466 REPORT— 1897. 



281. "When the apprenticeship was finished, there was 'the prentice 

 lowsan' — i.e., there was a feast, a 'high ' tea with a little drinking of 

 whisky. A dance completed the festivity. What money was left over 

 was given to the young man to help him to make a start in life. Till 

 lately this was quite a common custom. 



282. Shoemakers were, at one time, in the habit of going to the 

 houses of their customers to exercise their calling. This was called ' tc 

 boag.' 





283. The higher that a plum-tree grows. 

 The richer grows the plum ; 



The harder that a poor snob works, 

 The broader grows the thum'. 



(All told by a shoemaker.) 



284. Dimdrennan. — It was the custom, when a shoemaker finished 

 his apprenticeship, for his companions and friends to give a ball. It was 

 called ' the lousin ball.' My informant has seen such balls. 



285. Balmaghie. — Saddlers were, at one time, in the habit of going to 

 the houses of their customers to do their work. 



286. Portlogan. — A bottle of whisky was always carried to the smithy 

 when a horse was to receive his first set of shoes. 



287. Eirkmaiden. — -A bottle of whisky was given to the blacksmith 

 when he put on the first set of shoes of a young horse. Part was drunk 

 when the first nail was driven. 



288. Mochrum. — When a young horse was brought to the smithy to 

 be shod for the first time, the blacksmith, before driving the first nail, 

 ' sounded ' the foot by striking it with the hammer. 



289. Portlogan. — In welding two pieces of iron, if they 'misst the 

 heat,' and did not weld, some barley-straw was got, laid on the ground 

 round the ' studdy,' and burned. The two pieces of iron were again laid 

 in the fire to ' tack the heat again ' for welding. My informant has seen 

 this done. 



290. No regular blacksmith could be induced to make the nails for the 

 crucifixion of our Saviour. A travelling blacksmith did so. The tinkers 

 have wandered ever since. (Communicated chiefly by two blacksmiths.) 



291. Corsock. — It was the custom to drink whisky on the occasion of a 

 young horse getting the first set of shoes. If the first nail driven went 

 straight, the blacksmith used to say : ' The whisky's win.' If the nail 

 did not go straight, it was thought the blacksmith had not fairly won his 

 ' dram,' for it might be refused. Though the custom has, for the most 

 part, been given up, the blacksmith will sometimes say when he drives 

 the first nail straight : ' The whisky's win.' 



292. Girthon. — When an apprentice blacksmith finished his appren- 

 ticeship, his companions and friends sometimes gave a ball, called 'the 

 lousin ball.' The apprentice gave no money for its expenses, and if there 

 was any money ovei-, after paying the expenses, it was given to the 

 apprentice. 



293. Mochrum. — When a toast is proposed to a carpenter, a form of 

 words : — 



' Here's to pottie, paint, and glue.' 



294. Portivilliam. — It takes nine tailors and a bull-dog to make a 

 man. Here is one explanation of the saying. Nine tailors that in 



