21 8 WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



wretch in appearance as ever trod the earth. The cow 

 still seemed weak, but " the charmer " spoke confi- 

 dently of her recovery. When he left the lodge and 

 turned his steps homewards, I pulled up my horse and 

 waited for him. He would rather have avoided an 

 interview, but could not. " Well, fellow, you have 

 humbugged that poor family, and persuaded them that 

 the cow will recover ? " — "I have told them truth," 

 said the charmer, coldly. — " And will your prophecy 

 prove true ? " I asked, in a tone of scornful incredulity. 

 " It will," said he ; " but, God help me I this night Pll 

 pay dearly for it .' " I looked at him — his face was 

 agonised and terror-stricken ; he crossed the fence and 

 disappeared. 



When I passed the gate-house on my return, the cow 

 was evidently convalescent ; and in a few days she was 

 perfectly well. 



I leave the solution of the mystery to the learned ; 

 for in such matters, as they say in Connaught — Neil an 

 skeil a gau maun. 



Among the human diseases ascribed to supernatural 

 causes, the jaragurta is the principal. Conjectures 

 touching its origin are numerous and contradictory, 

 and it is attributed to everything but the true cause. 

 The faragurta comes on suddenly — a general weakness 

 precedes the attack — ^the sufferer's strength is pros- 

 trated in an instant — he sinks down, and, if assistance 

 be not at hand, perishes. Many persons are lost through 

 this disease while crossing the extensive wilds around 

 us, where human relief is generally unattainable. 



The causes, to which, in popular belief, it is ascribed 

 are many. Some assert that it is brought on by treading 

 upon a poisonous plant ; others, that it is occasioned by 



