486 REPORT— 1897. 



580. Kirkmaiden. — The one that cut ' the Hare ' at times got five 

 shillings. 



581. Whisky was given to all the workers when ' the Hare ' was cut. 



582. ' The Hare ' was commonly placed over the kitchen door. 



583. ' The Hare ' was often kept over the ' door-head ' till the following 

 harvest. (Informant eighty-one years of age.) 



584. Portlogan. — ' The Hare ' was kept by some as long as it would 

 hang together. 



585. Kirkmaiden. — When ' the Hare ' was cut, no more work was done 

 that day. 



586. About forty years ago, some had the custom of hanging up ' the 

 Maiden ' in the best room of the house. 



587. Balmaghie, Girthon, Kells, Dairy, Cor sock. — * The Hare ' is called 

 ' the Kirn.' 



588. Balmaghie. — ' The Kirn ' was placed over the kitchen door, and 

 the Christian name of the first man that entered would be the name of 

 the husband of the byre-woman, and the Christian name of the first woman 

 that entered would be that of the wife of the ' pint rig man.' 



589. Dairy. — A fancy ' Kirn ' was made, decked up, fixed to the 

 wall of one of the apartments, and kept till the following year. 



590. Kells. — In cutting the ' Kirn,' it was the aim of the reapers to 

 cut it below the plaiting of the ears of grain. The one that cut it carried 

 it home. 



591. Corsock. — When scythes came into use, the 'Kirn 'was cut by 

 the reaper blindfolded. The quantity of grain left for it was divided into 

 three, plaited, and the ears twisted together. The one that was to cut it 

 was blindfolded, and led to a distance from it. He then set out to find 

 it and cut it. 



592. Laurieston. — A small quantity of grain was left for the ' Kirn.' 

 Each reaper got a chance of cutting it. Blindfolded, he or she was led 

 some distance from it, and then sickle in hand proceeded to find it out 

 and cut it. When it was cut, a cheer was commonly raised. It was carried 

 home. 



593. Kirkmaiden, Balmaghie, Kells, Kirkmaiden. — There is a feast after 

 harvest, which is called ' the Kirn.' 



594. Balmaghie, Kirkmaiden. — ' The Kirn ' is sometimes given after 

 all the crop has been secured in the stackyard. 



595. Kirkmaiden, — ' The Kirn ' is at times given when the crop is 

 all cut. 



596. Laurieston. — The sheaf last cut was finely plaited and twisted. 

 A branch of rowan tree with the berries was generally tied into the 

 middle of it as a protection against witches. This was laid on the table 

 at the ' Kirn ' feast. After the feast was finished, dancing was begun 

 either in the barn or granary. 



597. Kirhnaiden. — A dish at the 'Kirn' feast is 'beetlet praties' 

 (mashed potatoes), which are always stirred in the form of the figure 8 in 

 being made ready. Into this dish were put a ring, a thimble, and a button. 

 The ring signified marriage. The one that got the ring ' slept on it ' that 

 night. 



598. Corsock. — Dirty water of various kinds used to be thrown over 

 the one that brought the last load of grain from the field into the stack- 

 yard. This custom at times led to rough action in retaliation against 



