ON THE ETHXOGRAPHICAL SURVEY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. 467 



common harassed a bull were asked for alms by a tramp. Each gave 

 him a little. The tramp turned from his begging, entered into some sort 

 of business, and made a fortune, and so became a ' man.' 



295. Another explanation, differing in some respects from this, was 

 communicated by a tailor. 



296. Kirkmaiden. — When an apprentice gardener completed his 

 apprenticeship, his companions gave him a ball called the ' lowsan ball.' 



297. Dundrennan, Parish of Rerrick. — Weavers did not weave on 

 New Year's Day. 



The Clergy. 



298. Borgue. — It is unlucky to speak ill of a minister. 



299. Balmaghie. — It is unlucky to speak ill of a minister, or to do him 

 any harm. Once a few men would play a trick on a minister, and they 

 contrived to induce him to take strong drink till he was overcome. This 

 act caused a scandal, and the minister was charged with drunkenness 

 before the Presbytery by libel. The men that had been the cause of his 

 slip were summoned as witnesses. All of them were ill and confined to 

 bed when the trial came on, so that not one of them was able to appear at 

 the court to give evidence. 



300. ' Nae boddie it conters a minister comes t' a guid en'.' 



301. ' Ministers are black craws t' sheet at.' 



302. ' Hae ye a dog, Maister Reid 1 ' asked a man one day of Mr. Reid. 

 ' No. Why do you ask ? ' 



' It's an aul story here, the minister's dog aye barks at them it dinna 

 come aften t' the kirk.' 



303. Xells. — ' It is unlucky t' middle wi' craws an' ministers.' 



Cattle. 



304. Dairy. — In spring the cattle of a farm used to be bled. Part 

 of the blood was baked into a kind of bread (oaten) called 'bleed 

 scones.' 



305. Kirkmaiden. — About sixty years ago all the cattle were bled in 

 spring. The blood was preserved, and cooked as food. A little was 

 mixed with it. 



306. Balmaghie, Crossmichael. — A stone Avhorl or 'bort stone' is 

 placed by some over the byre door inside, to keep off witches. 



307. Crossmichael. — Cattle were rubbed over with a ' bort stone ' to 

 ward off disease. 



308. FenningJiame. — A ' holt stone,' i.e., a stone with a natural hole 

 or cavity in it, or ' bort stone,' i.e., a stone whorl, was kept in the water- 

 ing trough of the cattle. Sometimes the guidwife took a besom, whisked 

 it round and round the trough, and then sprinkled some of the water over 

 the cattle as they stood round the trough. 



309. In the cattle- watering-trough on the farm of Garchew, in the 

 parish of Penninghame, a 'holt stone ' was kept for the protection and 

 luck of the cattle. It was called ' Old Nanny's mother's trough stane.' 

 Old Nanny Wilson died about 1891, at the age of ninety years. 



310. Corsock. — Sometimes the nose of a cow, stot, or calf will swell. 

 The animal is said to be ' weasel-blawn.' It is supposed the swelling is 

 caused by the bite of an adder. If there are any feathers in the house, 

 they are taken and placed under the animal's nose, and set on fire. The 



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