SLAVONIAN FAIRIES. 687 



returned to the orchard and lay down under a plum-tree. Grand- 

 father fell into a sleep, and it took him by the hair and began to 

 beat his head against the tree. We jumped up forthwith and 

 ran into the cellar." 



The truest and firmest friendships for mutual help in peace or 

 suffering are concluded among the South-Slavic peasantry by the 

 confirmation of an elect brotherhood or sisterhood. Obviously a 

 connection of that kind with such powerful beings as the Vilas 

 must be considered exceedingly precious. In the sagas and heroic 

 songs of the people every great champion has a sworn sister among 

 them. How such privileges are obtained was as unknown to me 

 as to every other writer on the subject, for the people, if they 

 know, will not willingly give up such a secret to every ques- 

 tioner ; but Mother Eve, of Pleternica, who keeps all these tradi- 

 tions of the past living in her mind down to the present day, told 

 it all to me. The fact that it is so fresh in her recollection is evi- 

 dence that the cult still exists. The time of the telling was Feb- 

 ruary 28, 1888. 



If a person wishes to contract this relationship, he must take 

 a horse's hoof, a piece of skin cut from under the hoof, and two 

 or three hairs from the mane, the tail, and the head of the horse. 

 He must also take a new broom that has never been swept with, 

 and the price of which he has not beaten down in buying, and 

 must provide himself with some horse-dung. Then, on the first 

 Sunday in the new moon, he must go into the yard, sweep a circle 

 around himself, and in the middle of the circle put the hoof and 

 the other things he has taken from the horse, and, standing with 

 the right foot on the hoof, with both hands brought together by 

 the palms, call three times between the hands, three times turn 

 around with the hoof, and utter the formula : " Sister Vila ! I 

 seek you over nine fields, nine meadows, nine brooks, nine woods, 

 nine hills, nine mountain-peaks, nine ruined towers ! Come to me 

 and let me swear brotherhood with you ! " 



When the Vila appears, the person performing the conjuration 

 says : " Sister Vila ! I have found you now, and am your chosen 

 brother ! " 



The conjuring person again blows three times through his 

 closed hands and continues: "Sister Vila! give me your help 

 whenever I call upon you, and help those whom I would help." 



He must next name the person whom he holds dearest in life : 

 if a man, the maiden of his choice ; if a woman, the man. After 

 which he adds : " Sister Vila ! I conjure you by the living God 

 and the sister Vilas that I may have what is mine from the 

 beginning of the world." The rising sun is meant by " the liv- 

 ing God." 



By contracting this relationship one may assure himself of 



