Browne — Ethnography of Carna and Mtveenish, Connemara. 527 



omens and portents, and large numbers of actions are unlucky, such, as 

 meeting a red-haired woman on going out in the morning, &c. It is 

 believed that the spirit of the person last buried in a graveyard has to 

 watch until the next funeral, and in consequence of this belief serious 

 quarrels have occui-red in past years when two funerals met at Moyruss 

 graveyard. Boats passing St. MacDara's Island lower sail in salute, 

 and it is believed that some misfortune would occur to someone in the 

 boat if this were not done. 



Ghosts are fully believed in by many, and tales are told of several 

 supposed to be seen in the district. These apparations are not always 

 human, as a spectral horse and a black dog are both believed to haunt 

 some spots. Two of the ghost stories of this parish relate to the 

 R. I. C, two members of this force who met with untimely ends 

 being said to revisit the scenes of their deaths. In one case the 

 spectral policeman appeared on Lough Skannive in a boat which was 

 seen to sink with him. In the other case the ghost was said to have 

 been seen in the police barrack. 



Fairies are believed in by most of the people, and the usual story 

 as to their being fallen angels told as to their origin. They are believed 

 to play many mischievous and spiteful tricks, to cause diseases in 

 cattle, and to change infants, who are consequently carefully guarded 

 against this evil. The old belief referred to by O'Flaherty anent the 

 connexion between people of the name of Conneely and seals is still iu 

 existence in this neighbourhood. 



The people at Mace are said to have a vague sort of belief in 

 mermen and mermaids. 



2. Cliarms and Leechcraft. — Charms are believed in and practised 

 for the relief of many minor ailments, but beyond the fact that they 

 are used little information could be got except that " head measuring" 

 for a headache is practised here as well as in the other districts 

 reported on. There is said to be an old woman in Kilkerrin who treats 

 disease and '' evil influences" by these means. "We met one instance 

 of the "cashlaun" fishing spell, described in a former paper (Plate 

 xxrri., fig. 2). 



Spittle, especially ''fasting spittle," is believed in as an application 

 to injured parts. 



A good many herbal remedies are still in use. 



3. Legends and Traditions. — Many ancient legends and traditions 

 are still held in memory by the older folk, but of these we were not 

 able to get any except a couple of minor examples. 



In the neighbourhood of Ard the memory of the chief Teige na 



E.I.A. PEOC, SER. m., VOL. VI. 2 Q 



