278 THE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS 



any time cured by the following kind of charm. A 

 perfon, whofe grandfather, or great grandfather, has 

 eaten the flelh of an eagle, is to fpit on the part 

 affected, and rub it for a little while with his fingers. 

 This is efteemed an infallible remedy. A maid-fer- 

 vant of a gentleman of my acquaintance who refides 

 in Caernarvonfhire, declared, in my hearing, that 

 fhe had been cured of this complaint by an old man 

 whofe grandfather had eaten of an eagle. She faid 

 that he at the fame time ufed fome words, to aid 

 the charm, which fhe could not comprehend. 



It is an opinion very prevalent within the diocefe 

 of St. David's in Pembrokefhire, that a fhort time 

 previous to the death of a perfon, a light is fome- 

 times feen to proceed from the houfe, and even from 

 the bed, and to purfue its way to the church where 

 the body is to be interred, precifely in the fame 

 track that the funeral will afterv/ards follow. This 

 light is call canwyll corph, or " the corpfe candle." 



A ftrange cuftom prevails in fome obfcure parts 

 of North Wales, which, however, the clergy have 

 now almofl abolifhed. This is termed the " offer- 

 ing of an enemy." When a perfon fuppofes himfelf 

 highly injured by any one, he repairs to fome church 

 dedicated to a celebrated faint, or one who is be- 

 lieved to have great power over the affairs of men ; 

 here kiieeling on his bare knees before the altar, 

 and offering a piece of money to the faint, he utters 



the 



