041 
Deas-iul, " Way of South," Lucky. 
Tua-iul, " Way of North," Unlucky. 
These two words are in constant use, and are derived from 
sun-worship, even as the old custom of passing the bottle 
u the way of the sun " has a similar origin. 
The old statistical account of Scotland (a.d. 1794) is full 
of the remains of this worship. 
Sick people were carried " sunwise " round cairns. Water 
taken from sacred wells, for the recovery of a sick person, 
was carefully watched. If, in being moved, it turned 
deas-iul, " sunwise," the patient would recover ; if tua-iul, 
" against the sun," he would die. We may add that the 
latter prediction was often fulfilled, as the friends would 
take no care of the sick man, and would not choose to coun- 
teract the sun's prophecy. 
The Gaelic word for "miracle" is mior-Bheil, "the finger 
of Baal;" hence, perhaps, our word "marvel." 
So, again, Gabha-Bheil, " the jeopardy of Baal," is still the 
Avord used to express an escape from serious danger, and is 
taken from one of the most solemn and awful ordeals of old 
time, to which reference will be made hereafter. In both 
these words the Highlanders are exceedingly shocked if they 
are told that they are acknowledging Baal. 
May-day is still called Beil-tin, or Beltane, "the fire of 
Baal;" and the custom of lighting fires on May-day, and 
other days connected with the seasons, or solstices, is not 
yet extinct. On the first Monday of the year (O.S.), called 
Handsell Monday, there is a custom of lighting a fire at the 
Cross Well, at West Linton, Peebles-shire, immediately after 
the Sunday has passed. This is evidently a rejoicing that 
Adonis is alive again ; in other words, that the sun having 
reached his lowest declivity is again commencing his upward 
course. So strong is the feeling, that no fine, which is 
annually imposed, will deter the men from their custom. 
