130 THROUGH RUSSIA ON A MUSTANG. 



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tion against the interference of evil spirits and witches. 



Curious ceremonies are performed in connection with 

 occupying a new house, varying somewhat in different 

 parts of Russia, but all clearly allied to the rites and 

 ceremonies of old heathen times. 



It is believed that if the builders call out the name 

 of any one whilst delivering the initiative blows of the 

 axes, the person denominated will immediately go into 

 a decline and quickly die. By-standers are particularly 

 deferential toward the builders during the preliminaries 

 of putting up a house, lest offense might be given ; and 

 the former are expected to call out the name of some 

 bird or animal, in proof that they have not maliciously 

 brought evil upon any of their neighbors. 



In many parts of Russia the foundations of the new 

 house are sprinkled with the blood of some victim 

 slaughtered for the purpose — nowadays, a fowl or young 

 kid ; but in ancient pagan times, probably a human 

 being. The head of the slaughtered fowl or animal is 

 cut off and buried under the corner of the new edifice 

 that is to be occupied by the ikons, the most vener- 

 ated part of the house. 



Another part of the new house, -to which great 

 ceremonial importance is attached, is the threshold. 

 Precautions are taken to prevent any one crossing it 

 until it has been crossed by the oldest member of the 

 family who is to occupy it, and a cross is made on it to 

 bar the ingress of witches and objectionable spirits. 

 In various provinces some venerable household god, 

 such as a small ikon, or relic of a saint, that has been 

 for a long time an heirloom of the family, is buried 

 under the threshold ; and the more superstitious of 



