106 COW 



a sick animal, lying down. Tlien, in such case, getting astride of 

 the prostrate beast, the "man of faith," or du'm colach, he may be 

 any man, so long as he can allege strong " faith " productive of 

 " works," bumps up and down solemnly and sedately a certain 

 number of times, taking a bite or a sup at intervals, repeating this 

 very simple saying — 



Greim agus glug, greim agus glug. 

 Ma bhios tu beo 's math 's mar a bi 

 Leigear dhuit — Greim agus glug. 



The late Rev. Mr Campbell, Tiree, corroborated the above as being 

 practised there. His version is somewhat similar, viz., " Greim is 

 glug, mis' air do mhuin," etc. The rhyme Mr Campbell specifies 

 has to be repeated nine times, taking a bite and a sup at intervals. 

 Mr Camj)bell had it from a bard, John Maclean, Tiree. For the 

 benefit of the uninitiated, we give the English of the foregoing, 

 as follows : — 



A bite and a gulp, a bite and a gulp, 



'Tis well if you live, we'll allow you, if not. 



A charm was also in use against colic (tairbhean), a surfeit 

 from over eating, but which w^as attributed to a male or female 

 worm incubating in the skin and causing the swelling and pain. 



The following words were repeated, along with some other 

 ceremonial observance it is thought : — 



A mharbhadh fiolan fionn, 

 A mharbhadh fiolan donn, 

 A mharbhadh beisd do leann, 

 A mharbhadh an tairbhein. 



Fealan is supposed also to mean a rush or eruption on the skin 

 of either an animal or person. 



In Ireland a cure for this, or similar unknown " trouble," and 

 which is attributed to the animal being shot by a fairy or elfin 

 arrow, or, as expressed in Irish Gaelic, ta si caile, she is wasted or 

 diseased, is told in " Peasant Lore from Gaelic Ireland." After the 

 " cure " a notch is made in the animal's ear to draw ])lood, and this, if 

 often repeated, tells against its sale as it shows it has been ill more 

 than once — see as to "murrain." In Scotland, as is well known, 

 cuts or notches are made in the ears of cows and sheep as "marks" 

 for identification, comharradh-cluaise. On St John's Eve milch cows 

 in Ireland are driven close past a small fire, lit near the byre, as 

 a protection against witchcraft, etc. ; and all animals dedicated to 

 St Martin must be killed on St Martin's Eve ; they should never 

 be sold, and are sometimes given away. The killing of the " mart- 

 geamhraidh " should take place invariably during the increase of{ 

 the moon, so as to ensure the preservation of the flesh. One 



