4'64 REPORT— 1897. 



erection. The common explanation of these fatalities was that the owner 

 ■of the house had gained his fortune by unjust means. 



249. Kenmure Castle, in the parish of Kells, was planned to be built 

 on an island in Loch Ken, and a quantity of stones was laid down for its 

 building. During one night before the work was begun, they were all 

 (taken away and laid down on the site the Castle now holds. (Told in 

 Balmodellan.) 



250. In a holm on the river Ken near Kenmure Castle there is a 

 large block of stone. It was thrown from Cairne Edward by the devil to 

 destroy Kenmure Castle. He put too much force into his cast, and the 

 rock went over the Castle and fell on the holm beyond it. 



251. Rerrick. — When the old church of Rerrick was being taken 

 ■down, the aunt of the wife of the man that had contracted to do so 

 remonstrated with her for allowing him to undertake the work. He or 

 another of the workmen, she said, would be killed. A beam fell upon 

 him and injured him. 



252. Kirkmaiden. — In flitting into a house that has been left vacant 

 fey another, no one enters it without first casting into it a living creature, 

 <;ommonly a cat or a hen. If ' ill has been left on the house,' it falls on 

 the animal that is thrown into it. It dies, and the lives of those that 

 are to dwell in the house are spared. 



253. A family at Aachliach, when removing, bore a grudge against 

 those that were to occupy the house after them. They swept the hearth 

 and the house clean, and put on 'a stone fire.' Something had been for- 

 j^otten in the house, and a daughter returned to fetch it. The ■' ill that 

 hdid been left on the house ' fell on her. She became a cripple, and for 

 inany years was able to walk only on crutches. 



254. Eerrick. — In going into a house from which another person or 

 iamily has removed, it was usual to cast into the house a living creature, 

 .as a cat or hen, before any of the family entered. 



255. If one, on leaving a house, had a grudge against those that were 

 to live in it, the house was swept clean and a fire of stones and green 

 thorn was placed on the hearth. 



256. A family of the name of Burnet went into a house at Holehouse, 

 from which had gone out another family that bore an ill-will against the 

 new tenants for putting them from the house. The fire of stone and 

 green thorn had been placed on the hearth. The usual precaution of 

 casting in a living creature had been omitted. The youngest son was 

 the first to enter the house. ' He did nae guid aifter,' i.e., he fell into 

 weak health. My informant has heard the young man's brother tell the 

 story. 



257. My informant's daughter was removing from a house. To leave 

 the house as neat as she could for those that were to occupy it after her, 

 ^3he swept the floor of the house, lifted the sweepings, and cast them out. 

 The man that was to inhabit the house was present. Seeing what she 

 did, he called out, ' Ye bitch, why did ye soop awa ma luck ? ' 



Meal. 



258. Bahnaghie. — The ' kist,' or box in which the meal is kept, is 

 ■called the ' ark ' or ' meal-ark.' 



259. Laurieston. — Said a woman aged eighty-five, ' The meal is beetlt 

 doon i' the meal-ark till it is firm an' sad.' 



