= —— SS re a a SS SS a ee 
ON THE ETHNOGRAPHICAL SURVEY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. 623 
123. Jnch.—When one saw the new moon for the first time, the hat or 
whatever was worn on the head was lifted. 
124. Inch.—The money in the pocket must be turned the first time the 
new moon is seen. 
125. Mochrum.—Human hair was never burned. Burning the hair 
made one cross. It was twisted up, and put commonly on the ‘wa’ head,’ 
but at times into crevices of the walls of the dwelling-houses. My in- 
formant has seen tufts of human hair in holes of the walls of old un- 
inhabited houses. 
126. Mochruwm.—If one puts an indignity on a good spring-well, he 
(she) will not do well in after-life. 
The ‘Hare.’ 
127. Mochrum. — Notwithstanding the introduction of reaping ma- 
chines, the ‘ hare’ is still cut in the old fashion. Here is the mode of 
cutting it. A small quantity is left to form the ‘hare.’ It is divided 
into three parts and plaited, and the ears are tied into a knot. The 
reapers then retire the distance of a few yards, and each throws his or 
her ‘heuk,’ 7.e. hook, in turn, and tries to hit and cut down the ‘hare.’ 
It must be cut below the grain-knot, and the reapers continue to throw 
their hooks in regular succession till one is skilful enough to cut it below 
the knot. This one is said to be the ‘best han’, and receives as reward 
double the quantity of whisky the others receive. The ‘hare’ is carried 
home and given to the female servant in the kitchen, who places it over 
the kitchen-door inside. The christian name of the first male that 
enters the kitchen is the christian name of her future husband. If there 
are several female servants, each in turn, as agreed, gets her chance. 
The ‘hare’ is allowed to hang for a considerable length of time in the 
piace where it is first laid. 
128. Minnigaffi—The ‘hare’ was often kept till the following 
harvest. 
129. Minnigaff—The one that cut the ‘hare’ carried it home and 
placed it over the kitchen door, and the kitchenmaid had to kiss the first 
man or boy that entered. 
130. Inch.—When the ‘hare’ was cut, there was great cheering. It 
was carried home and placed over the kitchen door. The goodwife had 
to kiss the first male that entered. 
131. Minnigafi—When the ‘hare’ was cut the unmarried reapers 
ran with all speed home, and the one that reached it first was the first to 
be married. 
132. Mochrwm.—In reaping grain during the time of harvest a reaper, 
if a capable reaper, was set to reap ‘a rigg.’ The first ‘rigg’ was called 
the ‘pint,’ z.e. point, and the one that reaped was named the ‘ pintsman.’ 
The last ‘ rigg’ of those occupied by a set of reapers was called the ‘heel,’ 
and the reaper bore thesame name. Incutting the ‘hare’ the ‘ pintsman ’ 
was the first to throw the ‘heuk,’ and then each reaper threw in succes- 
sion till it came to the ‘heel,’ if it had not been cut before. If not cut 
the first round, the same mode was followed till it was cut. 
133. Mochrwm.—The ‘ Winter,’ z.e. the one that took the last load of 
grain to the stackyard, was treated in a somewhat rough manner. Some 
one of his fellow-servants watched for him to dash over him a quantity of 
dirty water, and the dirtier so much the better. To avoid such a bath he 
