KOSE TRIBE 261 



often hanging out its branches from rocky crevices of the Highlands and 

 Western Islands of Scotland. On the hills of Cheshire it is a dwarf shrub 

 rather than a tree, and may sometimes be seen there with its branches full 

 of leaves, and its stems not more than nine inches high. Its astringent bark 

 is used by tanners. 



The old notion that the Mountain Ash, or Rowan-tree, as it is called in 

 the north, was efficacious against witchcraft and the evil eye still survives in 

 the north of England and the Scottish Highlands. Pennant remarks, in his 

 "Tour of Scotland," that the farmers carefully preserve their cattle against 

 witchcraft, by placing branches of honeysuckle and Mountain Ash in their 

 cow-houses on the 2nd of May. The milkmaid of Westmoreland may often 

 be seen, even now, with a branch of this tree either in her hand, or tied to 

 her milking-pail, from a similar superstition ; and, in earlier days, crosses 

 cut out of its wood were worn about the person. In an old song, called 

 "Laidley Wood," in the "Northumberland Garland," we find a reference to 

 this : — 



"The spells were vain, the hag return'd 



To the Queen in sorrowful mood, 

 Crying that witches have no power 



Where there is Rown-tree wood." 



The words in Macbeth, "Aroint thee, witch," are thought by some com 

 mentators on Shakspere to have become gradually corrupted, and to have 

 stood oiiginally thus — 



" A Roan-tree, witch ! 



This tree has also the old names of Quicken-tree, Roddon, and Witchen-tree, 

 and is, with good reason, supposed to have been one of the Druidical sacred 

 trees. The superstitious ideas connected with it are certainly of very ancient 

 origin ; and it is very remarkable that Bishop Heber, when in Upper India, 

 saw a tree very similar to this, which was an object of reverence. When 

 this writer Avas at Boitpoor, he says, " I passed a fine tree with leaves, at a 

 little distance, so much resembling those of the Mountain Ash, that I was for 

 a moment deceived, and asked if it did not bring fruit. They said no ; but 

 that it was a very noble tree, being called the Imperial tree, for its excellent 

 properties ; that it slept all night, and wakened and was alive all day, with- 

 drawing its leaves if anyone attempted to touch them. Above all, however, 

 it was useful as a preservative against magic ; a sprig worn in the turban, or 

 suspended over the bed, was a perfect security against all spells or the evil 

 eye, insomuch that the must formidable wizard would not, if he could help 

 it, approach its shade. 'One, indeed,' they said, 'who was very renowned 

 for his power (like Loorinita in the Kehama) of killing plants and drying up 

 their sap with a look, had come to this very tree, and gazed on it intently ; 

 but,' said the old man who told me this, with an air of triumph, 'look as he 

 might, he could do the tree no harm.' " The Bishop adds, that it is very 

 remarkable to find the superstition which in England and Scotland attaches 

 to the Rowan-tree, here applied to a tree so similar. "Which nation," he 

 asks, " is in this case the imitator ? or from what common centre are all these 

 common notions derived f 



The wood of the Mountain Ash is finely grained and hard. It is used by 



