Curious Customs and Beliefs 355 



practised at the time the honeycombs are taken from the 

 hives. 



Then the bee-father sends honey as a gift to his neigh- 

 bor, for the bees have collected their sweets in part from 

 the neighbor's flowers. If this poetic act of justice is 

 omitted the bee-father is punished by a poor honey-harvest 

 the next season. 



Sick bees and empty combs are also the punishment of 

 that unworthy bee-father who refuses honey to the sick, 

 while he who withholds honey from children sins against 

 Mary the mother, and Joseph the foster-father of the child 

 Jesus. 



The idea of purity in connection with the bee extended 

 to its keepers, and Moffett only expresses the opinions of 

 the ancients when he says, — 



" Furthermore, to keep these good pay-masters, and 

 to make them in love with you, you must remove from 

 their Hives mouthes, unlucky, mischievous, and deceit- 

 ful people, and idle persons that have nothing to do, 

 causing them to stand further off." All unclean people, 

 odors and objects were considered obnoxious to the bees, 

 and the superstition still lingers in some places, so that 

 when the bee-father is about to remove the combs he 

 must first clean and purify his own body. He must for 

 several days refrain from strong-smelling food, as salt meat, 

 sea fish, onions and garlic. He must use no salves and 

 drink no intoxicant. 



It is also unwise to wear a red garment when going to the 

 bees, as it is said they will think you a " murtherer or man 

 of blood," and in some places it is said that bees will sting 

 any red-haired person who comes near the hives. 



No doubt the bees learn to know — and may it not be 

 to feel a regard for — their human companions. The close 

 relation between the master and his bees has not escaped 



