76 7'ransactious. 



looking ill liis direction. Turning to ascertain tlie occasion of 

 their mirtli, he was amazed to find that he had nothing but his 

 horse's halter in his hand, both horse and cart liaving been left 

 standing on the roadway about a quarter of a mile distant. This 

 devilry was clearly due to the malign influence of the warlock, 

 for he was observed engaging in some mystic incantations as the 

 carter approached the door of his dwelling. We may supplement 

 these experiences with a reminiscence of present day witchcraft. 

 The narrative is given, as far as possible, in the words of our 

 informant : — " Auld Jean D , wbose mother and grand- 

 mother afore her were baith witches, cam' in ae morning afore a 

 Moniaive fair day tae ask me tae help an' stack hay at Ciaig- 

 darroch in her place, as she wanted lae gang tae the oo-rowin' at 

 Glencrosh. My mither said ' Het ! she's far ower young ; ' and 

 I said ' I'm doost no gaun,' for, ye see, I had made up my min 

 tae gang tae the fair. Jean gaed oot o' the door gie ill-pleased like, 

 and my mither said ' She's an ill body, and ye should maybe hae 

 gaen ; ' but I doost gaed a lauch, an' thocht nae mair aboot it. 

 Well, next morning, believe me or no as ye like, I couldna lift 

 my heid, an' I had gaen tae my bed as weel as I ever felt in my 

 life. My mither said ' Oo, lassie, I think she has bewitched ye ; ' 

 an' tae tell the truth, I thocht sae mysel', for I never felt the 

 same aither afore or since. I was doost ill wi' a queerness, but 

 for the life o' me couldna tell what was wrang. Next day I was 

 a' richt again, but by that time, of coorse, I had missed the fair." 

 Happily, if the evil was a widespread one preventive or remedial 

 measures were within the reach of all. Thus, a liorse-shoe nailed 

 over the threshold was supposed to afford perfect immunity, 

 neither witch nor warlock being able to enter a dwelling where 

 this mode of protection had been adopted. By some a branch of 

 rowan tree was looked upon with equal favour, and bundles of 

 small rowan tree twigs were constantly kept suspended over tlie 

 doorway, or attached to the top of the box-bed or corner cup- 

 board. Salt was likewise considered efficacious, and when churn- 

 ing had to be done it was customary to put a handful of salt into 

 the churn together with the cream. In the event of the churn 

 getting bewitched tlirough neglect of tliis precautionary measure, 

 it was necessary to remove both the churn and its contents across 

 running water, for it was only in that way the baneful 

 spell could be neutralised, and butter induced to reward the 



