Bf 
Cuilawn, the persons suspected were obliged to purge themselves 
of the accusation by swearing upon it; while, with all the solem- 
nity of a religious rite, they at the same time touched it with a 
hazel wand or rod. He who refused to do this was stigmatized 
as a convicted plunderer. Women would never touch it; and, so 
great awe was this ordeal held in, that many, who would perjure 
themselves if the gospels had been presented to them, when sworn 
upon the Barnaan Cuilawn, almost invariably told the truth, even 
though it were the acknowledgment of their own guilt. The only 
instance mentioned to the contrary, is the solitary case already al- 
luded to. In order to check the progress of superstition, it was 
taken in one of these swearing excursions, about the year 1797, 
by the before mentioned Roman Catholic Vicar of the parish of 
Glankeen ; from whose successor (who is now dead many years) 
its present possessor obtained it. 
As tradition is equally silent with regard to the original use of 
the Barnaan Cuilawn and the meaning of its appellation, I take 
leave (though not without much diffidence) to offer the following, 
as my own ideas respecting its use and name. Its original use at 
near the church of Dysert O'Dea, he says, “ The Crozier of this Saint is still preserved with 
“ great care. It is called the Boughal (stick), and is of curious workmanship. It is held in such 
“veneration, that oatlis are taken on it with great solemnity, and a shilling paid for the use of 
“‘itto a poor woman, who gives it out to any person who applies for it, and it travels safely 
_ © cabin to cabin.” 
In all probability this is the Crozier, which is at present preserved in the museum of Doctor 
Tuke in Stephen’s Green, Dublin. 
Mr. Rawson, in his Survey of the county Kildare, speaking of St. Evin, who filled the Ab- 
bey of Monasterevin with monks, says, “* The consecrated bell which belonged to this Saint, 
“ called Bernan Empin, was on solemn trials sworn on, and was committed to tlie care of the 
“« M‘Egans, hereditary Chief Justices of Munster.” 
lt is worthy of observation, that Bernan is a name given also to the bell of Saint Evin, and, 
Mr. Rawson has spelled it correctly, it may come from the Anglo-saxon bepnan, to burn. 
