Occasional Notes. 
West Indian Folk-lore. — The following notes on cer- 
tain quaint customs and popular beliefs in the West 
Indies have been jotted down at odd times by Mr. G. H. 
HAWTAYNE : — 
A relaxed throat is always attributed to the falling 
down of the palate. A popular corrective is to tie up 
che hair in a plait on top of the head so as to prevent 
this falling. A headache, if supposed to be caused by 
exposure to the sun, is generally treated by placing a 
bottle of water on the head and standing exposed to the 
tull rays of the offending orb. The patient is recom- 
mended to remain until the water boils, but the popular 
belief is that the heat which is the cause of the complaint 
passes up into the water. 
A woman who is enciente will not willingly step over 
a stick or rod laid across her path. 
The moon is popularly supposed to exercise its influ- 
ence in a great variety of cases : I have been warned of 
the futility of fishing for mullet in a mountain stream 
after a moonlit night, " You see, Massa, de fish and dem 
" does git up all night fo' fill dey belly and dey no' 
" hungry day time." Fish caught when the moon is 
bright do not keep long and are sold cheap. Roots, such 
as yams, sweet potatoes, &c, should be planted on a 
dark night at the last quarter of the moon ; otherwise 
the increasing moon causes the vine to " run after it," 
and few roots will be the result. A large return of 
maize (Indian Corn) is ensured by planting when there 
