SUPERSTITIONS. 191 



social rank, are more intelligent and better informed 

 than themselves. 



In the pastoral valleys, the trouble occurs now 



and then that the milk will not churn. Elsewhere, 



the causes of this are understood, and 



TIwexstitioJs cow anc l m ilk are treated accordingly. 

 Not so here. The cow is at once con- 

 cluded to be bewitched ; and it is apprehended that 

 she will spread the witchery to the whole dairy. 

 So, instead of any sensible method, the remedy 

 tried is depositing in the cow-house some soil from 

 the nearest church-yard. As it is probable that 

 this fails, time is lost in other proceedings. Stir- 

 ring with a stick from the rowan-tree is one of the 

 least troublesome. If the cows are distempered, it 

 is actually a practice in many of the dales to light 

 "the Need fire;" notice being given throughout 

 the neighbouring valleys, that the charm may be 

 sent for if wanted. Ihe Need-fire is produced by 

 rubbing two sticks together. A great pile of com- 

 bustible stuff is prepared ; and the more smoke it 

 can be made to give the better. When lighted, the 

 neighbours snatch some of the fire to hurry home 

 with, and light their respective piles. The cattle, 

 diseased and sound are then driven through the 

 fire : as some of the Irish, by a remnant of pagan- 

 ism, charm their property, and even their children, 

 by passing or snatching them through the fire, 

 making strangers ask whether Moloch is acknow- 

 ledged there still. It is said, in a certain Cumber- 

 land dale, that when a farmer had driven all his 

 live property through, he proceeded to drive his 

 wife after the cows, saying he should then be safe 

 from all distempers. If a cock crows in the night, 



