162 TIMEHRI. 
the sun or before a fire to make it dry quicker. A 
woman must not be separated from the father of her 
child while she is suckling, or the infant will not thrive. 4 
If a hog-plum tree is growing in your neighbourhood 
and the fruit is ripe, you must not pierce a girl’s ears, or — 
the lobes will ulcerate or swell, producing those unsightly — 
abnormal growths sometimes seen in the negro. 5 
If a boy is going home late and expeéts a beating 
from his parents, he must pick up a number of stones as 
he goes along and throw them backwards over his head — 
to charm away the expeéted punishment. . 
Marriage and Love Charms.—lf you pare an orange 
in one long string and throw it backwards over the head 
it will form the initial letter of the person you are to 4 
marry. 
If you stumble in walking upstairs you will soon get ; 
married. a 
The bride must always retire first on the wedding — 
night, or the marriage will be a very unhappy one. 
turns first away from the altar will die first. 
Death.—\f two or more old witches (crows) perch — 
near the house there will soon be a death; if only onea ~ 
marriage. : 
Something falling without being touched, is anevil omen. — 
Lizards crawling about the house are a bad sign, andif 
large toads come into the doorway an enemy is at work ~ 
to injure you; to defeat the sinister design sprinkle the — 
animal with salt. 
The two pennies used to close the eyes of a corpse — 
are not to be spent: if you cannot afford to keep them, 
use two halves of limes instead of the coppers. 
