278 MEETINGS. 



GUERNSEY FOLKLORE. 



(Contributed anonymously through Mr. W. Sharp.) 

 SUPERSTITIONS CONNECTED WITH NATURAL OBJECTS. 



1. — There is a rock near Fort Le Marehant on which the people 

 believe that Satan planted his foot, and as proof they point out a 

 huge footprint on it. 



2. — At Pleinrnont there is a round table (" la table des pions ") 

 where the fairies are supposed to dance. On a certain day '• les 

 pions," who had to be men of the " Court," would hold a dinner at 

 the table, and they were allowed to kiss anybody they met without 

 fear of prosecution. 



3. — On l'Ancresse Common there is a " wishing well." 



4. — A few years ago a rock in the Vale Parish, known amongst 

 the people as tw la rocque qui sonne," was unearthed by some inqui- 

 sitive people. When the stone was blown up a man was killed, and 

 the ship in which the stone was exported was wrecked on the way to 

 England. 



TREE AND PLANT SUPERSTITIONS. 



1. — It is bad luck to bring " May-flower " into a house. 



2. — If a lot of "hagues" (berries of the white thorn) grow, a 

 rough winter w T ill ensue. 



Some Guernsey people put crosses in their gardens to keep the 

 devil out, and thus secure good crops. 



ANIMAL SUPERSTITIONS. 



1 . — Magpies continually screeching near a house ; 



2. — Crows passing over a house ; 



3. — A Redbreast tapping at the window, and 



4. — Cock-crow during the night — all these four foretell death. 



5. — " Uibets " (small insects) flying in unusual numbers are a 

 sign of rain. 



6. — If a person, on hearing the cuckoo for the first time in the 

 spring, runs and shakes his pockets, he will prosper during the year. 



GOBLINDOM. 



1.— In 1888, the l'lslet people were nearly scared out of their 

 lives by the report that night after night a white figure was seen 

 flying about, and uttering the most unearthly wails. The apparition 

 seems to have disappeared as suddenly as it came. This reminds us 

 of the " Banshee." 



2. — Several people who can be trusted (?) say that they have 

 seen a ghost walking up the steep hill near Ronceval, and they have 

 beheld it disappearing into an old, disused quarry. A woman of 

 nerve, who saw the apparition, determined to find out what became 

 of it, so she followed the spectral form into the quarry, but she sud- 

 denly lost sight of it. 



3. — The " Faeu belenger ou belengier " is a light wdiich appears 

 in marshy places, and is probably the same as the Will o' the Wisp. 

 To prevent its laying hold of you, you must turn your pockets inside 

 out. 



