ISSy.) OOi. [Hollman. 



ules the}- were restored to their natural form. These cuiious transforma- 

 tions occurred quite frequently, and the circumstance soon attained wide- 

 spread notoriety. About the end of the third month the spell was broken 

 and everything went on as before. 



Witches may be disabled or llieir charms counteracted by securing a 

 hair from the head, wrapping it in a piece of paper, and, after placing this 

 against the trunk of a tree, tiring a silver bullet into it. 



Another countercharm to free enchanted or bewitched cattle is to place 

 fire near enough to the victim, the influence being immediately over- 

 powered, as witches are supposed to be unable to bear such close contact 

 of heat, either near their own person or the object under their influence. 

 This is illustrated in the following narrative, and the circumstance oc- 

 curred only a few years ago, according to report :* A farmer, now living 

 at Alburlis, Lehigh county, had two cows. One day an old woman, who 

 lived but a short distance away, and who was suspected of being a witch, 

 came to the house, and, during the course of conversation, asked which 

 of the cows gave the greater quantity of milk. Tiie one indicated was 

 then with calf. Upon the following day the cows were driven, as usual, 

 into the fields to pasture, but, on altempiing to drive them home, later in 

 the day, the milch cow was found lying helpless upon the ground. The 

 farmer, upon hearing of this, went into the field wilhiiis sons, to endeavor 

 to get the animal upon her feet. The sous took hold of the horns while 

 the lather grasped the tail, but all attempts to move the cow were inefiec- 

 tual. The father then directed the boys to gather some wood to make a 

 fire, wiiich was soon placed near the cow. During all this time the witch 

 was standing on the portico of the farmer's house, watching the proceed- 

 ings ; but the instant she saw that fire was to be kindled, she came for- 

 ward and inquired after the purpose of the proceedings. The farmer ac- 

 cused her of bewitching the cow, but this she denied most vigorously. 

 The witch then bade the farmer call his wife, who, upon her arrival, was 

 told to lake hold of the cow's tail while the witch went to the head. After 

 a lew caresses and the utterance of some words of endearment and en- 

 couragement, the cow rose from the ground and walked away as if noth- 

 ing had occurred. 



The following notice of the trial of witches is reproduced from the Gen 

 tkmcuis Marjaziiie,j and relates to a circumstance which transpired in 

 New Jersey, just across the Delaware river. It is probable that the trial 

 was instigated by English residents, as such prosecutions were rare among 

 the German settlers ; in fact, but one instance is known to the writer, to 

 which reference will be made furilier on. The trial above referred to is given 

 in the following words : "From Burlington, in Pensilvania, 't is advised 

 that the owners of several cattle, believing them to be bewitched, caused 

 some suspected men and w^omen to be taken up, and trials to be made for 

 detecting 'em. About three hundred people assembled near the Gover- 



* Related by the writer iu J. Am. Folk-lore, Boston and New York, i, 18S8, pp. 134, 135. 

 t January, 1731, i, p. 29. 



