, d compel the ha rves t.
 C HAPT E R X V

F R U I T-GROWI N C

We now here a rt do so tr u m i ph a nt see ,

As wh e n it gr a ft s or b du s the tree .

It d oes, li ke g ra ce, th e fa ll n t e ree restore

To its b l t ta te
es s o f Pa ad i r b f se e o re .

He d a v a g h a wth n t a h
oes the s e or e c

T h o th m dla
ea r nd th p a ;
e e r a e e r

H b i d th
e ti pl m t a
s e ru s c u o re r

A n b l t nk nd b a p a h
o e ru , a e e c .

E v n D a ph n
e yn h d m ock

e s co ess e oes ,

A nd w d th h yt h t k
e s e c err o e r s oc ,

Th gh h f d A p ll
ou s e itre u se o

o s su ,

E v n h th a t h a t nd v i gi n t
e s e, c s e a r ree,

N w w nd
o t h o lf t ers a erse o see

Th a t h a m th m a d nd bl h
s

e s o er e, a us es in her f it
ru .

T H E R E is a le gend of the patriarchal hero o f the delu g e ,

which credits him with the plantin g of the rst v ineyard ,

thou gh not without the a ss istance o f the Evi l One As .

the story is Noa h was laborin g to b rea k the hard sod

, ,

when the Devi l appea red to him and made inqui ry as to

his intentions On being in formed that he w a s planting
.

the g rape S atan o ffered his se rvices which were a ccepted

, , .

He then procu red a lamb a nd slaughtered i t pouring its ,

bloo d up on the clods of earth and a ssurin g the patri

arch that t he effect of this would be to make those drink
ing the juice from the fruit o f the vine so ft spi rited a nd
-

gentle as a lamb S atan then cau ght a lion sl ew i t a nd , ,

Cow ley G a den

'
s
'

r .

2 55
2 5 6 MAGI C AND HU S BAN DRY

pou red its blood upon the s oil Thence shall i t come
.
,

s aid he that those who tas te the ju ice o f the grap e shall
,

b e stron g and coura geous as the lion He then sle w a .

pi g pou rin g its blood upon the earth too that those w ho
, , ,

dran k of the w ine to excess m ight b e like the swi ne l th y , ,

de g raded and bestial .

A kindred Mussulman tradi tion of the vine ma k es Ha m ,

when it was planted moisten the ground wi th the bl o od o f

,

a peacock and when the leaves came they w ere sp rinkled

, ,

wi th the blood of an ape b ut the grown grapes we re ,

drenched wi th the blood o fa lion and again when ri pene d , , ,

with the blood of a swi ne I n this way i t came about that

.

the rst glass makes a man assume the gayety of a pe a

cock ; when it more a ffects his brain he leaps and gambols ,

like an ape ; when drunken he rages like a lion furi ou sly ,

an d when the fu ry is past like the beastly s wi ne he g rovels

, ,

in the dust in his sl eepy stu po r SI

.

I n this legend of the plantin g of the vine are to be

traced some of the cu rious beliefs to which attention h as ,

already been called which are common among the l ess

,

civi li z ed and su rvive to some extent in the customs o f

, , ,

more enli ghtened races The hostile spi ri ts of the ea rt h

.

are appeased with a sacri ci al o fferin g The li fe of so m e .

thing or its equ ivalent the bl ood i s g iven to furnish t h e

, , ,

new li fe o f the plant The peculia r cha racteristics o f the

.

animal are transferred to the livin g plant and to its f ru i t ,

and mani fest themselves i n thei r e ffects upon the pers o ns

who co nsume them suggestin g appa rently in a modi ed
, ,

form the doctrine of transmi g ration A k indred theo ry

, .

impels the savage to eat his brave enemy so that he m a y

acqui re the cou rage of his vanquished foe and is the ba s i s ,

o f the belie f that the parts o f a nimals consumed by h im

g ive strength and vi gor to correspondin g pa rts in m a n .

L g nd
e ef th P a t i a h
s o e rnd P p h t
rc S Ba i ng G l d
s a roh a p vi
e s,

. r - ou ,
c . x .
2 5 8 MAGI C AN D HUSBAN DRY

and other uncanny th ings upo n the trees who se young ,

fru it is beginning to redden .

As w e have seen the plan is not unknown in husba nd ry

, ,

o f conci li ating the evil ones by allotting to them a po rti o n

o f the f ield fo r thei r own This method is exempli ed in .

t he description as we have read ,

3
of the g a rden o f on e ,

Tony P a rt iger who thou ght his g a rden was bewitched

,

because the tu li ps he bou ght fo r double tu rned out single ,

the candytu ft came out chickweed the lobeli a g roundsel , ,

and sow thist les and fool s parsley g rew whe re finest la w n

grass was p romised

Accordin g ly both to conciliate a nd
.
,

terri fy them he surrounded his fruit g arden wit h su c h

,

things as witches cannot hea r and made another g a r den

o f such thin g s as they most deli ght in The former h e .

shaped as a pentangle wi th a pa pla r tree a t one poin t o f

it and at each o f the others set an elder a hazel a n a s h
, , ,

and a mountain ash all potent a g ains t evil spi ri ts A t t h e

, .

foot of one tree he set bracken ; of another St Johnsw o rt ; , .

o f the thi rd vervain ; of the fourth foxglove ; and a g a i ns t

, ,

the popla r he trained black briony White li li es a nd .

sweetbri ar hat e ful to Satan gua rded the center and up o n

, , ,

the popla r he na iled with cross-headed nails a bo ard w i t h

the prayer upon it :
F rom w i t h nd w i za d nd l ng a il d b z za d
c es a r s a o -t e u r s,

A nd cree p i ng th i ng th a t n in h d g b tt m
s ru e e o o s,

G d L a dy d li v
oo ,
e er u s .

And then in a corner o f the other ga rden he m ade a li ttle

pool for newts and frogs the playthings o f witches a nd , ,

over i t hun g black alde rs I n the g a rden were ni ghts h a d e

.

and hellebore and henbane and betony and the plan t t h a t

bore bloody men s finge rs and mallow that so fte ns
,

men s bones and makes them cripples and the plantai nth a t

,

Ph i l R b i n n in C nt mp y Kw i m 89 3
'
o so ,
o e ora r a , 1 .
 FRUIT G ROWI N G -
2 59

causes the black sweat Then he threw into the g arden .

some dead shrews and bats and set some wands of bay ,

ready for use against the alders and some old broom
, ,

sticks for witches to ride .

By the biblical and other le gends of the tempta tion and

fall of man the association of fru i t with evi l has been for
ever enshrined in the world s folk lore Barrenness and
- .

decay follow the supremacy of ev il and are thwarted only ,

by the interc ession of some superior celestial power Pau .

sa u ias says th at frui ts of autumn lai d at the feet of the

image of Demeter in a certain s anctua ry remained fresh
throughout the yea r The fruit of apple trees wa s .

s ecured against rot and caterpi lla rs accordin g to Pliny , ,

by to uching the tops o f the trees with the g al ] of a g reen

li zard or by a woman goin g around each tree barefooted
,

and ungi rt whi le in her monthly courses Fruit was p ro .

t ected from hai l by a certain cha rm the words of which the ,

Roman philosopher dared not venture to transcribe Yet .

the cher ry tree which was climbed by a menstruous woman

died and the blasted fruit fell from the tree and buds ,

and seedlin gs and vines withered and died at her touch ,

as the barren g tre e withered at the v oice of the H oly

One
.

Dante describes the tree which he and the master m et

m idway i n P u rgato ry whose apples were swee t and ,

grate ful to the smell tho u gh i t tapered downwa rd ,

instead of upward from bough to bou g h in order it w as

, , ,

said that no man might climb it

,
5
.

a
Ea ch d id l a e n d noti ons g iVCp
r e

Cowley says of the T ree of Knowled ge whi ch in th e fai r ,

F az

r P a ani a ix 9 5 ; N a t a l H i t y v ii 3; xvii 47 ;
er s
'
us s,

. : , ur s or

, . a .

R m a n F t i v a l :4 2 9
o es s,

,
.

Ca nt o ra a .
2 60 MAG I C AN D HU S BAN DRY

garden grew upon which the t nix T ruth reste d an d

,

bui lt his perfumed nest The apples were demonstra .

tive and ,

80 l a h i l nd d i v i n
c e r t e r co o r a e,

T he v y h a d th y a t d i d th
er s e e c s o er lg i ht s ou ts h in e.

The benecent light of the full moon perfected the rip en

in g fr u i t and th erefore Endymion said
, , ,

No a ppl w l d I ga th f m th t
es ou er ro e ree,

Till th h a d t l d th i h k d l ici
ou s coo e e r c ee s e ou s l y .
"

Some o f the older English poets sin g o f enchanted vi nes

and trees which pro ffered thei r fruits to the hands an d li p s
of those who approached them Andrew M a rv e ll in .
,

The Garden says : ,

T he l i
u sc ou s c u ste rs l of a v in e

Up n m y m ou th do cru s
o h th i w ine ; e r

The nect a ri ne a nd cu r ou s i pah e c

I nto my h a nd s themse es lv d a h o re c .

T he verse o f M a rvell is but an echo of the sti ll ea rl ie r

lines of Sp encer :

A h d v h a d wi th n m b a i ng v i n
rc e o er e a e r c e,

\Vh oseb n h h a ng i ng d w n m t nti

u c es o see o e ce

A ll p a by t t a t th i
s se rs - l i wi n o s e e r u sc ou s e,

A nd did th m l v int th i h a nd in li ne
e se es o e r s c ,

A f
s l y ff i ng t b g a th d )
ree o

er o e e re

Vi rgi l sings of the goodly f ruit o f the apple tree g rowi ng

on t he ba rren plains of the beech w hitened with the che s t
,

nut s pale blossoms of the pea r gra fted upon the m ou n

,

tain ash and of the acorns found underneath the elms b u t

, ,

the phi losopher says that religious sc rupl es forbade to o

indiscriminate gra ftin g It was not permitted to g ra ft

F a ie er ii m 54 : o "
2 62 MAG I C AN D H U S B A N D RY

Dionysus in whos e honor wa s the fes ti va l of the L i b eralia

, ,

when as Vi r g il says the fa rmers of Ansoni a in u nco u th

, ,

v erse and with unchecked lau g hter celebrated the fea st o f

Bacchus puttin g on the hideous v i z a rds o f hollow b a rk a nd
,

hangin g on the tall pines tiny w a v i n g masks On this da y .

,

th e 1 7 th of M arch old wom enpri es te ss es sat in the st re e ts

, ,

crowned with ivy pleas in g to the god and sold cakes of

, ,

oi l and honey and sacri ced on their portabl e altars fo r

,

the bene t of the buyers Hymn s of pra ise were su ng to .

Bacchus The sacri ci al goat wa s slain and the ent ra i ls

.

roasted on spits o f hazel wood By vi rtu e of these cere .

monies accordin g to the p oe t the vineyards bl oome d w i th

, ,

large increase and all the lands prospered wheresoeve r t he

god bore round his comely face I t is im m a teri a l h o w .

m u ch livin g faith the people really had th a t t h ese ,

rites as the poe t says increased the vinta ge The co n

, , .

tin uan ce o f t hem and the permanen t interest in t h em

suggests at least thei r importance to them at som e e a rl ie r

, , ,

p eriod What other features may have been con necte d

.

wit h them in that older time is un known I n a p ecu l ia r .

sacrice of the Ca rtha g ini ans it is know n tha t h u m a n

beings at Hierapolis were suspende d alive f rom tree s a nd
, ,

the trees w ere set on re The Annals o f Taci tus t e .

late that when C e cina cam e upon the scene of the o v er

throw of Va rus he found the evi dences of thei r sa cri ces
, ,

and human heads were fastened to the trun ks o f t rees .

The Yakuts hang heads o f oxen and horses upon t re es in

thei r spring sacri ces Grim m m en tion s a White Su nday .

cerem ony when a r t ree was set in a marked-o ff sp o t in

,

the pasture and its branches co v ered w i t h bones a nd its t o p

ado rned with a horse s skull lo
.

R m a n F ti v a l 9 6 9 6 ; Fa ti iii 7 6 7 ; Georgia
o es s,

, 2 s

, .

. ii 339
R li g i n f th S m i t
e o o nt ; e Anna l f Te es ,

o e

! 0 E
"
N N i 61 ;
P im i tiv C l t
r ii 2 4; T t nic Myth l gy 7 37 W
e u u re,

. 2

eu o o o ,

. :
 FR U IT - G R OWIN G 2 63

While it is most p roba b l e th at ou r C h ristm as trees

and e ver greens sp rang from th e rites of t he Roman festi
va ls we m ay not i n fer t h at simi la r customs o f deck ing
,

trees and loadin g t h em w i th o fferings w e re un known to

o the r and ol der nations Th ey a ll point b ack to t he period
.

o f cul tu re w h en trees w ere w orshi pe d as dei ti es or feared ,

as dem o ns whom in eithe r ca se it was necessa ry to

, , ,

appease by o fferings an d sacr i ces L ibation s a nd s a cri .

o

ces w ere o f fered to the t rees b y th e t nicia ns and

Canaanites In A rabi a the date pa l m was adored at an
.

a nnua l feast and hun g wi th ne c l ot h es an d w omen s orna

ments O stri ch e ggs and o ther gi fts w ere hung upon

.

the i r b ranches amon g which t he an gels or j i nns w ere sup .

posed to b e dancin g and s in g i n g Decora tin g trees w ith .

wom en s ornaments and bel on gi n gs to impa rt thei r fertil

,

i ty to it is not unco mm on I n S yria when the t r ee does

, .

not bea r the ga rdener has a p re gnant woman fast en a stone

amon g its b ranc h es by th is means t ransferrin g her ferti l
,

ity to the tree but it is sai d w i th th e ri sk of m i sca rri age

, , ,

to h ersel f T o load a tree with stones is an im itati ve

.

cha rm wh i ch is suppos ed to ll the tree with f ruit ; to put

,

a stone in the tree on Christmas E ve has a similar cect .

I nBo h emi a the rs t apple of a tree is plucked and eaten by

a woman who h as borne many ch i ldren to impa rt fertiliy ,

to the t ree and secure a plenti ful cr0 p the ensuing yea r .

T he Ga lela rees e say the tree is male i f i t fails to bea r a nd ,

the y put on i t a woma n s petticoat O n Christm as E ve

.

German peasants used to tie the fruit trees toget h er with

stra w ro pes to make them b ea r fruit sayi n g that the trees ,

were thus ma rri ed Shru bs and trees were formally ma r

.

ri ed to each Other i n I ndia or to idols and a marriage cere

, ,

mony w as performed in honor of a newl y planted o rch a rd .

In the Molucca s c love trees in blossom are trea ted w ith

R l igi n f the S mit
e o 69
o e
"
. : .
2 64 MA G I C AN D HU S BAN D R Y

g reat ca re like pre gnant women No nois e must b e m a d e

, .

nea r th em No li g ht or re must be carri ed past t hem a t

.

night and no one mus t app roach them w ith his hat o n .

Unless these re gulations a re observed the tre e w i l l be

fri g htened and yield no f ruit or else will drop its f ru i t ,

before i t is perfected Pasteboard eigies of the fru i t o f .

the si ze desi red a re made in Ceylon and placed in the t re es , ,

or nea r them with a faith inmagic not unlike that of t he

1 2
,

Eskimo in the fa r away Arctic re g ions who makes ro u g h ,

chipped images of whales and w ears them a s amulet s to

brin g him plenty of them .

Am on g t he things which Gri m m has noted is the b e l i e f

tha t i f the rst fru it o f a tree was stolen the tree w o u ld ,

not bea r again fo r seven yea rs ; and tha t no bi rd woul d e ve r

touch the fruit o f a man who had never worked on S u n
day Witches were char ged with boi lin g apple bloss o m s
.

to spoi l the frui t and they made mic e from fa ll enp e a rs

, ,

but i t was sai d they had no ta ils l3

, .

Halliwell emba lm ed i n rhyme a custom whic h has b een

no ted of b eatin g the trees to make them yield b etter :

A w m an a p a ni l
o , s e ,
a nd a wa ln t t u ree ,

The m y w h ip o re ou th e m th b tt
,
th y
e e er e

C o axin g threatenin g and fri ghtenin g were resorte d t o

, ,

th at the evil powers that hindered the trees from bea ri ng

mi ght be overc ome Ancestral gods p reside ov er t he .

growth o f fru its in the Pap u an Island of Tanna F i rs t .

fru its were o ffered to them and the chie f actin g as h i g h ,

priest prayed : Compass i onate father here i s some f o o d ,

for y ou eat it ; be kind to us on acco u nt of it
, T he s em i .

G l d n B gh i 7 6 ; V d i I nd i a 389 ; J h n M d
Th e o e ou

, . r

e c

.
o u r och . in
N i nth Ann a l R p t f t h B
u a f A m i a n E th n l gy 435
e or o e u re u o er c o o ,
.

T t ni My t h l gy

u
eu o 6 7
c o o ,
1 2 ,

Q ted f m E ng l i h F l k L by Th i tl t n Dy -

uo ro s o o re , s e o er .
2 66 MAG I C A N D HU S BAN D RY

sunset torches were w a v ed a round the trees a nd w o m en

,

fastened around th em b a nds o f st ra w to mak e t h em

fruitful .

Ceremoni es at Chri s tm as a nd E piphany in co nne ct i o n

with the fruit trees apparently of close kinship to the old
,

R oman festivals o f the vine continued in Europ e a lm ost ,

to the beginnin g of the nineteenth centu ry B ra nd 1 '

.

quotes from the Gentlem a ns M a ga z ine in 1 7 9 1 a des crip

tion of an observance in So u th ha m s of Devonshi re on t he ,

E ve o f Epiphany The fa rmer a nd his workmen g o to

.

the o rchard car ryin g a la rge pitcher o f ci der an d encir ,

cl in g one of the best bea rin g trees dri nk three tim es th is ,

toast :
H e re s

h
to t ee , old a ppl e tree,

Wh e nce h
t ou m ay
st bu d a nd w hence th m ay ou
'
st blow !
A nd w h n th m ay t e ce ou

s b a a ppl n w l
e r es e o

H a t f ll ! C a p f ll !
s u s u

A nd my p k t f ll t l oc e s u , oo H uzza l

Another vari ation of the custom was to go into the orc h a rd

a fter s u pper with a pan ful of cider and roast apples a nd ,

under the most fruitful trees drink the toast :

H a l th t th g d a ppl t
e o ee , oo e ree ,

W ll t b a p k t f ll
e o e r, oc e - u s, h a t- f lla s,

P k f ll b h l b g f ll l
ec - u s, us e - a - u s

Herrick si ngs of Christmas duties :

W a s s a ile h a t th y m y b a
the t rees , t e a e re

Y ou m a ny a pl m nd m a ny a p a ; u ,
a e re

F or m l f i t th y w ill b ing
o re o r es s ru s e ,
r ,

As y oud g i v th m w a a il i ng
o e e ss .

I nsome parts o f Norfolk libations o f spiced ale used to be

sprinkl ed on orchards and meadows on Christma s E ve .

A nt i q i ti
u 6 es,

r .
 F R UI T G R O WI NG - 2 67

In t he nei g h borhoo d of New Forest in H a m ps hi re t h e y

w a ssa il ed t he tree s o nChri s tma s li ve a nd sa n g : ,

A pp l nd pe a rs wi th ri gh t good corn,
es a

Cm
o e in plen ty t o e ve ry o ne:

Ea t a nd dri nk good ca ke a nd hot a le .

G i ve ea rt h to dri nk a nd s he ll not f a il
'

Durin g t h e ei g h t d a ys precedin g Chri stm a s in N o rm a ndy , .

t he y pl a ce d bun dl es o f ha y u n de r the fru it t rees a nd the

chil dren set re to them w h i le cryin g :
Ta u pes . che rilles er m u lots
So rt e r .
so rt er de mo n c l os ;
Ou , j e v ou s b ride la b a rhe et It ! as ;
Ab r res , a rb ris s e a o x

Do nne r mo i des p o nu nes a mirlot .

"

Dye fs B i ti h
r s Po p lau r C u stom s,

 C H A PTE R X V I

B E ES

A t evenni g w h i l h i w i f put n h l k
, e s e o er oo

O f l v ndu a n f m it ni h h t k
o

e s e r ce, ro s c e e oo

T h w i tt n p a g
e r ef h i p nd u b k
es o s o ero s oo ,

A nd ad in h a l f th l a ng a g f m n
re , e u es o a ,

Hi sR u a A pi um w h i h w i th b b gan
sc ,

c ees e ,

A nd th u g h th gamu t f at i n n
ro e o cre o ra .

TH E ri g in of b ee s w a s a g re a t m yst ery to a ncien t p hi l

o

os o phers T he su b j ec t is o ften re ferred to in the w o rks

.

w hich h a ve come dow n to u s The science of a nci ent .

G reece a ccepted i t a s a f a c t th a t t he de a d b ody o f a b u l l

prod u ced b ee s in the proce ss of n a tur al dec ay a nd th a t o f ,

a hors e wa sp s I t w a s endorsed by L a t in w rite rs a nd

.
,

hundreds of y e a rs la ter i t w a s sti ll credited by the a uthor

of the S pecu lu m M undi w ho a dded to it th a t a n a ss ,

b red b umbl eb ee s a mu l e hornets a nd a c al f hone yb e es

, , , .

B en J ons on al so s eem s to h a ve endorsed the theory f rom

the w ords put into the mou t h of his A l chemi st w ho u ses it ,

a s a n a r gumen t to prove the re a s on abl ene ss of his m a ic

g :

B ides e, w ho d th n t oin da i ly p acti ce
o see r

A rt ca nb g t b
e h n t b tl w a p
e ees, or e s, ee es, s s,

Ou t o f th a a
e c nd du ng f
rc s ses a tu ;
a o cre res

Y ea , scor p i n f n h b bei ng i gh t ly p l aced ?

o s o a er , r
"

Rev . I ncre a se M a ther thou g ht th a t demon s cou l d m a k e

in sect s a nd it w a s al so he l d th at some k ind of was p s co u l d
,

Whitti er a

Pennylv a ni a P il g im
s r .

2 68
2 70 MA G I C AN D H U S B A N D RY

T he product ion o fb ee s in t hi s m a nner a t rst is a ttr ib u ted

t o A rista u s w ho w hen he h a d l ost his b ees a ppe a l e d in
, , ,

his de sp a ir t o his m other the river n ymph C y r ene w ho ,

-
, ,

s en t her son to P ro t eu s the o l d prophet of the s ea , for ,

couns e l in structin g him how t o proceed to i nduc e the

,

prophet to a dvi se him P ro t eu s tr a ve rs e d the m i g h ty .

m a in in a c a r dr aw n by s h es a nd a t ea m of tw f o oted o -

s teed s H e tended the mon s t rou s herd s a nd m is s h a pen

.
-

s ea c al ve s o f Neptune b ene a th the o od s

- A rist a u s w a s .

in st ructed how to overcome by force a nd b ind t he s hep herd

of Neptune H e fo u nd him in a c a vern scooped fro m the
.

mount a in s ide countin g his s ea c al ve s bu t the w i ly P ro teu s

,
-
, .

t r a n s formed him se l f rs t in to re then into dre a d b eas t s , ,

a nd then into a river in his e fforts to e sc a pe a nd n ally

, ,

s a n k in the depth s of the ood ; b ut C y r e ne a g a in co m in g ,

t o the protection of her son g iv es him the nece ss a ry ,

in stru c t ion for t he proper s a cri ce s t o ob t a in a ne w su pp ly

of swa rms .

T he H e b rew story of the sw a rm of b ee s w hich S a m

son found in the c a rc a ss of t he l ion w hich he k i ll ed in th e

vine ya rd of T imn a th a s g iven in the b i bl ic al records d oes

, ,

no t e xpress ly s a y th a t the b ee s w ere g ener a ted t here yet ,

the ci rcum st a nce a s re la t ed l ea d s to the conc l u s ion t h a t in

the thou g ht of t he re la tor a ccordin g to the b e l ief p rev ,

a len t a mon g other a ncient peop l e s the b ee s ori g in a te d in ,

the c a rc a ss of the s la in a nim al .

B ee s g ener a ted in t hi s way w ere know n t o t he G r e eks

a s b ou g a m a T he n al e xtinction of the de l us ion a m o ng
'

civi l ized n a tion s is a scri b ed by a modern s cienti s t to t w o

5

c a u s e s : A mon g s cienti c men to the di sb e l ief in spo nt a ,

neons gener a tion a nd the recog nition of the princ ip l e

, ,

J ud g xiv

es .

T h S a ll d B g ni
e -
o c e u o a of th e An i nt nd it l a ti
c e s, a s re o n to E rist a l ic
T na x a T w W i ng d I n
e ,
o - e sect,

by C R O t n Sa k n 89 3
. . s e c e ,
1 .
 B EE S 2 7 1

o ur : a im ex ova ; a nd a mon g the mo re igno ra n t t o th e ,

introd u ct ion o f a s a ni t a ry po licy w h ich p re ven t s the

ex posu re of ca rca sses .

I t rem a in s to s a y th a t mod ern sc i ence ha s m a d e p l a i n th e

re al founda t i on o r or i gi n of t h i s stra n ge a n d pe rs i sten t
bel ief w hich wa s ow in g to th e f a ct th a t a very co m mon
,

y ( scienti cal l y E ris ta lio Tena x) kno wn to ne a r l y a ll

p a rts of the O l d Wor l d and in Nort h America since 1 8 7 5 ,

lays its eggs u pon c a rca ss es i n w h ich the la rv a deve l op

,

an d na ll y ch a n ge into a s w a rm of i es w hi c h i n t he i r , ,

s ha pe , h a i ry cl ot hing a nd co l or l oo k ex a ct ly l i ke bees
, , ,

th ou gh b e l on gin g to a to tally di fferent ord er o f i n sec ts .

M ay w e a scri be to thi s sou rce a lso the ori gino f a le gen d

t o l d of Job tha t th e re w e re no hon eybees on th e e a rt h
,

ti ll a fter th e p a tri a rc h wa s h e a l e d o f his so res by ba t h i ng

in the wa ter o f the sa cre d s prin g a nd t hen th e ie s w h i ch
.

h a d torm ented his so res w ere tu rned into hone ybees ?

R o m a n l e gend a cc re di t e d the di sco ve ry o f h one y to
Ba cch u s Wh i l e ona j ou rney a tt ended b y his Sa ty rs the
.
, ,

w i n ged i n sects ti ll th en u n know n oc ked togeth e r a t th e

, ,

t i nkl in g o f th e c ym b a l s o f his a tt en d a n ts a nd w ere co l l ected

b y the god a nd s hu t in a ho ll o w tree W hen S i l enu s .
,

fa ther o f t he Sa ty rs w hi l e s ee k in g honey s u rrep t i t iou sly

, ,

wa s o v ercom e by the w o u n ds i n ict ed by t he be es Ba cc h u s ,

h im se l f t a u g ht th em how to cu re thems e l ves b y a pp ly in g

m ud to the w oun ds A ga i n i t wa s sa id h oney wa s found
.
, ,

on t h e l ea ves of the t rees u nt i l t h e rei gnof J upiter b eg a n ,

w h en to encou ra ge the p eop l e to a cti vi ty i n a gricu l tu ral

,

p u rsu i ts he s h ook th e hone y off the tr ees Assoc i a te d

, .

w it h the m ys te ry o f thei r o ri g in wa s the be l ie f th a t they

h a d not the powe r o f re p rodu cti ona s ot her a n i m a l s Vi r .
,

g i l s a ys : T he y ne ve r yi e l d them se l v es to sexu a l l ove ,

nor u nnerve t h ei r bo dies to the l a nguo r o f pas s ion o r b ri n g ,

le g n f the Pa t i archs a nd P rophet , Ba ring -Gou l d

"
ed s o r s .
2 7 2 M AG I C AN D HU S B AN D RY

fort h their o ffsprin g by the p a n gs o f b i rth ; b ut by t h em

s e l ve s w ith their mouth s the y g a ther thei r chi l dren from
,
7
l e a ves a nd sw eet p la nt s M a urice M a eter l in ck how .
,

ever h a s descri b ed in his c la ss ic story o f T he L i fe o f the

,

B ee the t r a g ic nupti al s of the q ueen in the in nit e r a di
,

a n t ci rc l es of the sky a nd the murdero u s re tu rn o f the

b ride . T hou g h none h a ve profa ned t he secre t o f the

que en b ee s w eddin g
-

s cience h a s p a t ient ly unr a ve l ed
,

the m ysteries of her impre gn a t ion a nd the reproduction of ,

the b ee w hich a mon g the chronic l ers of the h o a ry tr a di

, ,

t i on s a nd l e gends of the hive wa s so l on g c a t al o gued w ith ,

the mir a cu l ou s W e now know th a t the l on g i g ht i nto the

.

ethere al re g i on s is e ssenti al to the con summ a tion of the a ct

of procre a tion b ec a u se of the pecu l i a r ph ys ic al form a tion
,

of t he m al e P rodi g iou s nupti al s these
. s ay s the ,

Epic of M a eter l inck the m os t f a i ryl i k e th a t c a n b e ,

conceived a zure a nd tr a g ic r a i sed hi gh ab ove l i fe by t he

, ,

impe tu s of de s ire ; imperi sh abl e a nd te rri bl e uni qu e a nd ,

b ew i l derin g s o l it ar
y a nd in nite
,
" 3
.

I t is evident th a t much intere st wa s t a k en in b ee cu l tu re

by the G reek s a nd R om a n s from the numerou s refe rences ,

to the su bj ect in the w orks of their c la ss ic a utho rs H ym ct .

t u s w a s ce l eb r a ted for its h one y b ut a ccordin g to P a u , ,

sa n ia s it w a s s econd to the territo ry of the A la z o nes

, ,

w here the b ee s w ere so ta me th a t they l ived a mong t h e

peop l e uncon ned in hive s s ee k in g their food a nd s t o ri ng ,

thei r hone y w ithout re str a int a nd m a k in g honey w ith al s o ,

rm a nd comp a ct t h a t it cou l d not b e sep a r a ted fro m t h e

comb 9
.T hi s a uthor s ays th a t the st a tue s of P ri a p u s
w ere e speci ally honored by t ho se w ho k ept swa rm s o f b e es ,

pre sum ably from the b e l ief th a t it w ou l d m a ke them m o re

Georg i cs ,

iv . L n da l nd L
1 97, o s e a ee .

'
T a nl a ti n
r s o o f Al f d Su t p 3
re ro, . 20 .

'
B k i 33
oo . .
2 74 MA G I C AN D H U S B AN D R Y

t ime a nd for m a n y hund red y e a rs a ft erwa rds V irg i l

, .

referr ed to a ria l hone y a s a ce l e sti al g i ft I n O b eron s .

Pala ce the s i xteenth century En g l i sh poe t H e rric k men
,
"
tion s those mit es of c a ndied dew in moon y ni g hts .

Pl in y e xpressed the opinion th a t it wa s en g endered from

the a i r mos tly a t the ri s in g o f t he c on s te lla t ions a nd ,

e speci ally w hen S i riu s is s hinin g b ut never b efore the ,

ri s in g of the Vergillze a nd th en j u st b efore d ayb re a k ,

.

H e thou g ht it uncert a in w hether i t w a s the sw ee t o f t he

he a ven s o r a s al iv a em a n a t in g from the st a rs or a j u ice
, ,

exuded from the a i r w hi l e puri fy in g it se l f H e re g retted .

t h a t it wa s not a s pure a fter its dow n wa rd descent a s a t its

b e g innin g I t w a s popu la r ly suppo sed to posse ss rem a r k
.

abl e medicin al q u al itie s G i lb ert W hi te exp la ine d it in .

t hi s way : I n hot w e a th er the elu via o f ow e rs i n e l ds

a nd me a dow s a nd g a rden s a re dr aw n up in the d ay by a
b ri sk ev a p o ra tion a nd th en in the ni g h t fall down a g a in
,

w ith the dews w ith w hich they a re en t a n gl ed

th a t thi s c la mmy su b st a nce is of the ve g et abl e k ind w e m a y
l ea rn from b ee s to w h om it is very g r a tefu l ; a nd w e m a y b e
,

a ssured th a t it fa lls inthe ni ght b ec a u se it is alway s s een

,
1
rst in wa rm sti ll mornin g s B ut alas remo rs e l ess .
,

science h a s a s s i g ned a n e a rth ly ori g in t o t hi s poe t ic a l s w e et

o f the he a ven s a nd w e k now th a t i t is b ut a vi s ci d s a c

, ,

cha rin e e xu d a tion of the p la nt s a nd tree s them s e l ves w h i ch ,

is found on the l e a v es a nd stem s in wa rm dry w e a the r , ,

a nd th a t the ow is c a u sed by the rup tu re of the ti s s u es

from b ein g punctured by in se cts w ho by thei r pecu l i a r , ,

phys ic al struc ture a re en abl ed t o a ppropri a te the sw eet

, ,

tr a n sp a rent u id 1 2
.

iv . N at a l H i t y
1 ;

ur s or ,

xi . :2 ;

N a tu a l H ist y
r or of

S lbe n
o r e,

L
ette r l iv
x t D a i n Ba i ngt
. o es rr o n .

I nsect Li fe,

J hn H n y C m t k
o e r o s oc , :7 7 ; C h amb e rs

E ncycloped ia ,

Aph i d es .

 B EE S 2 75

I n t h e c a re fu l ins tru ct i on s t o b eekeep e rs th a t Vi rg i l ha s

em bal med in verse he a dvi ses th a t no y ew t r ee sh ou l d he
,

su ffered ne a r t he h ome o f t h e be es bu t t h a t a p a l m or g re a t
,

w i l d o l i ve m a y ca nop y the porch th a t in th e sprin g w hen

,

the youn g swa rm is ab out to b re a k forth a t ree i n fu l l vie w ,

m ay ch a rm th em to st ay w i th in its hos pit abl e b ow er A .

tin y st re a m runnin g t h rou g h th e g r a ss s h ou l d b e ne a r th e

co l on y ; w i ll ow b ou gh s shou l d b e throw n a cross it a n d ,

s tone s formin g a s ucce ss ion of b ri dg es for t h e b ees t o se t t l e

,

upon a nd throw out thei r wi n gs in t he su mmer s u n .

T he h i ve mu s t not b e p la ced w h ere there is a n echo ne a r

by w hich mi g ht f ri g hten them N eit h er mu st red cra bs
, .

b e ro a st ed in a re nea r t o the b ees Wh en y oung bees a re

.

unpri sone d a nd so a r away se ekin g th ei r new hom e sa vory ,

h e rb s a re to be sca tte red a n d b ru i se d l e a ves o f ba lm

, ,

an d the cym b als of th e m oth e r o f the gods m u st be r a tt l e d

to entice t hem to t h e homes p rep a r ed for them B ut .

G i l bert Wh i t e t h ou g h t th e w i l d a n d fa nc i fu l a sser
ti on o f the p oe t t h a t ec hoe s w ere h a rm fu l t o b ees w ou l d
not be a dmitted by the phi l os ophers of his d ay b ec a us e ,
"
bees ingo od summers says he t h r i ve w ell in m y out l et
, , , ,

w h ere the ech oe s a re ve ry st ron g . B e side s i t ,

does not a ppe a r f rom expe rim ent t h a t bee s a re in a n y way

c a p abl e of be i n g s ected by s ound s ; for I h a ve o ft en t r i e d
m y ow n w ith a la rg e s pe a kin g tru mpet he l d c l ose to thei r
-

hives a nd w i th such a n exert ion of voice a s wou l d h a ve

,

h a i l e d a s hip a t the di s t a nce o f a mi l e a nd st i ll t h ese ,

in se ct s pu rsu ed thei r v a ri ou s em p l oym ents u ndi stu rb ed ,

a nd w i th out s how i n g th e l e a st s ens i b i l ity o f res entment .

\Vriting onthe su b j ec t a cen tu ry la ter S i r J o hn Lu b bock ,

s ays : B eva n expre sse s no dou b t t h e g ene ral opini on w ith

, ,

re fe rence to b ees w h enhe sa ys t h a t th e re is good e v idence

,

t ha t b ees h a ve a q uick sense o f h ea rin g b ut he fa rth er

,

"
Georg ics ,
tv.
2 7 6 M AG I C AN D H U S B AN D R Y

a dds f rom his ow n ex pe r ience I h a v e never su cceeded in

, ,

s a ti s fy in g m ys e l f th a t m y a n t s b ee s o r w as p s he a rd a n y
, ,
"
o f the s ound s w ith w hich I t rie d t h em an d i f t h e y a re no t ,

re a ll y de a f he t hin ks thei r ra n ge of he a rin g is di fferent

from ou rs
.H e how ever l i k e the R om a npoet is co n
, , ,

vinced th a t b ee s h a ve g re a t s en s iti v enes s to cert a in co l ors ,

o f w hich he p la ces b l ue fo remo st M ont a i gne re la te s a .

tal e of the u se of b ees in wa rf a re which i ll u s t r a t e s their

a n tip a th y towa rds re whe ther a s V irg i l says red cr abs
, , ,

a re ro a s ted in it or not : T he Po rtu gue se h a vin g b es i eg ed ,

the ci ty of T a m ly in the territory o f X ia t ine t he inh a bi ,

t a nts of t he p la ce to defend them se l ves b rou g ht out m a ny

hive s of b ee s a nd p la ced them on
, ,

the wall s of the t o wn ,

a nd then w ith re drove the b ee s so furi ou s l y upo n the

b es ie g in g enem ies th a t t hey w ere forced to give u p the

s ie g e a nd reti re .

B ees h a ve from time immemori a l b een cre d i t e d w i th

fore knowl edg e a nd e speci ally of the fu tu re conditio n of
,

the w e a ther I f t hey refu sed to g o ou t of the hive o r s en t

.

ou t t heir scouts for ob serv a tion i t wa s a ccepted a s a n ,

ind i ca t ion of a d ay of doub tfu l ch a r a cter a t l e a s t w hi l e ,

go i n g ou t in la rg e numb e rs w ithout hes it a tion m a de s u re

of b ri g ht sk ies a nd p l en ty of s un s hine S po fford s F a m i ly .

A l m a n a c fo r 1 840 s ays w hen b ee s do not go ou t a s u s u al ,

b u t k eep in or ab ou t t heir hive s ra in m a y b e ex p ect ed , .

By a pecu l i a r hummin g t he b e es a re suppo sed by so m e p eo

p l e to te ll correct ly the ni g ht of the b i rth of t he S a vi o ur ,

a nd some of t he coun t ry pe op l e in Yorksh i re a f t e r t he ,

ch a n ge in the c al end a r u sed t o wa tch by the b ee h iv es a nd

,

l i s ten to t heir hummin g to determine the t ru e C h ri s tm a s

ni g ht T he ol d G erm a n s a s w e ll a s the R om a n s w a t ched
.
, ,

t he b ee s to see i f thei r movemen ts indic a ted g ood o r ill for

N a tu a l H i t y f S l b n xxxviii ; Ant B
r s or o e o r e, an

d W r

s, ees, a
"
,

2 33 3 3; M n t a i gn E ays xii

, 0 o es ss , .
2 7 8 M AG I C AN D H U S B A N D RY

a nd s ays the y g o in t h e ni gh t a nd t e l l the b ees of a de a th

i n E ss ex a nd pu t cra pe on t he hive or a noth er d ea th w i ll
, ,

occur w ithin the y e a r .

G enerou s di stri b ution of hone y a t t h e h a rv est is s a i d to

b e f a vor abl e to a p l enti fu l crop I f b ees w h i ch h a d .

chosen a l oc a tion under a church roof w ere rem ove d to ,

profa ne surroundin gs they la id up no hon ey a nd n ever ,

pro spered G rimm refers t o a n a ncient law of W a l es in

.

w hich it is a ssumed th a t a s b ees h a d their ori g in in P a r a

di se w hich they w ere ob l i g ed to l e a ve throu g h m a n s
,

t r a n sg re ssion G od g a ve them his b l e ss in g a nd th ere

, ,

fore m a ss c a nnot b e sun g w ithou t w a x 18

.

I n t he I s la nd of T imor s outhw es t o f N ew G u i nea , ,

w here the s pi rit s of t he de a d w hich t hey revere a re

suppo s ed to t a k e v a riou s f o rm s men w ho h a v e f a l l en ,

inba tt l e a re e speci ally inc l ined to a ssume the form o f b ees

t h a t the y m ay ro a m the e a rt h a t t heir p l e a sure .

I n the E a ster b on res in the A l tm a rk t a r ba rrel s a nd

b eehive s w ere pi l ed a round a po l e a nd b urned a ro u nd ,

w hich the y oun g fo l ks d a nced a nd m a de merry a nd t h en

the o l der peop l e co ll ec t ed the a s he s a nd prese rved th em a s
a remed y for the a i l ments of b ee s 1 9
.

I n I ri s h fo l k l ore is found a recipe f or en t ic i ng b ees

-

into a tree by the u se of a prep a r a tion m a de of fo xg l o ve ,

r a sp b erry l e a ves w i l d m a rjor a m mint c a momi l e a nd va l

, , , ,

eri a n T he herb s mu st b e g a thered on a M ay D ay m o rn

.

in g a nd mi xed w ith b u tter m a de on a M ay Da y a nd b o i l ed ,

in honey T hen the recep t a c l e w hich is de s i gned t o h o l d

.

the b ee s mu st b e ru bb ed w ith t he prep a ra t ion ins ide a nd ,

out .
20

I n R u ss i a every mi ll on a st re a m is suppos ed to be
,

T u t ni Myt h l gy 9 5 n t
e o c o o

, 0 ,
o e .

Th G ld n B ugh iii 46
e o e o ,
.
, 2 56 .

L g nd f I l and
e e s o 3 re

, 2 1 .
 B EE S 2 79

a tt ended by a w a t e r p rite call ed th e Vodyony w ho is a

-s
,

p a t ron o f b eek eepe rs Th ey pictu re him as a n o l d m a n

.

w i t h a gre a t p a unch a n d bl o a t e d fa ce a n d n a k e d T h e , .

rs t sw a rm o f the y e a r b e l ongs to hi m I t is w e i g h t e d .

in a box w it h st one a n d t h row n in t o t h e ne a res t r i ver a s ,

a n offerin g Som e t imes al s o a honey com b is t a k en from

.

t he hi ve on S t Z os im a s D ay a n d un
. g a t mi dni gh t int o , ,

a mi ll str e a m t o m a k e friendl y t h e sp rit e w h os e c a ttl e i t , ,

is th ou g ht a re driv en into the e l ds to g ra ze a t nig h t
, .

H oney is reputed t o h a ve pow er over s pi ri ts ev i l a n d ,

g ood I t wa s c l a ime d for a k in g w h o re i gne d i n E gyp t

.

int h e Second D yna s ty ( 45 1 4 42 1 2 B C ) t h a t f o r e l even

- . .

d ays durin g his ru l e the Ni l e ow e d w it h h one y H oney .

incre a ses s tren gth a n d v i ri l i ty I t is u se d b y H i n du s for .

was hin g t h e hous ehol d g od s T he D ecc a n B ra hm a n .

fa t h er drops h one y into t he mou th of his newb orn chi l d .

I n th os e o f th e high er c l a ss a g o l d s poon o r ring is u sed

t o dr0p i t from Wh en the b r id e g room comes t o th e
.

b ride s hou se h one y is g iven him to s ip probab l y to s ca re

, ,

away evi l f rom hi m T h e y th i n k i t a g re a t ch a rm a n d

.

pu ri er I t is the a l i men t o f t h ei r g od s I n B en g al th e
. .

B ra hm a n b ride ha s pa rt o f h er b od y a nointed w it h it A .

h y mn of the Rig V ed a sa ys : Let th e w i n d s p ou r d own

hon ey the rive rs po u r d ow n h one y m a y o u r p la n ts be
, ,

sw eet .M ay the ni g ht b rin g h one y a nd t h e da wn a nd ,

" 3
the sky ab ove the e a rt h b e fu l l o f h on ey .

T he hone ysuckl e wa s thou g ht to k eep o ff w i tch c ra ft i n

E ng la nd B ees gu re d in t h e t r i a ls for w itchcr a ft in the
.

se v e nteenth centu ry Fa m i l i a rs a nd d e v i l s f re q uently t oo k

.

the form o f bees Wh en th e A rch b i shop o f St Andrew s

. .

was mu r d e re d i n 1 6 7 9 on Open i n g his t o b a cco b ox i t , ,

Sou p of the Ru ian Pe p le :49

ss o ,
"
.

'
Hi t
yos or f Eg ypt W M F P t ri i 2 3; Notes onthe
,

. . . a c, .

Spirit B as i s

of Be lief a nd Cu t m J am M Cam pbel l 9 8 9 9

s o ,
"
es .
, , .
2 80 \ I A GI C A N D H U S B AN D R Y

was sa id a devil fa m ilia r in t he fo rm of a h u m m in g

or

bee ew ou t A wom a n confessed t ha t s he murde red a

.

ch i ld w i t h t he a ss i st a n ce o f the ch i ld s gra n dmot he r a nd

'

she decla red t hey bot h t ook t he sha pe o f ho me b ees -

an

d ca rri ed po ison in t he i r clut ches w ings a nd mou th , , .

A m ong t he M a ya s there were t wo a nnu al fes t iv a ls he l d

,

by t he a pi a ri st s I n one o f t hem pro pi t i a tory o f

. fer i n gs
w ere m a de t o t h e i r p a t ronde i ties a nd es peci a lly to t he four
,

g o d s o f a b un d a nce t o ea c h o f w
, h om dis h es a dorn ed w ith
gu res of h oney w e re p resented T he other fes ti va l wa s
.

s pec i a lly des i gned to indu ce t he go ds to ca u s e the ow e rs

f ro m w hich the bees ga the red hone y to g row in

a b u n da nce .

'
Th D a k

e Su p t it i n f S t l and 56 3
r er e rs o s o co

, .

"
Na t ive B a a s, ii 6 9 9 , 7 0 1
. .
2 82 MA G I C AN D H U S B A N D R Y

the g ee se a nd S a int Leon a rde the duc ks A pu bl i c a ti o n of .

I 6 I 9 s ay s : T he y h a ve s a int s th a t b e g ood a mon gs t p ou l

try for chick en s w hen they h a ve the pip for g ee s e w hen
, ,
3
the y doe s it to h a ve a h a pp y successe i n g osl in gs
, Am on g .

t he l ore on t he sub j ec t co ll ected by G rimm a re fo un d the

fo ll ow in g : I f y ou tw i st a w i ll ow to tie up w ood in a s t ab l e
w here hen s gee se or ducks a re s i ttin g t he chic k en s they
, , ,

h a tch w i ll h a ve croo k ed necks ; i f y our hen s duck s o r pi gs , ,

die fa st l i g h t a re in the oven a nd thro w in one of e a ch

, ,

k ind a nd the w itch w i ll then peri sh w ith them ; set the hen
,

w hi l e peop l e a re comin g ou t of church a nd y ou w i ll h a ve

p l enty of chick en s h a tched ; i f y ou wa n t la rg e h e a ded -

chicken s w e a r a ne la r ge str aw h a t w hi l e y ou set the h en;

,

e ggs pu t under t he hen on F rid ay w i ll not thrive a nd w h a t ,

chicks creep ou t the b i rd e a t s up ; i f the e gg s a re s et on V a l

entine s D ay they w i ll rot ; i f chick en s a re h a t ch e d on

Peter s or Pa u l s D ay they w i ll prove g ood lay ers ; to m a ke

a hen h a tch cock s or hen s t a k e the str aw for her nes t from ,

the m a n s or the w om a n s side of the b ed I t w i ll b e a pp a r

.

ent th a t most of them a re mere ly imi ta tive s u gg es t in g the ,

most common princip l e of m a g ic Ag a in it is s a i d i f .

, ,

s tr aw w hich h a s formed p a rt of a n im a g e t h a t h a s b een

u sed in the m a g ic al ceremonie s for b rin g in g in the S p ri ng

is u sed in m a k in g the ne st of a b roodin g hen she w ill do ,

b e tter 5
.

C h a rm s w ere form er ly u sed in Fra nce to pro t e ct the

pou l try from the depred a tion s of foxes T he fo ll ow i n g .
,

w hich wa s to b e repe a ted thrice a w eek is foun d in the ,

w orks of J e a n F rederic B ern a rd 1 7 33: Foxe s b o th , ,

m al e a nd fem al e I conj ure y ou in the n a me of the H o ly

,

T rinity th a t ye neither touch nor c a rry o ff a n y of m y

'
B and 9 8
r ,
1 .

T ut ni Myth l gy 7 7 8
e o c o o ,

1 -1 834
.

Th G l den B u gh ii 9 6
e o o ,
. .
 FOWL S 2 83

f ow ls w he t h er roos t ers h en s or ch ick en s ; nor ea t th e i r

, , ,

nes ts nor suc k t h ei r b l ood nor b re a k th e i r e ggs nor do

, , ,

them a n y h a rm w h a t e ver .

I t is sa id th a t i t wa s once a W els h cu st om t o t h ra sh
s u ch h en s a s re fu se d t o l ay be fore S hrove T ues da y w it h a

a i l as no l on ger g ood for a n yt hin g I f the h en was

, .

k i lle d i t b e l onge d t o the m a n w ho w iel d ed the a i l

, .

I n som e p a rts o f En g la nd th e bu rnin g of e ggs h ell s

wa s t hou g ht t o incre a se the produc t i veness o f the h en s ,

b ut in o the r p a rts it wa s re g a rded di fferent ly a nd b e l ieved

t h a t i f t he s h e l ls w ere b u rned t h e hen s w ou l d cea se t o l ay .

T h e sh e lls w e re sh i ps w h i c h t ra n sport ed w i tches a cross

ri v e rs a nd se a s t o t hei r h omes i n La p la n d a nd the B er
muda s t h ose u n h al l ow ed l oc a l ities w here storm s co ntin
,

u al i y preva i l e d T he connect i on of w itche s w ith e ggs he lls

.

is a s o l d a s the time of Pl in y T he s he ll s w ere des troy ed .

l es t evil s hou l d b e w rou g ht w i t h th em b y m a g ic T he .

cu st om o f t h ru sti n g a sp oon t h rou g h the s h e ll a fter e a ti n g

a b oi l ed e gg in modern ti m e s is a n ind i c a tion of t he per
, ,
.

s i s t ence of a ncient tr a diti on s I t is s a i d to h a ve b een the .

inva ri ab l e h ab i t o f N a po l eon I I I A ga i n a fter cert a in .

,

cerem onie s of co nsec ra tion e ggs w ere u sed to cou ntera ct ,

evi l inuences a nd b ec a m e v al u ab l e prot ectors a s a mu

,

l ets To th i s so u rce is t ra ced th e or i g i n o f E a st er

.

e g gs 7

I f a n egg w a s p ecul i a r l y forme d or m a rk e d i t w a s more

es peci a lly re ga rded a s possess ed of ta l i sm a n i c q u al ities .

W hen fe a r of come t s a nd ec l ips es prev a i l ed e ggs w ere ,

c a re fu lly exa mined to see i f there w ere gu re s of comets

an d ec l i pses on th em Wh en g re a t con stern a ti on pre
.

v a i l ed a t R ome in conse qu ence of the a ppe a r a n ce of the

comet in 1 6 80 a hen of S ei gni or M a ss imi de C a mpido gl io
.

M a gie f th H m Sh
o e 33 oe,
"
0 .

F nda ti n R it
ou o 66 es,

.
2 84 M AG I C AN D H U S B AN D RY

is sa i d to h a ve l a id a n e gg in w hich t he gu re of a c o met
wa s di s tinct ly t r a ced I t wa s c a rried t o b e view ed by th e
.

Pope w ho w i se a s he w a s knew not w h a t to m a k e o f it

, , , .

Pa pers of I 6 S I con t a ined e l ab or a t e des cription s of the e gg

a nd specu la tion s a s t o its m ysteriou s port en t .

I t is t o l d by S ue t oniu s t h a t L ivi a w i fe of A u gu s tu s ,

C aes a r a mon g v a riou s mode s of divin a t ion t o dete rm ine

,

i f her o ffs prin g w ou l d b e a son or d a u g hter too k a n e gg ,

from a hen th a t wa s s ittin g a nd k ept it wa rm w ith her ,

ow n h a nd s a nd t hos e o f her m a ids unti l a ne co c k ,

chick en wa s h a tched w ith a la rg e comb on a ccou nt of , ,

w hich the a stro l o g ers predict ed g re a t t hin gs of t he ch i l d 13

.

I n s ome p a rt s of A fric a it is s a id th a t none b ut pri es ts

a re a l l ow ed to e a t e ggs A m on g t he a ncien t I ri s h i f .
,

ow n ers of horse s a te e ggs the y t oo k c a re t o e a t a n even

numb er l e st mi schief come t o the hors e G room s w er e not .

all ow ed to e a t them a t all a nd riders w a s hed thei r h a n ds ,

a fter e a t in g them I t is noted by a w ri t er under d a t e of

.

1 8 31 in H on e s Ye a r B oo k th a t the Norfol k h o u s e
,

,

w i fe w hen s he p la ced thi rt een duck or geese e ggs in a

,

ne st for incu ba tion sw un g a l i g h ted c a nd l e over t he m to

,

prevent h aw k s a nd cr ows from y in g away w ith the y o un g

b r ood w hen h a tched H al f a cen tury a go in North N o t .
,

t ingha m shire i f e ggs w en t out of t he hou s e a fter su n

, s et ,

it b rou g ht i ll l uck I n Derbys hi re it wa s a ba d ome n i f

.

the y w ere b rou g h t into the h ou s e a fter d a rk or on S un ,

d ay No hen mu st b e set on S und ay or a fter d a r k u p on

.
,

a n y d ay of the w ee k 9
.

T he ba d l uck th a t a ttends crow in g hen s is wri tten in

f a mi l i a r proverb s t he w orl d over T he a ncien t I r is h .

thou g ht the y w ere b ew itched by f a i rie s a nd t here fore ,

s toned the hen or k i ll ed it , I n A lba ni a ba d l uc k fo l .

,

l
u v f th Cc o Ti b i u xiv
e s a rs,

er s, .

C du li ti Pa t nd P nt 455 46 9
re es s a rese .
"

'
2 86 MA G I C AN D H US B A N D R Y
t h a t t hose w ho ba t hed them s e l ves in t hi s w ere s a f e f ro m
h a rm by l ion or p a nther T he b roth of a coc k h a s a l so .

b een pre scri b ed a g a in s t the poi son of serpents for th e ,

cock g h t s s erpen t s to defend his hen s a nd is a t e rro r to ,

t he ba s i l i sk 1 2
T he cour a g e w ith w hich the co c k w a s
.

bl essed imp a rted t o the w e a k m ade t hem b r a ve a nd s t ro n g ,

hence t he b roth wa s a dvi sed for those wa stin g from l o n g

s ic kne ss a nd con s umption b ut in the coo k b ooks of the ,

la t ter p a rt o f the s i xteenth centu ry it is in s i s ted upon th a t

t he cock mu st no t b e too o l d a nd mu st b e a red one to b e , ,

e ffective in rest orin g the w e a k to ruddy he al th T he .

b r a in a nd comb of a cock w ere remedies su gges t e d a s

s e rv ice abl e in c a s e of a b ite by a m a d do g .

P l in y s a id a co lla r m a de of tw i g s preven t e d a cock

from overcrow in g T hrow in g fe a t hers in the re w a s
.

foll ow ed by the de a th of s omeone s oc k or a po rti o n

,

of i t W hen the ominou s mi dni g ht voice of the cock w a s

.

he a rd in Northern S cot la nd wa rnin g of the de a th o f so m e ,

memb er of the fa mi ly the roost wa s c a refu l ly in specte d to

,

l e a rn in w h a t direction the b i rd wa s l oo k in g a s thi s g a ve ,

a clue to t he home of the doomed one I f the c o m b .

,

wa t tl es a nd feet of the b ird w ere co l d the mom en t o f

, ,

de a t h wa s not f a r di s t a nt 1 3
.

I t w a s former ly a prev al ent not ion th a t on C h ri s t m a s

Eve t he cock crow ed all ni g ht l on g a n d t h a t there fo re ,

on t h a t ni g ht o f such h all ow ed a ssoci a t ion s all evi l in u

en ces w ere ba ni s hed S h a k espe a re put s in the mo u th o f
.

M a rce ll u s a n i ll u sion to it in spe a k in g of the di s a pp e a r ,

a nce of t he g ho st a t the crow in g of the cock :

N a tu a l H i t y L
r nd Leg nds or 54 re fe i ng
o re t o N a t r l
a e ,

1 ,
rr

u a

M ag i by J h n Bap ti t P ta 6 58
c,

o s or ,
1 .

N atu a l H i t y xxi 4; C l t i F l k L
r s or

, W l h nd M a nx
x . 2

e c o - o re, e s a ,

J h n Rhy ii 59 9 ; A n E h f th O l d nT i m f m th N t h f Scot
o s, . c o o e e e ro e or o

la nd R v Wa l t

, e G g.
34 er re o r, r .
 FO WLS 2 87

Some a v g a i nt th at a n c me
sa y th t e e r

s se so o s

Whe in Savi re bi th i l b at d
ou r o ur s

r s ce e r e ,

The b i d f da w ni ng i ng th a ll ni g h t l ng
r o s e o :

And th n th y y e n p i i t
, da r t ie ab ad ; sa ,
o s r es s r ro

The ni gh t re w h l m ; th n n p l ant trike

s a o eso e e o e s s ,

N fa i y t ke n w i t h h a th p w
o r a t ha m
s, or c o er o c r ,

S h a l l w d nd a i u i h

o og t a so r co s s e

The t error b rou g h t upon the evi l spi ri ts th a t wa n d er i n

the ni g ht b y the crow in g of th e cock is men tioned by t h e
, ,

w riters o f the fou rt h centu ry I t is found in t he S c a n .

dina via n Edd a co ll ect e d in t h e e l even t h cen tu ry I t is
, .

a su rviv a l of the time w hen the cock wa s a sa cred so la r

b i rd for i t wa s once s a cred to M ercu ry one o f the pe r
, ,

so n ica t ions of t he su n a n d t h e s ym b o l of N erg a l the , ,

ido l of the Cu thites be l i eve d t o rep res en t the su n [Escw , .

la pi ns to w hom Soc ra t es vow e d a cock wa s con sid ere d as

, ,

a sol a r inca rn a t ion .

A meth od o f di vina ti on w i th co cks a n d hen s c i te d b y

Sc h w e i n fu rt h i n A f ri ca is by gi v i n g a n o i l y u id m a d e f rom
re d w oo d t o a hen w h en mi s for t une in wa r is port ended ,

i f the b i rd di es a n d vict o ry i f she sur vi ve s A g a i n a

, .
,

cock is sei zed a nd its he a d duck ed in wa ter till it is s ti ff

a n d sen se l ess a nd t hen l e ft t o its fa te I f i t ra ll ie s the
, .
,

omen is f a vo rab l e i f i t su ccum b s th e issu e w i ll be , ,

"
a d verse .

Fow ls ser ve a s sca p e go a ts a nd ca rry a w a y evi l Dis .

ea s e is tra n s fe rred to th em The co l or of t h e fow l is .

i mpor ta nt in m a g ica l rites A G erm a n p ro v erb sa ys : .

When a bl ack hen over a miser ies
S n aft th a t the m i d ie
oo er ser s.

A w i t c h s l a dd er is m a d e of a stri n g t i ed inknots w i th th e
'

fe a t he r o f a f owl in sert ed in eve ry knot One such wa s .

t .

'
Credu l it ie Pa t
s s a nd P re se t , n "
40 4.
2 88 MA G I C A N D H U S B A N D R Y

found in t h e b e l fry o f a c hu rc h i n En g la nd in 1 8 8 6 An .

I t al i a n w om a n re la ted to Le la nd a n incident o f t h e be
w itchin g of a chi l d in Fl orence b y p la cin g one in t h e b ed
w here t he chi l d s l ep t A s t he knots w ere t ied fe a the rs
.

from a l ivin g hen w ere p l uck ed a nd s tuck int o t h em a ,

m al ediction b ein g uttered a t e a ch knot A gu re o f a hen .

m a de of cotton wa s al so found in the b ed By t a k i ng the .

fe a thers of a bla c k hen a nd w ork in g t hem into t he e ffigy

of a hen w it h the h a i r of a pers on or s ome of his c l o thin g ,

a nd p la cin g i t in t he b ed or m a ttres s o f a perso n the ,

m a g ici a n w ork ed evi l upon them T o remove t h e be .

w itchm ent the hen mu s t b e found a nd throw n in t o ru nnin g

,

wa ter a nd the pers on t a k en to the chu rch w here b a p t i s m is

,

t a k in g p la ce or ba thed in ho ly wa ter G yp s ie s in H un
, .

1 "
g a ry cure cert a in di s e a s es by ru bb in g the b ody of a bla ck
hen over a p a tient w hi l e utterin g a n inc a nt a tion .

Bla c k cock s w ere u sed in conjurin g up l itt l e men o f t he

mount a in s a nd sa cri cin g to devi l s b u t no w hi t e fe a thers ,

mu s t b e on them A bla ck cock b orn la me t a k es the

.
, ,

s pe ll o f f from a n ench a nted c a st l e T hei r l on ges t t a i l .

fe a thers a re m a g ic al wa nds to Open l ocks a nd m a ke one

walk invi s i bl e w hi l e s eein g eve rythin g " A way o f a vert .

in g evi l in North R idin g of Yorks hire w a s to t a k e a l i vin g

bla c k coc k w hich h a d b een pierced w ith pin s a nd b u rn it a t ,

de a d of ni g ht w ith every door w indow a nd crevice s t u ffed

, , ,

1 8
up .

T he Ba tt a s of S um a tr a thin k t he s ou l of a l i v in g m a n
m ay b e t r a n s ferred by evi l spi rit s to a fowl w hen t h e doc ,

tor is sent for to e xtr a ct the m a n s sou l from the bo dy o f

the fowl a nd res tore it to its law fu l ow ner As la t e a s the .

E t a nR ma nR ma i n 353 354
ru sc o e s,

,

G i mm r48 5 ,
1 0 1 0, 1 .

Egy mi n M a tt i f
" "
E A 3 d
a "OM e. 1 00 : m oth s rom B l' h '

b u gh F l k L
o ro , nd C u t m
o f N t h R i d i ng
-
o re a s o s o or .

2 9 0 M AG I C AN D H U S B AND RY

t he vines in d i fferen t d irections w i th h al f t h e coc k W h en .

t h ey come b a ck t o t he s t a rtin g poin t t he coc k is b u ried ,

a n d probably t he e v i l spi rit w ith i t A r e d cock w a s dedi .

ca t ed by s ic k pe rs on s in C e yl on t o a m al i gn a n t di v i n i t y ,

a nd then o ffere d a s a s a cr i ce in the e v en t of t hei r r eco very .

M edicine wa s a dmi ni stered in Eu rope a t the crow i ng of

th e coc k A coc k wa s b uried al ive in S cot la nd for i n sa n
.

i ty a nd the bl ood of a red coc k mi xed into a our c a k e w a s

,

a dmini stered to inv al ids or a hen w a s b u rn t al ive fo r s ome ,

di stempe rs I n H ooker s T our of M orocco one o f his
.

,

a t t end a nt s cut the thro a t of a coc k t o a p p e a se the w ra th ,

of t h e demon s w h en a st orm ra g ed u p on th e h ei g h ts o f t he
A t la s 1 9
.

I n t he P rovince of B ret a gn e a cock fest i v al wa s he l d on

t he rst S und ay in A dven t E a ch fa mi ly b rou g ht a coc k .

in honor of S a int B ldu t T he nest of them wa s se l ect e d .

a nd c a rried to the top of a g r a nite s teep l e a nd p la ce d o n

t he w e a thercock w here i t rem a ined for a s hort t i m e a nd
, ,

wa s all ow ed to y away A ll s ort s of good l uc k fo r t h e

re st of the y e a r w a s b rou g ht t o the fortun a te pe a s ant w h o

c a u g ht i t O l d w riters h a ve di scu ssed the ori g in o f t he
.

coc k on t h e w e a therv a ne s ome contendin g th a t it o ri gi ,

na t ed in the crow in g of the cock w hen S a int Pe t e r deni e d

his L ord a nd w a s devi s ed to prevent schi sm in the c h u rc h
, .

B r a nd q uote s from a w ork of I 6 33 in a n sw er to the q u e s ,

~

tion , W herefore on t he ta p of C hurch S teep l e s is the

C ock e set upon the C ross e of a l on g con t inu a nce ? th e ,

interpret a tion of the J e suit s th a t it is for in stru ct i o n; ,

th a t w hi l s t al oft w e b eho l d the C rosse a n d the C ock e

s t a ndin g thereon w e m ay remem b er ou r s innes a n
, d w it h ,
2
Peter seeke a nd obt a ine mercy I t is most prob abl e .
,

T h G l d nB u gh i 7 5 ; i ii 3 3; B a nd 7 Pa i a

e o e o , ;
. 2 a n . 1 , 1 0 r , 00 us s,

i i xxxv ; C du li ti 4 8
. re es ,

0 .

Anti qu i ti 3 4 es ,

2 .
 FO W LS 2 9 1

how ever t h a t t h e u se of the coc k a s a w e a t h erv a ne is a

,

su rv i va l of its u se a s a nembl em of so la r w orsh ip a nd th a t

its u se in thi s connect ion is ass oci a ted w ith the idea th a t
th e crow in g o f th e cock pu ts to i g h t the e vil forces in the
a i r w hich w ere be l ieve d to b e th e a u thors of the storm
an d h ail a nd th u nder a n d l i g h tning T he im a ge of tha t .

w hich was a t e rro r t o th e m w ou l d be a p rot ect ion from

them .

The S tra sb urg edi ti on o f Si r Jo h n M a n devi ll e in 1 484

wa s i ll u stra ted w ith repres enta t ion s of b i rds a nd b e a st s
prod uced in the f rui t of t r ees I t wa s a l on g he l d theo ry
- .

th a t cert a in b i rds w ere gene ra t ed from dec ayin g w ood a ,

theory w hic h wa s com ba te d in th e w orks of Al bertu s

M a gn us For cen tu ri es a re al l i v in g g oose was b e l ieved
.
,

to be devel oped fro m the sh ell sh ba rn a cle w hich c lings to

the b ott om o f a sh ip or w a t ers o a k ed t i m be r W riters
, .

a ffirm ed it a s a f a c t f rom a ctu a l ob se rv a tion An a nim al .

hi st ory in 1 6 6 1 n ot es a bel i e f th a t b u sta rds w e re gene ra t e d

by the eru ct a t i on o f spe rm f ro m the mouth T he s pon .

ta n eou s pro du ct ion o f w orm s f rom w ood w a s a ccepted a s

a f a ct ; the w orm s p res entl y deve l ope d a he a d a nd feet a nd

w in gs a nd t a i l fea t he rs T he b i rd grew to t h e b i gnes s of
.

a goose and ew a wa y H o l i n s h ed a frm e d th a t he sa w

.

w ith his ow n e y es th e fe a t he rs h a ng ou t of the s he l l of a

ba rn a c l e g oos e w hich w ere a t l eas t tw o inch es l on g
, .

M a rs t on s verse s ays :

Li k e Sc t h Ba na le nw a b lock
you r oc r c , o ,

I nt ant ly a wo m nd p e ently a gre a t Go

s r , a rs ose.
"

G era r d in 1 59 7 w rote th a t i n the no rt h p a rts o f Scotl a n d

th e re w ere ce rt a in t ree s upon w hich s hellshes g rew ,

w hich droppin g into the w a ter do become fowl s w hom

, ,

w e ca ll Ba rn a cl es I s aa c W a l ton i n the Com pl e t e
.

Ang l er g i ves th e v erse o f Du Ba rta s :

2 9 2 M AG I C AN D H U S B AN D R Y
So l
s ow B t nd n a th h im
oo es u er e sees,

I n th icy i l a nd g l i ng h t h d f t

s s, os s a c o rees ,

Wh f itfu l l a v fa ll i ng i nt th w a t
ose ru e es, o e e r,

Are t nd t i kn w n t li v ing f w l
ur

,

s o ,
o o s soo n a fter .

G er a r d s a i d i t g row eth to fowl e b i gger t h a n a m a lla rd ,

a n d l ess t h a n a g oose h a vin g bla ck l e gs a nd b i ll o r bea k

, , ,

a nd fe a t hers bla c k a n d w hi t e w hich wa s c all ed in L a n ,

ca sh ire a t ree g oos e a nd t he y w ere so p l ent y t h a t t he y
-
,

cou l d b e b ou g ht for t hreepence Another o ld w riter .

s ay s of t hem : M en of religyonetc b ern a c l e s on fa st ynge

d a y es by c a u se they benno t en g endered o f ess he w herin
, ,

a s me t hin k et h t h e y er re For re a son is a ga yns t t h a t

. .

For yfa m a n h a d e t en of A d a m s l e gge h e h a d e t en es s he ;

a n d y e t A d a m w a s no t en g endered of f a der a nd m o der ,

b u t th a t esshe c a me w onderfu lly of t he orthe a nd s o this ,

3
ess he cometh w onderfu lly of the t ree .

f S i n w i th T h l gy i 37 ; T a m f C h a in
n
T h Wa f a e r re o c e ce eo o

, . r 0 "

ti n 43; B a n
o ,

d 7 7 9 ; C du l iti 7 9
r , re es,

1 .
2 94 I N DE X
A turc ru s, 1 30
A rgeos, q u ti es o n of P l uta rch b
a ou t,

68
A ris tz u s, s ai d to h ave bred bee s

f m x n 27ro o e , 0

A i t t l th u gh t mice gen ra t d
rs o e, o e e

by li k i ng 2 2 3 c ,

A k r f J hv h d ra w n by w
o whtite a e ,

w 3
co s, 2 1

A n l d M atth w qu ted 1
r o ,
e , o ,

A yan hymn 89
r ,

A n i n D ay p ambu l ati n n
sce s o , er o s o ,

9 ;
1 G o 1pe l re d
ad t p
p ing
g n s a s rt s o ,

1 92
Ash t rees, p we fu l a ga int w itches
o r s ,

343

A s h u rb a na b a l, 1 2 8
A ss, k u ll f u d to protect f om
s o , se r

th i v 84; bu i d a li v t b
e es, b ingg re e o rt

ra i n ; mu,t i l a tedd
1 1 0 in l eg a l p n u

is hment, 2 34
A a f t i da u d a g ai nt wit h a ft
s e , se s c cr ,

47 ; t f i l vi l p i i t
1 o 9 o e s r s, 1 1

A ta t 33
s r e, 1

A t l gy f me ly e ga d d as a
s ro o ,
or r r r e

in
sc e ce, 6 1 2

A t ni ae nam f Hu n f
s c, e o ro s or

m n oo , 1 2 1

Ath n daw n t y d by f Ody

e e, s a e ,
or s

u 99
se s,

Ath ni an the a r d p l w i ng
s, ree s c e o s

b v d by 38 ; p aye f f
o ser e ,
r r o , or

ain 9
r , 2

Au t a l i an th ow and in th i
s r s r s e a r

t h a t n th n
o ;
s e th e su , 1 00 u se e

am w d f nd w d 7 4
s e or or re a oo ,
1

Avi n t i a l f a h g in 34
,
r o o , 2

Ax t u p by th E th ni a n t di
, se e s o s o

t th
rec w ind 5 e , 1 1

A zt d u gh i ma ges ub ti t t d
ecs , o s s u e

f m n by 7 ;
or e imila w d , 0 u se s r or s

f m n nd w a t
or oo ; uhd a er, 1 2 1 cr s e

a imina l t ha v t f t iv a ls
cr a r es es ,
 I N DE X 2 95

ed ge f 7 6 ; m n f 7 7 ; o ,
2 o e s o , 2 B obow iss i, A f i a n d ity 7 ; l d rc e ,
1 or

mu t b t l d f d a th in th
s e o o e e f th u nd
o 9 ; a i t
e r, 9 1 0 s cr ces o, 1 0

fam ily 7 7 ; h i v bu nt in b n
,
2 es r o B bi a ult d g d 6
o c , c u re o ,

res , 2 7 8 B n bu nt in
o es n S t J hn
r res o . o

s

B tl
ee es, l ga l p
e rocee d i ng a ga i n t s s , N i ght 7 8 ,
1

2 34 B no i g i na lly b n
res , or 78 ; o e- res, 1

B ll
e h u ng n n k f w t
s, o ec s o co s o li gh t d w i th b i h a f i l f
e rc ,
o or

p t t f
ro ec m w i t h 52 ro c es , 1 v il p i i t 7 8 ; a tici a l gi a nt
e s r s, 1 r s

B ng a l
e a i n h a m in
,
r c r ,
1 1 1 bu n d in 8 r e , 1 2

B e recinth f tiv a l f 2 9 a, es o , B k f th D ad 5
oo o e e , 1 1

B na d J an Fr d i 2 82
er r , e e e r c, B th f t i v a l f a urviva l of
oo s, es o , s

B i b l G n i 5 2 3 2 2 8 ; Exe
e: e es s, , 1 , t w hi p 8
ree- o rs , 21

du s 2 9 . w e. 1 47 . 1 54. I 60. I 7 4 Bt o s, f cu re 6 9 ; in K n t cky or, 1 e u ,

2 0 5, 2 30 ; Levi t i u c s, 2 9 , 6 4, 1 52 , 1 71
1 7 4, 2 1 8, 2 31 , 2 45 ; N umbe rs, 8 5, B ou gonia , G reek name for b ees su p

2 31 ; D u t n my 2 9 6 4 7 4 e ero o , , , 1 , p d ose to be gener a t d f om

e r a ni
1 86 ; J h ua 2 3 ; J ud g os 88 , 0 es, 1 , ma l s, 2 70

2 7 ; I Samu l 84 2 3 ; 1 1 Sam
0 e , , 1 Buk o r e: 1 0 11 G" 39 1 37 s 6 51 87 1
ue l 7 . 77 s ; I K i ng
t. 33 . u s. . 1 1 2 ,
1 48, 2 1 2, 21 7, 22 3
1 1 2 86 ; I I K i n
, 1 g 29 8 6 ; II s, ,
1 B y w h i pp d t b u nda ies 9 2
o s, e a o r , 1

Ch ni l 86 ; P a l m 2 8 3 ;
ro c es, 1 s s, 1 , 2 1 B ah ma n b i d an i nt d w ith
r r e o e

I a i a h 32 7 4; J mi a h 9
s , , 1 ere , 2 , h ny 7 9
o e , 2

8 6 ; Ez k i l 99 ; H a B and J h n Anti q u i ti i t d 43

1 74 e e , 1 ,
1 ose , r s, o ,
es, c e , ,

82 ; J l 32 ; M i a h
oe 32 , 55 ; c , , 1 6 4. 8 8. 8 9 . 9 4. 1 2 6. 1 30 . 1 39 . :6 1 .

R v l a ti n 7 4; P ly h m di
e e o , 1 o c ro e e 1 84

ti n J
o ,h ua ; E eki l 2 9
os , 1 00 z e , 1 B a in i nu
r , n
e ce o f m oo n u pon, 1 2 9
B il t hi d i ty
u sc 2, e , 1 1 B ad f i t
re ru ,
or i gi n of, 8
Bi n 2
o , 00 B i nt n D
r o ,
. G .
, 6, 2 1 , 84, 1 09 , 1 1 7,
B i h b u g h f bu nt n St
rc , o s o , r o . 33s ' 7 8! 32 2 1 2 41

J hn N i ght 7 8 ; t a i a t d
o

s , 1 ree ssoc e B roo e, k J am ma gi a l p we
S ir es, c o r

w i th th th und g d 3; w i th e e r- o ,
2 1 a tt i bu t d t by na ti v 58
r e o, es ,

M ay D ay nd Ea t ce e a s er r B th f k p rv f m w i l d
ro o coc ,
rese es ro

m ni 2 3
o es , 1 b a t 2 86
e s s,

B la k h p u d a ain ha m
c , s ee ,
se as r c r B w n S i Th ma 8 5 9 5
ro e, r o s, ,

in P u 6 ;
er t in Suma t a
, 1 0 ca r ,
B w ni ng R b t cited 2 00
ro ,
o er , ,

1 0 6 ; h n bu i d a l iv t e h a ng
,
re e o c e B u R b t 64
r ce , o er , 1

th w i nd 6 ; t bu i d a li v
e , 1 1 ca , re e Budd C a l i t d 54
e, r , c e ,
1

t
o h al h d 6e er , 1 0 Budd h a f it a ibed to hi g d
. ru s scr s oo

B l az i ng w h l l l d t make un ee , ro e o s ness. 5
s h i n 8 3; t K nz 83
e, 1 a o , 1 Bud g E A e, . . W .
, 2, 76, 99, 2 88
B l ing a ni ma l igi n f 2 32
es s s, or o , B u a lo, i d in I nd i a 2 5
s acr ce ,

B l ind d g bu i d u nd o ,
t ab l e re er s Bu k w ina c p u d f a i n
o , or se se or r

d ma k h d f til nd p e
oo r, es er s er e a r h a m in 7
c r 1 1

v nt w f m t ayi ng 3
e s co s ro s r , 22 Bu ll bu n d a l iv t
, p l a gu
r e e o cu re e,
2 9 6 IN DE X
:6 5 ;k pt f use f p a iish in e or o r i

Eng l a nd 2 7 , 1

Bu i a l a p i m i tive m a n f p o
r ,
r e s o r

tect i n f m th o d ad 7 ; cu ro e e ,
: , s

tom 8 s, :

Bu ma p l w i ng nd w ing in
r , o a so ,

fa ting b v d in 6
s o ser e , :

Bu ning w h l in I l f M u ll
r , ee s,
'

s e o

t h a l attl 83; b ndd w ith

o e c e, 1 , ou

S t J hnw t
. 85 ; f
o f x t fea t s or , : o a s

f Cer 87 ; O v i d acc u nt f
o es, : s o o ,

:88

Bu rto ns
Ana t my o of M l a n h ly
e c o ,

c tei d , :0 2

Bu y r St E dmu nd h i n
. s, s r e of, via
ited by ba en w m n 2 rr o e ,
132

Bu i is s r , :1 3

C abba g s gr w th f nt lll d bby

e , o o , co ro e

ma g i 5 ; p te t d f m ate
c, 0 ro c e ro c r

p ill a 84 rs,

Ca a xp ed to m nli ght b f e
c o, e os oo e or

p l a nting 32 , :

C a li f ni a Ind i a n f 8
or ,
s o , 1 0

C anaa ni t a i d t t e 2 6 3 es, s cr ce o r es ,

C amb di a xpu l i n f v il p i it
o , e s o o e s r s

in 9 ; p ay
,
:2 ad v p r ers re o er cro

in, 2 52

C am pb ll J M it d 6 2 7 9
e , . .
,
c e ,
: , 2

C a nd ll Al ph n d
o 57 e, o se e, 2 ,

C a yi ng t d ath c m ny
rr ou e , ere o of,

1 98
C a th a g i ni a n li v p n u
r s, e e rso s s s

p nd d f m t
e e by 2 6 2 ro ree s ,

C t u d
a , a in h a m 6
se as r c r , :0

C at h pi ta l f in E gypt 7 2 ;
s, os s o r, , :

bu n d a li v M i d umm Ev t
r e e s er e a

Pa i 8 r s, 1 2

C a t rpill a
e R ma n m th d f rs , o e o s o

p t ti ng f m 8 3; k pt f m
ro ec ro , e ro

abba g by p i
c f i n 84;
es ece o co ,

kn w n o w it h lv 3s ; as c es

e es, i
 ire M
h am I s
d
h

Ba t h , of
l lw

~ su ggestio ns b y , o f o ri

q q
gin of sa yi ng o f S t . Sw i t h i n , 1 98
a
Ea rt h u kes . more fre ue nt at f llu

m oon . 1 33; pera mb u l a tions o n

m a t of, :9 :

Ea rth s pi ri ts , invoca tion o f, :6

Digby S i K n lm i d 2 3
,
r e e . c te , Ea st er eggs or ig i n of, 220 ; n co

Di ny i u 6 9
o s s, nected w i th cerem onies of fec u n

D i ny
o s u s,

Di a
se nt
se, se 59 ; as 1

t an f
r d t f w l in New
s e rre o o s

G u i n a 89 e , 2

Di t
s a f b i dd n t b w h i led
,
or e o e r

a l ng th h i gh w ay in a nci nt
o e s e

I ta ly 5 ,
2

D i v i na ti n by Kh a w a 48 ; by
o ,
r rs,

e gg 8
s.3; b y2 ck 2 87 co .

D iv i ni ng d 3 ro , 2 1

D g u d in a i n h a m by Ai n
o ,
se r c r u,

n ; bu i d i n i d t ab l d r t
o re s e s e oo o

p m t n p ti n 3
ro o e co ce o , 22

D m ld
o a S w d i h k i ng acriced
e, e s , s

to Od i n 7 ,
2

D y 1 Ow n i t d 7
orse ,
. e , c e ,
 I N DE X 2 99

u se d amu l t 8 3; in d iv i na
as e s, 2 d ivr e n into a ni ma l 58 ; s, : com

ti n o 8 3; m n f 84
, 2 o e s o , 2 m a nded to di p by G
s erse reg o y
E gg h ll d t y d t p v nt
s e s, es ro e o re e 1 9!
ma g i 2 83; u d t t a np t
c, se o r s or Evreu s , i ua l f i t d 36
rt o , c e , 2

w it h 83
c es , 2 Ex cre m nt bu i d by I a li t
e s re sr e es to
Egypti a n a li t p a i nti ng f ;
s, e r es s o ,
r p re v nt w it h a ft 9
e c cr ,
2

a g i l tu f ; p l w f 32 ;
r cu re o ,
2 o s o ,

s w in d iv n v e w n l d by
r e o e r so e s ,

6 ; f mu l a
0 tor m k u nh ine s o a e s s , F
98 ; a n g i v n by p i t f
re so s e r es s o ,

f or j t i ng w i n 9 ; b li f
re ec s e, 1 2 e e F a scinu m, w h ip
ors of, p h ib i t d
ro e ,

of in g n a ti ve i nu nce
, f e er e o 2 20

m nli gh t
oo 5; pu ni h d by , 2 1 s e F ti v a l
es of , St . J hn b
o , o se r e v d in
m i ti ng th i a tt l
s 3 ; t e r c e, 2 0 rs M i dd l e Ag es, :7 8 ; of C e re s,

f uit u d
r s ing by
se 4 as o er s , 2 2

E l aza
e v il p i i t d a w n f m
r, e s r r ro F ew kes, J Wa l t. er, c te i d , 73
n t ilos r f d m ni a s by 2 7
o e o c ,
2 Fij i nt g l n in
s e a ; ev i l
e su ree d s, t oo

E l f h t w u nd mad by
s o s, d o s e , cu re s p i i t xp ll d by 9
r s e e e ,
1 2

by p ay 64 r e rs , : F i ng w m h a m a g a i nt 84
er or , c r s ,

Elf t n u d s o h a rm 64;
es, se as c s, r F inn h a l lf h t w u nd by
s e e s o o s

w a p n f fa i i
e o 64s o r es, r p ay
r 64
e rs , :

E li ja h nt t f w i th th p ph ts
, co es o , e ro e Fire, ig i n f 7 3; u nl u ky t
or o ,
1 c o

o f Baa l " , 2 g i v eit a w ay n M ay D ay 7 6 ; o , :

E lli A B 7 2
s, . 2 53 .
, 1 , 2 , u s, p t t f m
ro ec s li p nd h l
ro ec ses a c o

E lli \Villi m 8 49
s, a , , 2 e ra , :7 7

E lw thy or Ev il Ey i t d 8 5

s e, c e ,
F i b a nd ti d t ta il f f x by
re r s e o s o o es

E p il pt i t t a nf d t f w l
e c s r s e rre o o s Sam n 88 so , :

in Wa l 89 es, 2 Fi y ti k w a v d in S tl a nd t
er s c e co o

E k i m h i nk a i n i u i n f
s o t r s r e o p t t
ro ec n 7 7 ; p l w d a w n in
cor ,
r o r

d i ty n ; m k i ma g
e , i f a e es o F a n ni a t S h v ti d
r co 79 ; a ro e e, :

w h a l t ma k th m p l nty 64
es o e e e , 2 i l mad by I i h t g a d
c rc e e r s o u r

E i R ing w i th n h a nt d p
r c, , e c e ca c h il d n 8 5
re , :

c ah ng d th w i nd n 6 e e , Fi t f i t ff d by Egyt i n in
rs ru s o ere a s

E th ni a n w i ng t m f 5 ;
s o s, so cu s o o , 0 a nti qu i ty 4 ; t a pp a d,
2 2 o e se e

p f
ra y e r a i n 9 3; p nt t or r , se r e se c a
e se d an t 43; in th I l
ces ors , 2 e s

u p by t b ing w i nd 5 ; bu y
, o r ,
:1 r a nd f T a nna 6 4
o ,
2

o n f th h d t
e o u mu a i n e er o c re rr , F l m n B i a li
a a a i d l amb t s s cr ce o

:6 : J u pi t ert b gi nni ng af g ap e o r e

Ev a n E P " 9 46 56 3
s, . .
, ,
1 ,
r ,
2 2 h a v t 44
r es ,
2

Ev il Ey gua d d a g a i nt in I
e, r e s re F l ax w i ng in Th u i ng i a 5 ;
so r , 0

l a nd 37 ; b w i t h m il k 39 ;
, e c es , [ na k d p a a nt g i l d n
e e s u nd rs a ce ro

p t ti ng f m 47
ro ec ro , : in th S l ld
e u nt y 59 ; d
aa e co r , see

Ev il p i i t d i v n f m l ud by
s r s r e ro c o s t ili z d by t u h
s er e f m nt o c o e s ru

s h ti ng 3; xp u l i n f 9 ;
oo , :0 e s o o , :2 ou s w m n 59 o e ,
Foa ls inferior in tin w a ne of ti n
m oon, : 30

Fool P low in Eng l a nd, 44; fw hid

den by C ou nci l of Ulm, 45
F ores poke n w ate r u s ed fi r hea ling
ca tt le in the O rkneys , s 6 6

Fow l bu ried in sa nd m cha nge the

w ind " 6 ; a s sca pegoa t 2 8 7 ; in
, ,

ma g i a l i t c r es, 2 87 ; to cu re ep il
ept ic ts , 2 89
F ow le r, W Wa dlea . r , w
53 , m
7 8 , laogn
: 39 , 2 88, 2 62
F ox bu rned at f a t f C e 88
e s o e r s, :

F a gm
r e nts of cro p l ft f pi it e or s r

of veget a t i on , 2 45
3 $
F ra nku m
'
s N i gh t , cr tic i al time for
fr i t 57
u , 2

F a t A lb i
r e Vi i n e r co s

s o of St . Pat
i k P ga t y 2 6 x

rc s ur or ,

F az J G s 2 2 3
r e r. . '
s . . 2 . 2 5. so. 43.
s t . 54 6 0 . 7 3. 7 9 .
. 1 0 0. u s. :2 9 .

' 47 . 340

Far ze r s,
'
J . G .
, Pau ani s a s, cited,

2 59 . 273

m i t l t a d to
F rig a , s e oe s cre ,

F g
ro ,k i ng f i gn f a i n 9 3;
cro a o , s o r ,

b a t n t b i ng a i n " 7 ; k ill d
e e o r r , e

by Th mp n R i v I nd i a n " 7 ;
o so er s,

h u ng n a t a a i n ha m
o ree as r c r

in I nd i a 7 ; giv n t d g p r ,
1 1 e o o e

v nt ba k i ng 7
e s r , : 2

Fr it ti m f w i ng 3 ; gath
u s, e o r so ,
t o

d in w a n f m n 3
e re e o oo ,
: 0

F it t
ru ma i a ge f in I nd i a
rees , rr o , ,

6 3; li ba ti n t
2 n C h i tma o s o, o rs s

Eve, 2 67
Fu n
r es s W IL H m Lif

, .
,
o e e of Bor
neo H ad Hu nt
e i ted - ers, c , 7 2 , 2 53
30 2 I N DE X
of re, : 7 4; g d wa h d W
o w ith
s s e i

h ny 7 9
o e , 2

Hi pp at
ocr i t d by P li ny 7 7 ;
es, c e , r

d t i n f tw p i n i p l
oc r e o 5; o r c es, 2 1

t mb o f 73 o ,
2

H k a t 47
oc -
c r , 2

H dd nt in
o e a tt dd by m m dd i ii n
sc ere e
'

c e

m n t e n p l a nt i ng 6 5
a co r -
,

H g h u l d b kk illll d in i n a
o s s o e
'

e
'

cre se

of m n x3 ; oo nd m n d t
,
c co e e o

d a th in Av i n 34
e , 2

H li nh d i t d 9
o s e , c e ,
2 :

H m
o er, 2 8 73 ,
6 2 8 , , H , 2 1

H n y d i v y f a tt i bu t d t
o e , sco er o ,
r e o

Ba h u cc 7 ; s, ga th d f m 2 1 ere ro

t rees , n ff i ng t J a nu a o er o s,

27 3; p w v o p i i t
er 79 ; o er s r s, 2

H indu g d w a h d w i th 7 9 ; o s s e ,
2

d pp d in th m u th f n w
ro e e o o e

b n hi ld n 7 9
or c re ,
2

H n y d w a n i nt b l i f f 7 4;
o e - e , c e e e o , 2
I
sou f it
rce 74
o ,
2

H n y u k l b u gh
o e s c e, f p t t I ma ge f m n ub tit t d f m n
o s o , ro ec o a s s u e or a

f m w it h
ro 39 ; p v
c es ,nt in I nd i a 6 9 ; r f d gh d by re e s ,
o ou u se

w i t h a ft 7 9
c cr , 2 A ztec 7 ; f St Pan s, c o . c ra ce

H pi
o ,
n nd u
co r ub ti tu t d f
a t o h i l d t li fe 2 34
r s s e or re s o res c o ,

ch il d n am ng 7 ; p ay
re f
o In a ha v t it f 2 4
, 0 r ers o , c s, r es r es o , :

f or ra in 7 ,
:0 I nd i a a i n h a m in 6 0 9 ; , r c r , 20 , 2

H a q u t d 53
or ce, o e ,
h p i nk l d w ith b l d i n
, 1 2 : orses s r e oo ,

H orse, h ad f th w n in Mid m
e o ,
p t ti n f m vi l y i n
ro su ro ec o ro e e e ,

m
er 85 ; P i n
res , i 5 ; t t i ng u g
e rs aa a n in s
53 s a cr 1 0 cu s r c e , 2

ee t M i tho 85 ; t u p I nd i a n f N i a a gua t n a l t
ra s , se s o c r ea o s or

a g a i nt w i t h 8 5 ; mad l m
s c es , p pp t p l ant i ng 6 ; f C li e a e e er a , 1 o a

by ti k i ng n il in f t p i nt x4x ;
s c a f ni th i n k w l d a g l be f
oo r s, or a or o o

S i A nth ny H b t
r o it d n 7 4; g
e r er n n d an c f e o ,
re, : ree cor ce o

14 5 ; bu i d u nd th
re h l d f C h k er 3 9 ; n w n f
res ti v l o o ero ee, 2 e cor es a

t bl
s a t e v th h d x6 ;
o sa fC e k 24 e er , 2 o ree , 0

h l d by ng
ea e so I ng ath i ng f a t am ng H i nd
, 2 00 er e s o us,

H o rse i ng i g i n f am ng th
ra c ,
or 8 53 o ,
o e 1 1 , 2

G k ree 96 s, r I ni h g l b l a k h n bu n d a liv s o ra , c e r e e

H o rses o f th N l g nd f
e s ea , in t h a ng w i nd 6
o rse e e s o , , o c e , :1

36 I nma n Th ma it d 2 ,
o s, c e , 2 0

H o rse s h p t t
oe bu tt f m I nn nt D ay t e b at n n t o
ro ec s er ro oce s

, re s e e o ,

w it h 43 c es , 1 ma k f t il 57 e er e, 2
 I N DE X 0
3 3

I nsects exco mmu ni ated c in n ame s u mi ng re, : 7 4; rst fru it s of

T i ni ty
of r ,
2 34 f d t -2 45
ere o,

I nv k i th i ng
er e , ph a ll ic cere m o ny J am VI
es nd mn R g i na l d
.
, co e s e

in, 2 20 S t b k 37
co

s oo , 1

I nvoca ti o n su ng in H ebri des 2 0 3 , J a nu ff i ng f h n y t 2 7 3

s, o er s o o e o,

Ioni a ns fest iv a l o f 7 0 ; ra i n ch a rm
, , J a i ll Ru i a n P i a p u 2
r o, ss r s, 2 0

of no ; ori gin of M i l ky W ay,

, Ja t w M i
s ro 8 , 56 orr s, :2 , r ,

: 34 J a v a ing in t p i it f i
, o er s , o s r o r ce

I ra ni a ns , 1 2 2 ld 58 ; ce m n
e , y in to b i ng re o ,
r

I i h th u gh t h tr e p we f l
rs o as e o r u f a i w a th
r e er, :0 2

a ga i nt w i t h x4 ; u e f i k
s c es , 2 c r or s c J nk Al b t E i ted 33
e s, er .
, c , :

b a t 6 3; mad i l f
e s s, 1 e c rc es o re J nni ng W illi am t anl a ti n f
e s, ,
r s o o

t p t t f m v il 8 5 ; jum p
o ro ec ro e , 1 Sh i K i ng 4 47 , ,

th u gh e w ith th i ch i l d n
ro r e r re , Jo b l
, gend f
e 7 o , 2 !

: 86 J h n n Samu l 2 9
o so , e , :

I ron p jud i a ga i nt 3 ;
, re f ce s , 2 u se o J n W illi am 48 8 6 3 64;
o es, , , o, : , 2

in p l w i ng f ll ww dd bby bad
o o o e se a qu t i ng f m B iti h A ppoll
o ro r s o,

n in P l a nd 33; t u d in
so s o ,
rs se 2 9 ; t ial
2 f a ni ma lr 2 34 84
s o s, , 2

Am i a 33; b llii vvedd to p i n

er c , e e o so J n n Ben Alchem ist quoted
o so

s, , , ,

th l a nd 33
e , 2 68
I qu i
ro n l gend
o s, d f 74 cor -
e s
a o , J seph u i t d 2 2 8
o s, c e ,

I l a nd f N i a w a nd i ng p i it
s o s, er s r s J udah h il d n f sac iced
, c re o , r so s n
in p v i d d f by
,
ro w i ng a pe e or so s in re , :86

i l l d 2 45
c a e , J uda gu s, re of,
bu n in
r t b n o re s,

I l
s e f L wi o Ha ll w ti d u t m
e s, o - e c s o r8 1

in 8 9 ; , n ld b l d in 9 4co r e s es se , 1 J u ni p bu nt b f
e r, a tt l by r e o re c e

I l
s e f M n o a i d u nd a ,
res c rr e ro H i gh l a nd 48 ers , :

attl in 7 7 ; p ambu l a ti n in
c e , 1 er o s , Jun o s

a ll ged i nt vi w w i the er e

1 94 Fl a 9 or , 20

Isle M u ll a tt l h a l d in by
of , c e e e , J u pi t a i t f a i n
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bu ni ng w h l 83
r ee , : p ay r f R ma n w m n t
ers o 5 o o e o, :0

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s s, e sco er o e a

ba l y d i t d t 5 ; n at d
re cre e o, co secr e
K
a ph a lli i ma ge f O i i 2 2 0 c o s r s,

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sr e 9 8 5 x7 4es , 2 , ,

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ui id
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z a ca cee nt t l g dd f w h i te
eo ,
o ess o

ma i z t w h m l pe w r
e, o o e rs e e

a i d
s cr ce , 2 1

J
J ac b o
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s se r vi ce Laban
to ,

J a hv h e , 5; se nd h a il
s , :02 ; a co n
3 4
0 I N DE X
K a t J hn qu t d 32
e s, o , o e , 1r

K li
e nky ba tt l
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2 0

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Kh a w a r a th g dd pm piti
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a ted by 57 ; t an f,
f dd isease off ra s er
'

ca tt l t e f w l 89 o o s, 2

K h nd b l i f f x9
o s, e e o , 2

Kh u f u, i gn f re o , 2

K i d mu t n t b seethed in m the
s o e o

rs

m il k 47 , 2

Ki l da in 7 7 re, res , 1

K i l k nny
e 77 res, 2

K i ng h a w i th d iti
s s re p ni e es res o s

b ility f w a th or 4; Dp u ni h d e er, :1 u s e

f or fa il u f Pp 4 re o cro 3
s.
, 1:
1

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s e , r es, o e ,
r
2

K i ng l y M a y H i t d 8
s e ,
r .
, c e ,
2

Ki hm y
rc P pii hh K
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o s ,

c e i t d 84 , :

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,
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b a t 68
e s s, r

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K l da n to ti mu l a t th a th
o s ce s e e e r ,

83
K n M i d umm f tiv a l
o z, s er es a t, :82

Ku nb i cu t m f 44
s, s o o , 1

L a leen, p i t f A lf 75
r es o oo rs ,

Lamb bu i d t av th k 6 a re o s e e oc , t

L nd A H
a or, i t d 58 . . c e ,
:

La ng And w i t d 54; n x
, re , c e ,
o e

cesses t w i ng ti m 6
a so e, :

La p l a nd cu t m in t av t w i t h
, s o , o er c

cra ft 87 ; w i z d ti u p th
, ar s e e

w i nd 5 , :1

La t h a f in th f m f a c ck
s s e e or o o ,

2 6
4 ; in f m f a w ma n 2 46
or o o , M
L w n R M it d 3 83
a re ce, . .
, c e , : 0, 2

Lea , H C it d .
4
.
, c e , H , M b th 6
ac e , :1

L ky W E H qu t d x35
ec ,
. . .
,
o e , M ad t n u d
s o e se in Scotl a nd , 2 63
30 6 I N DE X
k i ng ta k a th t mak th s n
s e o o e e u

h i n nd p gr w 7 3; OceC
s e a cro s o ,
.
re
N '

m ny f w men t mak ta l
o o o o e s se s

f ma i z g w 8 6 ; u
o e ro ,
ses cross a s

a i n ym b l 8 ; acles f h ad
r s o ,
1 0 or o ,

perpetua l 73 res , :

M ice t p r v nt a v a ge of PP ll inyy
,
o e e r s ,
'

i t d 84; gen at dd by l i k i ng
c e , er e c i ,

223; mad f r m f a llen pe a s e o r ,

2 64
M i ha lc W k w heat w n in
e

s ee ,
so ,

t n t
ur s k l 48 o coc e,

M id umm D ay w i tchh active

s er ,
'

es

n 89 ;
o ,
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c t bu n d in t Pa i
a s nd Met r e a ri s a z,

8 ; bu ni ng w h l u d n 8 3
r 2 r ee s se o ,
:

M il k g t by ma gic yi l d le s b t
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te r, 8 7

M ill L H i t d 1 51 x7 3
s, . .
, c e , :

M il t n Joh n qu t d ; ci ted on
o , ,
o e , i t
'

h a l cy n 9 5 ; qu t dd 2 2 7
o , o e ,

Min E gypt i a n d i ty 2 42
, e ,

Min t r ma gi f t mak co n
a a ees, c o , o e r

g wro 8 6 g reen cor,

n f tiv a l es

of. 2 39
M i a i a ge p r v nt d by tyi ng
sc rr e e e

a l t th ad n a ttl 2 4
sc re re o c e, 2

M i tl ts f u t i fy ing p w of
e oe, r c o er ,

b ing l u k t da i y 2 2 ; r s c o r , i

ac d t F ig
s re o r a, z i z

M i tu n d t w l f by h b 2 2 5
oe r s r e o o er s ,

M ng l
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nl y in p i ng nd
o mm n6 s r a su er,

M nta i g n
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2

M nt R ub ll 9 6
o e e o, :

M num nt
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M n a n i nt i d a f a ; v il
oo , c e e o , r t e

i n u n f 7 ; fav ab l f
e ce o , 1 2 or e or

b d i ng nd p l a nt
ree 9 ; in a s, :2

n ue n v g tab lce 3 o e e es, 1 0

M n y J am i t d 6 5 7 4; q t
oo e , es, c e , , uo

ed, 2 39
M oo r b e a ts l amb to c re u h ada h
e c e,

2 3i
 I NDE X 0
3 7

by P p Z a h a y 7 9 ; ph a ll i
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r o oo s ss o n of l and by
m ny in nn t i n w ith 2
cere o co ec o , 20 y a w 76
er rro s, 1

N g a l ymb l f 87
er ,
s o o , 2 O ill a h u ng n t ee
sc o r s at Pa gana l i a ,

N th u
er f d a w n by w h i te
s, ca r o ,
r 2 6x
cow , 2 3i O i i 5 ; ph a ll i i ma ge of c
s r s, i i c , ar

Nui w
e r th u g h t by S yth i a n
ere s o c i d in p
re i n 20 roces s o ,
2

t tu n t
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,
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ce re o u se o ers

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t o5 Ov i d 5 9
, ,
R b i g,
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s in, 7 8 3,; n
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or o e rc ,
0 , 20

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- a
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e s e e re s a

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e e e e o e o o o Ath ni an 3 e s, 2 0

Oii 2 6
s r s, 1

Ni n f a i y f N w
ssa , gii an i 43
weg r o or a s, i

Norse l ni t t k pp
co o i n ff s s oo os sess o o P
l a nd w i th 75 res, i

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e ,

N w ay w i nd ti d u p by w itch s
or , s e e

in, ii5

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go d s, t o8

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, e o

s a i d t 7 2
cr ce o,

Ody u n 6 sse s,

Oj ib w a u t m t w i ng 59 34;
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h a v t f a t f 39
r es e s o , 2

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t o b ing a i n 5
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l uck u d s a in ff i ng by
se as s o er

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w i t h 87 ; f w u d
c es, a o co s se as

r a i n h a m 9 ; t pr t ct f m
c r ,
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w it h 8
c es,
4 r

O in a in ha m r
r oco r c r , to

O i n t m p t ta k
ro , i in 2 4
e es s e r se , i ,

t 3o
30 8 I N DE X
a d h ad d m n 87 ; Neg
re - e e a ,
ro

f lk l
o - f 87
ore o ,

P ambu l ati n i nt ddu dd n

er o s ro u ce o ac
o

cou n t i fr qu ency o y f a rth e o e

q ake 9
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R man nd M xii a n 7 4
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w h i t h p a ii dd by 6 ;
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ca p tu u n in n t
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c h a m f 0 6 ; h ad acle W
r o ,
wiith 1 or s

p pet a l
er u 74 ; u d r te t res , i se e s

in lect i ng l ati n 7 5 ; r
se oc o s, : te

w a d d h ph dd w h e ck
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s os o s

in a d a 7
cre se ,
i

P t i W M F ci ted 2 412 2 7 9
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t i n in a n i n
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a t d w i th
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Ph i l i pp i n I l a nd a i c b f r
e s s, s cri e e o e

so w ing in 2 3 ,

Ph i li ti nes mad i ma g of mi
s e es ce

to d i v th m a w ay 84
r e e ,

P h i lli p H ny J qu ted r35

s, e r , r, . o ,

P h ni i a n ac i d h i l d en 2 86 ;
e c s s r ce c r ,

to trees , 2 6 3
P i nda l g nd fr, e e o , 2 73
P i nk t n V ya ge
er o

s o s, c te i d , 48, 7 5,
87 . 1 1 6. r40. 1 8
4 . 6 5.
x 1 94
Pi p er ofHam li n l g nd f 2 e , e e o , 00

Pi pi l a i d b f
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2 1
; b v d h aot i ty b
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Pi t a i n W D ci t d 5
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p nt f g l d 8 5 ; by Da v i d
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1 59
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P l at S i Hu gh i t d 3
, r , c e , i i

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1 31 , 2 7 4, 2 86
31 0 1ND X

R mu l u
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r r es oo es

lished by 94 ,
:

R oo s te r, t i l in S w i
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0 ,

22 9
R th H n y Li ng i t d 53
o , e r , c e , 2

R um ni a n a i n h a m f
o a s, r c r o ,
:i :

R d d v
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ra e a, e e , :

Ru a l k a spu l i n f 7 7 s, ex s o o ,

Ru k i n J h n i t d 9 5
s ,
o , c e ,

Ru i a n p na l dd n v am p i
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n8
Ru i a n bu y a m n a li v w i th
ss s r a e

b l k d g t a vv th hh dI 6
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a a o, o r o ,

Sa i h uma n by M xi a n
cr ces , , e c s,

na ti v f G ld C a t ;es f o o o s , 22 o

Gu in 3; by Kh nd ea , 4; 2 o s, 2

Dy k 7 ; t h a v t f tiv a l
a s, 2 a r es es s

in P u 4 er , 2 0

St . A go b a rd,
St . A ilbhe, 80
St Anth ny p t t f a ni ma l
. o ,
ro ec or o s,

45 ; I m g
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B nh u 45 ; h l d h g 7
o e r, : ea e o s, : 0

S t A u g u ti n
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St . B na d f ti v a l t M nt
er r

s es a o e

S n B na d
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S t B d h m h l d a tt l
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S t C l umba tu ni h k n f ain
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n ; bi d o m t a ll f 45 r s co e a c o , :

St D i
. ma ty d m f 54
a s u s, r r o o ,

S t D av i d D ay l u ky f w i ng
. s c or so ,

48 ; W l h m n w l k n 64
e s e ea r ee s o ,

S t D u n t n v il
. pu t f 57
s a , e re e o ,
2

S t Ed i th
. R ma n R b i g 7 9 as o o o,

S t El y
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7 e e e s, : :

S t F t in ph a lli
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S t G ll b a
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a , e rs o e e ,
:
 I N DEX 31 1

Sam n S t y f foxes :88 ; b

so , or o , ees be d n n F i day V a l nt in
o e o r or e e

q
f u nd by 2 7 0
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Sandy G g uot d s, eor e, e ,

to S v n a ac ed n mb w ith Ch r
e e , s r u er e o

S nta l h a rv t h m f 53
a s, es o e o , 2 kee, 6 5
Sa a w a k f ll m n b v d by n
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in, 2 52 ti t d 7 5 ; a H
s e , i an folk ta le f ess - o ,

Sa d ini a im ina l l a w a ga i nt
r , cr s s a n 75; p es i d ve g
rrow i ng y a m e o r s,

ima l in 2 33 a , 75
S a t a n t a pp a a n
,
f rs e r ce o , 22 7 . Sh a k p a ci t d 9 5 44 2 ;
es e re, e , , : , 00

2 58 J u li u C qu ted 2 5 ; M
s e s a r, o , 0 er

Sat ur n , g ld n o e a ge o f, 9 ; ag i o ld r c h a nt f V ni q t d 2 2 5 ;
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cu tu r l a l d ity e , 50 ; evi l i nu nce e Ham l t qu t d 2 8 5 2 87

e ,
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of, :2 6 S h ang ti p ay f g a in t 88
-
,
r er or r o,

Sat ur na l i a,
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f by fa ti ng 6 2
o ll ow ed s , : 03 ; d iv n th r gh p l
r i t k t e ou s oa o

S u m L ch d m ci t d ee65 o s, e , : hea L :6 5

Sch w i nf th G ci t d
e 87 ur , .
, e ,
2 Sh tl a nd am n buy w i nd
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Scot h ma n l a v
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uo e , 4, 47 ,
f the O l d W ma n 2 46
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Sea R gi na l d
, 37 e48 69 , : , : ,
: , 2 00 S h i ng l h u l d be l a i d in da k f
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Smtt S i W a l t
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r e r, c e ,
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oo , :

r80 Sh k
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Scyt h i a n th u gh t the N u i t n d
s o e r ur e p ay
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t w lv
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as , o s o s r o se

Secr t u pp li ca t
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f o r, ese o c c u d by 6 5
re , :

f m ly 8
or er , : Sh w m u att l i nju r d by 6 5 ;
re o se, c e e , :

Seed h w t k n w n t
, o p du rs o o re ro ce R ma n th g h t p i n u 6 5
o s ou o so o s, :

it l fse 5 , : S i am h a v t f t i v a l in 2 52
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r es es ,

Seed n f Pa w n
cor m i t n d w i th
o ees o s e e S i am p i ng
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s r ce re o o ,

b l d f a w ma n 59
oo o o , S il v p l w h u ng in ch u r h 44
er o s c es,

Sekh t A a e -
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co ,
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S mi n l
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1 77
f i t am ng 2 4
ru s o , 0 S i mp so n, K a t A qu t d e .
,
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S en a ec it d 3,
c e , :0 S i ux
o cere m ny t ma ke c
o o or n grow ,
S en a ec s, l g nd f 7 e e o , 59
S p nt
er e t u p by I a li t
se t t ay sr e es o s S k a t \V \V 55 86 6
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th e p l ag 85 ; u d ue,a in se as r qu t d 8
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h a m 7 ; g n t d f m pi
c r , :0 e e ra e ro s Sk l t n u d
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se as r c e

n l ma w f m n 2 3; p u ni h
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m nt f 7 ; p i n f u d by
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b th f a k 8 6
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S t ti ng h n
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sh ou l d be u d in mu t n t se ,
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S l a v k i lled a goat t sow ing 6 3
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S m i th G , ge ci t d 2 eor ,
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2 62
Soci ty I l ands 8
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Sol m n p a l m tree in tem p le of

o o ,
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of,
227

S l n l aw f 2 3
o o , o , 0

S ng f b ingi ng a in 0 6
o or r r , :

So nam
rce re rs , f m n u sed in e o a

co nju i ng by r ,

Sorcer y dange t p f rom 86 ;

, r o cro s ,

c uno t acted by n d
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S u l t n f r d t f w l 2 88
o ra er e o o ,

S u th Se I l and r l a imi ng l nds

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in, 2 6
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o
0

u d se a inch a m in
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S w c nd mn d t Fa l a i
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mu de ing a ch il d 33
r r ,
2

S w s d c ra t d w i th si l ver in
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I nd i a 52 ,

S w i ng i nau g ra t d by Raja 57 ;
o u e ,

M nda ac ice g at t 58 ;
u s s r o a ,

ce m n re i f Kh a w a nd P n
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k a s,57 ; a p ri d f li n e e o o ce s ,

se xua l l i ne t i m p a t f ti l ity
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2 o e s s or

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S w th i t l
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c v o d by Ch a l th G reat
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:6 9

S p c l um M nd i qu t d 6 8
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S p n S i Pat i k ba ll ad f 2 3
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S p n Edmu nd qu t d
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2 46

S pi tt i ng t b i ng ra i nby H pi 07 ;
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Sp d
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b ee s wea th i nd i a t 2 7 6
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S p i ng g p l r ad t n A n T ab l l g f banda g
r s, os e e a ,
o see e, e o , ed to ca n
s oi n D ay 9 2 ,
b a t :6 8
: e ,
3 4
: I NDEX
V am p i d u gh t bb u gh t byy
res, ro rou ,

Ru i a n P na l cod n n8
ss e e 0
o , 1 1

Va 24
rro, :

V a u na
r ,

V nu 2 9
e s, :

V mi n d iven a w ay by ch arm
er r s,

zoo ; x r i ed in S p a i n 2 0
e o c s byy i i ,

t h nd xh ta tii n in F ance
orc es a e or a o i r ,

20:

V ina l i a f l l m n n t de i r d a t
, u oo o s e ,

:2 4 ; in h n f
f J u p i te 2
o 6 or o r, :

V i n w ith d by t u h f m n
es ere o c o e

t
s ro u w m n 59 ; pp tect d byy
s o e , 2 ro e

Li b 2 6 e r, :

V i g il 3; de c ipti n f p l w 35 ;
r , s r o o o ,

m n i gn 2 3; i t d 9 5
oo s s, : ci e
C ,
: , 1 2,

2 5 2 45 ;
,
n b
2 r d i ng b e fom ee e s ro

oxe n, 2 69, 2 72

V i rg i n, W nd e s

ad i i
t ra di ti on of, 49 ;
i mag e of, u se d as r2 a i n chha rm
'

m ,

04

Vodyony, p at n f b k pe ro o ee ee rs , 2 79
Voig h t la nd M ay D ay
,
in res , 1 79
V l an
o c oes m t act iv t fu ll m
os e a oo n,
1 33
V l u d d by St V l as 60 ;
o os s ccee e .
, :

p l at ing the he d f 2 49
e ar o ,

V l ini m l g nd
o s u f , e e o , :1 0

V u l a n f tiv a l da ng u to g
c

s es e ro s

trees, 2 6:

Wa gn L p l d i t d 9 8
er, eo o , c e ,

Wa l t n I aa cit d n ba rnacl
o , s c, e o e

geese, 2 9 :
f u i t tr 2 6 6
\Va ss a iling r ees ,

W a th
e ign a nd l
er, f s s o re o ,

i n u nce f Sa i nt D ay n 9 6 ;
e o s

s o ,

m n m ns f 2 ; f t l d by
oo

s o e o , :2 ore o

b 76
ees, 2

\V ll
e g p l
s, ad t 9 os e re a ,
: 2

W nd d v a tt l u nd aks 46
e s ro e c e ro o , :

W w l ve a nti qu i ty f b li f in
ere o s, o ,
e e ,

2 2 5; t a d to Pyt h a g a 2 2 6
r ce o r s,
 I N DEX 3 1 5

m il k by b i l i ng chips inpa il 87 ;
o , Y
f il f the ch iii 87 ; au a in
o s or ar
'

, c se r

by p l ay ing in w ate u 3; r co rses , :0 Y ak i ma med i i n c e men p u ni h d

s e ,

by l a h ing b k w i th b m
s roo s roo s, :0 5

:17 ; se mb ed
u h a i t mcoke r o a a u 62
Y k ts , 2

h a il 7 ; va i u k ind f 36 ;
, :1 ro s s o , 1 Yam o i gi n f 8 ; P l yn i an
s, r o , o es s

p r t cting a ga i nt
o e k pt s , e th i nk h ad of a nce t
s es nt l s o rs co ro

a w ay by 7 7 ; ma k l adde s re, : e r gr wt h f 7 6 ; fe tiv a l in N w

o o , s s e

o f k nots nd f a th h s 2 87a ea rs,

er G u in a 2 5 ; n G l d
e , a t 25 ;
0 o o co s , 2

W i th Ge g qu tedd 9 3
er, or e, uo , : a i
s cr t h a vest f t iv a l
ces a 53 r es , 2

W i za ds w i nd ti (dI u p inkkn t by
r , s e o s , Y g y D ay a ed t S t G
e or

s sg cr o . eor e,

1 1 5 :48 ; so ng of, :49

W n p low i ng by to cu re
ome , ,
mu r Y ew d i li k d by b e 2 7 5
t ree s e e s,

ra in, :6 7 Y mi f t gi a nt 3
r, ros , 2 :

Wood Ma rtin W G ci ted

-
,
. .
, , :1 6, Y ng E n
ou e t ci ted
, 3 9 2
r 53 s , , ,

:66 Y l i gi n f 84; Se v i an
u e, or o , 1 r sa y

W ood- om w an, Rouma nia ns lea ve ing, :84

ax in the fe l d for, 2 46

X er xes , w h it h e orse preceded in re

tre t a of, 2 3:

X ioh tecu t li, f t iv a l

es of, 22 1 ,

ces to, 2 2 1

X iatine, b ees used in w a fa r re a t,

276
Xoc h i p i ll i d i ty
, e of p l a nt s , 2 4: