a 
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ON THE ETHNOGRAPHICAL SURVEY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. 615 
the thumbs are stuck into the palms, with the fingers pressed tightly over 
them. 
11. Whithorn.—A thorn-bush or tree would not be cut down. It is 
believed to be a protection against witches. 
12. Mochrum.—aA piece of ‘will-grown’ rowan tree about ten inches 
long used to be kept in the byre, on the ‘wa’-head’ over the door, with 
which each calf was rubbed when it fell from the cow. This act kept off 
the witches. My informant, a farmer, had such a piece in his byre not 
over six months ago. 
13. Inch.—When a cow calved, a piece of rowan tree about two inches 
long was tied to her tail. My informant has seen this done. 
14. Minnigaffi—Some goodwives keep a small rod of rowan tree in the 
milk-house wherewith to stir the cream in the ‘crock.’ This keeps the 
witches’ power at a distance. 
15. Minnigaff.—My informant has heard of those that carried a piece 
of rowan tree in their pocket to protect themselves from the power of the 
witch. 
16. Mochrum.—A piece of the bark of the rowan tree was carried by 
some to ward off the power of witches. 
17. Minnigaff.—To find out who was to be her husband, the young 
woman took an apple in one hand and a lighted candle in the other on Hal- 
loween, and placed herself in front of a mirror, and then ate the apple 
in the name of ‘Uncle Geordie,’ z.e. the devil. The face of the future 
husband appeared in the mirror when the last mouthful was eaten. My 
informant once went through this incantation, but when she came to the 
last bit she turned and fled in fright lest ‘Uncle Geordie’ should make 
his appearance. 
18. Mochrum.—If an unmarried woman takes one of her shirts and goes 
to a stream, well, or loch where three lairds’ lands meet, washes it in the 
water, returns home, hangs it in front of the fire, goes to bed, and lies 
Sia she will see her future husband come and turn the article of 
ress. 
19. Mochrwm.—When an unmarried woman sees the new moon for the 
first time, if she lifts her foot and examines the sole of her shoe she will 
find a hair of the colour of her future husband’s hair. 
20. Galloway (General).—Friday is the common day for celebrating 
marriage. 
21. Inch.—A marriage party always carried bread and cheese, with 
whisky. The first person met, no matter of what rank, must eat and 
drink. A story is told of the Lord Stair (John Dalrymple), who died in 
1821, that a marriage party at one time met him, and as a matter of 
course asked him to partake of bread and cheese with a glass of whisky. 
He refused, but wished the two all happiness, and in token of his good 
will made a present of a sovereign to the couple. 
22. Inch.—When the bride was brought home a ‘farle o’ bread’ was 
broken over her head. 
23. Mochrum.—tThe bride was welcomed to her own house by the bride- 
groom’s mother, if she was living. 
24. Mochrum.—tThe ‘best man’ and the ‘best woman’ attended the 
newly married pair to church the Sunday after the marriage —the ‘ kirkan.’ 
25. Mochrum.—Tuesday was at one time (about thirty-five or forty 
years ago) the chief day for celebrating marriages. Few marriages took 
place on Friday. Now Friday is the chief day. 
