570 



Gnostics, which was, " that malevolent genii presided in 

 nature, and occasioned diseases and calamities, wars, and 

 desolations; induced them to apply themselves to the study 

 of magic, in order to weaken the powers, or suspend the in- 

 fluence, of these malignant agents." This doctrine of their's 

 was, no doubt, extended and carried out fully in every mode 

 and form, and led them to consider themselves, and all things 

 living on the earth, to be under the influence and subject to 

 the evils caused by the instrumentality of these evil genii, who, 

 in some cases, attached themselves to individuals, who were 

 then said to have the evil eye, or who became afflicted with 

 what is termed " covetousness," which blasted everything 

 which they desired, and made it unlucky; and its possessor 

 was shunned and avoided, as he was subject to that malign 

 influence which is technically termed the " evil eye." This 

 influence was greatly dreaded by the living, for themselves, 

 their children, cattle, and goods, and their houses ; and in 

 many places, even now, people put up over their doors, over 

 their hearths, and in many other places, talismans, to give 

 them good luck, or to take away or neutralize the evil look, 

 which brings them bad luck, by averting the evil eye, also con- 

 sidered to be a distinct individuality, or genius. The term 

 •' good look," or " luck," is incorporated into the English lan- 

 guage, though the belief of the evil eye is nearly lost in Eng- 

 land, where it was universal. It still exists in Scotland, and 

 we find it also in Ireland, where various methods are still 

 practised to avert its influence from children, cattle, churns 

 of milk, houses, &c. 



One of the most efficacious is the horse shoe, which is 

 called " the lucky horse-shoe" for this reason, and it is 

 nailed to doors and gateways for luck, by people who have no 

 notion that they are, probably, putting up equivalents for 

 those hideous figures which the people call shela-na-gigs, 

 one of which was lately discovered at Kiltynan Castle, by 



