Ethnology in Folklore

Front Cover
D. Appleton, 1892 - Social Science - 203 pages

From inside the book

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 105 - ... purpose, however by bribing his servants they contrived to have them extinguished and on that morning raised their fire, they then sacrificed a heifer, cutting in pieces and burning, while yet alive, the diseased part, they then lighted their own hearths from the pile and ended by feasting on the remains, words of incantation were repeated by an old man from Morven, who came over as master of the ceremonies, and who continued speaking all the time the fire was being raised.
Page 103 - The holy mawle, which they fancy hung behind the churchdoor, which when the father was seaventie, the sonne might fetch to knock bis feather in the head, as effete and of no more use.
Page 85 - The manner was, that when the Corps was brought out of the house, and layd on the Biere, a Loafe of bread was brought out, and delivered to the Sinne-eater over the corps, as also a...
Page 144 - At Cork I have seen with these eyes young maids, stark naked, grinding of corn with certain stones to make cakes thereof...
Page 129 - ... cock, and sprinkle the threshold with the blood, and do the same in the four corners of the house, and this ceremonious performance is done to exclude every kind of evil spirit...
Page 105 - In consequence of a disease among the black cattle the people agreed to perform an incantation, though they esteemed it a wicked thing. They carried to the top of Carnmoor a wheel and nine spindles of oak-wood. They extinguished every fire in every house within sight of the hill; the wheel was then turned from east to west over the nine spindles long enough to produce fire by friction.
Page 145 - O'Kane, a great lord amongst them, was met at the door by sixteen women all naked, excepting their loose mantles, whereof eight or ten were very fair; with which strange sight his eyes being dazzled, they led him into the house, and then sitting down by the fire, with crossed legs, like tailors, and so low as could not but offend chaste eyes, desired him to sit down with them.
Page 17 - At midday a struggle takes place, at the risk of cut hands, for a slice, it being supposed to confer luck for the ensuing year on the fortunate devourer. As an act of gallantry...
Page 135 - They all speak the Irish language, and among them is a trace of that government, by chiefs, which in former times existed in Ireland. The present chief or king of Inniskea is an intelligent peasant named
Page 135 - Of the early history of this idol no authentic information can be procured, but its power is believed to be immense ; they pray to it in time of sickness, it is invoked when a storm is desired to dash some hapless ship upon their coast, and again it is solicited to calm the waves to admit of the islanders fishing or visiting the main land.

Bibliographic information