648 BEPOET — 1893. 



2. Current Traditions and Beliefs. 



FOLKLOEE. 



Every item of folklore should be collected, consisting of customs, 

 traditions, superstitions, sayings of the people, games, and any supersti- 

 tions connected with special days, marriages, births, deaths, cultivation of 

 the land, election of local officers, or other events. Each item should 

 be written legibly on a separate piece of paper, and the name, occupa- 

 tion, and age of the person from whom the information is obtained 

 should in all cases be carefully recorded. If a custom or tradition relates 

 to a particular place or object, especially if it relates to a curious natural 

 feature of the district, or to an ancient monument or camp, some infor- 

 mation should be given about such place or monument. Sometimes a 

 custom, tradition, or superstition may relate to a particular family or 

 group of persons, and not generally to the whole population ; and in 

 this case care should be exercised in giving necessary particulars. Any 

 objects which are used for local ceremonies, such as masks, ribbons, 

 coloured dresses, &c., should be described accurately, and, if possible, 

 photographed ; or might be forwarded to London, either for permanent 

 location, or to be drawn or photographed. Any superstitions that are 

 believed at one place and professedly disbelieved at another, or the exact 

 opposite believed, sliould be most carefully noted. 



The following questions are examples of the kind and direction of the 

 inquiries to be made, and are not intended to confine the inquirer to the 

 special subjects referred to in them, nor to limit the replies to categorical 

 answers. The numbers within brackets refer to the corresponding articles 

 in the 'Handbook of Folklore ' (published by Nutt, 270 Strand, London). 



(4) Relate any tradition as to the origin of mountains or as to 

 giants being entombed therein. 

 Are there ai^y traditions about giants or dwarfs in the district ? 



Relate them. 

 Is there a story about a Blinded Giant like that of Polyphemus ? 

 (13) Describe any ceremonies performed at certain times in connec- 

 tion with mountains. 

 (16) Relate any traditions or beliefs about caves. 

 (19) Are any customs performed on islands not usually inhabited ? 



Ai-e they used as burial places ? 

 (25) Describe any practices of leaving small objects, articles of dress, 



&c., at wells. 

 (29) Are there spirits of rivers or streams ? Give their names. 



(32) Describe any practices of casting small objects, articles of dress, 



&c., in the rivers. 



(33) Are running waters supposed not to allow criminals or evil 



spirits to cross them ? 

 (39) Describe any customs at the choosing of a site for building, 

 and relate any traditions as to the site or erection of any 

 building. 



(42) Is there a practice of sprinkling foundations with the blood of 



animals, a bull, or a cock ? 



(43) Does the building of a house cause the death of the builder ? 

 (48, 49, 50) Relate any traditions of the sun, moon, stars. 



