ADDENDA. 



HAVING noticed several Wells, from p. [170] to [174,] which were 

 in former times remarkable in this county, for their medicinal pro- 

 perties, and being holy ; we insert the following extract from Mr. 

 W. S. Mason's Statistical Account or Parochial Survey of Ireland, 

 (vol. 1. p. 328.) with a view of illustrating in some degree the su- 

 perstitious devotion called "well-worship," p. 174. It affords some 

 details of the rites observed on such occasions which might not 

 be generally known, and may afford some amusement to the reader. 

 It occurs, in the statistical account of the parish of Dungiven, in 

 the diocese of Derry, and county of Londonderry, which was com- 

 municated by the Rev. Alexander Ross, rector. 



" The only Saint particularly respected in this parish is St. 

 Patrick; every remain of antiquity, as the church, the upright 

 stone, &c. is ascribed to him as its author. 



" There is a fine spring well, between the town and the old 

 church, called Tubber-Patrick, which is the object of peculiar vene- 

 ration. The absurd and superstitious ceremonies which are here 

 practised to this day, would scarcely be credited without ocular 

 testimony. Early almost every Sunday morning, from Patrick's- 

 day until about Michaelmas, a number of devotees surround this 

 well, and after bowing towards it with great reverence, walk round 

 it a certain number of times, repeating, during their progress, a 

 stated measure of prayer, they then wash their hands and feet with 

 the water, and tear off a small rag from their cloaths, which they 

 tie on a bush overhanging the well from thence they all proceed to 

 a large stone in the river Roe, immediately below the old church, 

 and having performed an ablution, they walk round the stone, bow- 

 ing to it, and repeating prayers as at the well. Their next move- 

 ment is to the old church, within which a similar ceremony goes on, 

 and they finish this rite, by a procession and prayer round the up- 

 right stone already described. 



" How strange that this idolatrous monument of Odin, should 

 still be substituted for the pure sanctuary and spiritual worship of 

 the living Jehovah." 



The writer adds, by way of note, that something of the kind, in 

 regard to bowing to the stone, is alluded to by the prophet Isaiah 

 (ch. 57. v. 6.) and that it is some consolation to observe, that the 

 dislike to these ceremonies is not confined entirely to Protestants. 





