360 NETHER LOCHABER. 



lady quietly answered that the yawn was owing to an evil influence 

 at that moment at work with the child, and her spitting in its face 

 was the readiest and most effectual way of saving it from one or 

 more of the mischievous tricks which ill-natured fairies are so fond 

 of playing off on babies that are " beautiful exceedingly," and more 

 especially when they are overmuch petted and bepraised by their 

 parents and friends. The " wise woman " was at once liberally 

 supplied with the refreshments usual on such occasions, and as soon 

 as possible dismissed, care being taken the while not to offend her, 

 which might have been a serious matter for baby and all concerned. 

 It is not a little curious that although in all countries to spit at one 

 is expressive of the utmost detestation and contempt, yet in the 

 superstitions of the Lowlands of Scotland, as well as in the High- 

 lands, to spit on a person or thing, under certain conditions and 

 circumstances, is supposed to be counteractive of evil influences, 

 and therefore a highly commendable act. We have seen a woman 

 spit on the nets in a boat as it left the shore, to ensure a successful 

 fishing ; and when hand-line fishing, a man who has had little luck 

 and is getting impatient, as he baits his hook afresh, spits on it 

 before dropping it again into the sea, in the belief that good luck 

 attends the act. An old woman who has just bound up a bruised 

 or broken limb, whether of man or beast, will sometimes finish the 

 operation by spitting on the bandage. In the superstitions of most 

 countries, such involuntary and apparently causeless acts as sneezing 

 and yawning are attributed to supernatural agencies, and spitting at 

 the sneezer or yawner is still sometimes practised as a counter-charm 

 by the oldest and most learned professors of such lore, an older 

 superstition probably than the more common practice of invoking 

 the Divine blessing on the subjects in such cases. Questionable, 

 therefore, and rude as at first sight seemed the act, we assured our 

 Badenoch friend that the " wise woman," in acting as she did, meant 

 his bairn no evil or disrespect at all, but the very contrary. 



