SLAVONIAN FAIRIES. 685 



place from Bosnia, and it has about fifteen hundred inhabitants. 

 The people can all read and write, are neat, enterprising, indus- 

 trious, and well off ; but, notwithstanding their good schools, they 

 stick to their old, pre-Christian superstitions. 



The Yilas, which occupy the greatest space in the popular lore, 

 are female beings of the same kind as the fairies or wood-nymphs 

 of the Germanic nations. The etymology of the name is uncer- 

 tain, but it is supposed to mean " rustic " ; and the Vilas are there- 

 fore spirits of the wood. The belief in them controls all the in- 

 cidents of the peasant's life. The spirits are supposed to appear 

 rarely alone, but usually in companies of two, three, five, or 

 seven. They are distinguished by an extraordinary, maidenly 

 beauty, clear complexion, slender stature, and dark, wavy hair 

 descending to the ankles. They move lightly and freely through 

 the air, being winged, although their wings are usually invisible. 

 They can also lay their wings aside. Their dress is simple, and 

 includes a crown of pearls on the head inclasping the floating 

 hair ; a long white robe, such as is worn by the peasant women at 

 their work, reaching to the ground, without any outer garment ; 

 and a girdle of red silk. 



They enjoy everlasting youth, are acquainted with divination 

 and healing, have access to all the treasures of the earth, and can 

 at will produce love or hatred in the children of men. They are 

 particularly friendly to deer, horses, sheep, and godly men. They 

 can assume the form of the gray mountain wolf. Under some 

 circumstances they are pettish, evil, and vengeful ; they teach 

 children to steal ; but sometimes, out of pity, take forlorn orphans 

 under their care. They prefer to live upon or in trees, especially 

 favoring the linden and nut trees; travel in the clouds or in 

 whirlwinds ; dance on hillocks, in green fields at springs, on roofs, 

 and under isolated trees, accompanying the exercise with songs, 

 and are distinguished by a clear, penetrating cry. 



Their ordinary occupations are milking does, combing their 

 hair with golden combs, washing their robes, and bathing in clear 

 streams under the shadows of the overhanging trees. If a person 

 wants to see Vilas or enjoy their presence, he must, if he is not 

 gifted with the second-sight, put on his clothes wrong-side out. 

 Children born on Tuesday or Sunday have the second-sight ; but 

 the Vilas never show themselves to children born on Friday or 

 to red-haired men. Really faithful and Vila-fearing men care- 

 fully avoid speaking their name. They say "she," "that one/' 

 or, in case of more than one — two, for example — " those two." 



The Vilas are supposed to be voluptuous creatures, and to lead 

 lives that would not be regarded, according to our views, as moral. 

 They bear only female children, which take after the mother. 

 Whoever has enjoyed their favors can never afterward love a 



