OF THE WELSH. 279 



the mofl virulent and dreadful imprecations, calling 

 down curfes and misfortunes on the offender and 

 his family even for generations to come. Some- 

 times the offended perfons repair for the fame pur- 

 pofe to fome facred well, dedicated to a faint. Mr. 

 Pennant was threatened by a man, who fancied he 

 had been injured by him, " with the vengeance of 

 St. Elian, and a journey to his well, to curfe him 

 witheffea*." 



Some of thefe wells are held in great repute for 

 the cure of difeafes ; and the faints are alfo occa- 

 fionally applied to for the recovery of (tolen goods. 

 —In the parilh of Abergeley, in Caernarvonfhire, 

 there was formerly a well dedicated to St. George, 

 who was the Welfh tutelai-y faint of horfes. All 

 thefe animals that were diftempered were brought 

 to the well, fprinkled with water, and received this 

 blelTmg : Rhad Duzu a Saint Siors arnat, " the 

 blelTmg of God and St. George be on thee." It 

 was the cuftom for thofe who kept a great number 

 of horfes, at certain times to make an offering of 

 one of them to the faint, in order to fecure his 

 bleffmg on all the reft. — If a well of any' faint was 

 near the church, the water for baptifm was always 

 fetched from thence ; and, after the ceremony, the 

 old women would frequently walh their eyes in the 

 water of the font. 



* Tour in Wales, ii. 337. 



T 4 Some 



