48 



again, before the cream was put into the churn, A person informs 

 me that this was frequently done at Mossband. 



Another very common practice in our own neighbourhood was 

 for people to sprinkle salt on a cow's back after she had calved, to 

 keep away the witches ; also it was very common to give the 

 young calf an egg. A person I know well, had no belief in the 

 custom. On one occasion most of the household had gone to 

 market, and instructions were left with the person referred to,' that 

 when the cow calved he had to give an egg to the calf The cow 

 calved ; but instead of following the instructions of his mother, he 

 ate the egg himself; and yet, he said, the calf seemed none the 

 worse for want of the egg. This was literally "swallowing" 

 superstition. 



Lucky stones all must have seen. Few stables are without 

 them ; and they are considered a sort of general charm against the 

 combined powers of fairies and witches, and also disease. 



Charms for the cure of warts are to be found all over the 

 country. The following are sometimes used in the immediate 

 district : — " Cut an apple in two. Eat one half, and rub the warts 

 with the other ; then throw it away, and the apple and the warts 

 will decay together." " Get as many little stones as there are 

 warts on your hands, and put them into a bag. Turn your back 

 to a hedge, shut your eyes, repeat certain words, then throw the 

 bagful of stones over your shoulder." It is important that the 

 person trying this charm should not go back to the place where 

 the bag is lying, to look at it. I remember trying this cure myself, 

 and believing in its efficacy at the time, as my warts all disappeared 

 save one. 



For whooping cough there are many cures. The following 

 curious one was resorted to in Longtown only a few weeks ago. 

 Two children in English-street had the whooping cough. A pedlar 

 who happened to call heard the children cough, and advised the 

 mother to pass the children three times under a she ass. This 

 was done, the children were cured, and the ass got the credit. 



Rheumatism is another ailment that yields to charms. An old 

 man living in the neighbourhood of Westlinton was much troubled 



