ON THE ETHNOGRAPHICAL SURVEY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. 487 



the one that threw the water. My informants have seen this custom 

 carried out. 



.599. Kirkviaiden. — Wjomen and boys were always lurking about 

 corners with pails of water to throw over the one that brought from the 

 field the last load of grain into the stackyard. 



600. If whisky had not been given to the reapers when ' the Hare ' was 

 cut, the one that took the last load of grain into the stackyard objected to 

 the throwing of water on entering it. 



Fishing and Bathing. 



601. Kirhnaiden. — Fishermen in turning their boats always do so 

 sunwise. 



602. Fishermen account it unlucky to take a lythe (a species of cod) 

 for the first fish into the boat. 



603. Fishermen put a few white stones into their boats to secure luck. 

 604 Mochrum. — Bathing in the sea is done when the tide is ebbing. 



It is believed that, if there is any disease, the rising tide brings it in, and 

 one bathing at that time may catch it. 



Lead-miners^ Customs and Supe7'stitions at Minnigaff. 



Omens. 



605. Miners count it unlucky to meet a woman as ' first fit ' when 

 they set out to work in the mine. 



606 . Meeting one with black hair, whether man or woman, is accounted 

 lucky. 



607. Before an accident took place, noises of various kinds were heard. 

 Sometimes the noises resembled the voices of men speaking, sometimes like 

 the sound of the miners ' travellin' the laither,' i e., going up and down the 

 ladder, and sometimes knocks were heard on the 'lock.' 



608. Certain among the miners were looked upon as carrying ill-luck 

 with them. If such a one, when a lode of lead was found, made his 

 appearance in the section, the lode gave out in a short time. 



609. There was no whistling in the mine. J. Moffat, a miner, whistled 

 one day. Not long after a stone fell on him and killed him. 



610. It was believed that no metal would be got if there was any 

 profane swearing. An oath or profane word of any kind was therefore 

 seldom heard in the mine. 



611. It was usual for the miners to sing to bring luck. They sang 

 «ither songs, hymns, or psalms. 



612. Some men wei-e accounted more lucky than others in finding 

 metal. 



613. Some men would not work for months near a spot where one 

 had been killed. 



Custoins. 



614. In sinking a shaft, when ore was struck, a barrel of beer was 

 given by the mine-owners. It was drunk on the spot. 



615. Every time a ' bunch ' of ore was come upon, a barrel of beer 

 was consumed. 



616. The mine was divided into sections, and these were divided by 

 lot among the different companies that wrought in the mine. At the 

 head of each company was a foreman called the ' bargain-tacker.' He 



