Ethnology in Folklore

Front Cover
D. Appleton, 1892 - Ethnology - 200 pages

From inside the book

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 137 - ... 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 135 - 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 178 - At Cork I have seen with these eyes young maids, stark naked, grinding of corn with certain stones to make cakes thereof...
Page 163 - ... 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 179 - 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 32 - 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 169 - 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 169 - 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.
Page 99 - They send one with a wooden dish, to bring some of the water to the patient; and if the dish, which is then laid softly upon the surface of the water, turn round sunways, they conclude that the patient will recover of that distemper ; but if otherwise, that he will die.
Page 117 - Within the memory of our Fathers, in Shropshire, in those villages adjoyning to Wales, when a person dyed, there was notice given to an old Sire, (for so they called him,) who presently repaired to the place where the deceased lay, and stood before the door of the house, when some of the Family came out and furnished him with a Cricket on which he sat down facing the door. Then they gave him a Groat, which he put in his pocket ; a Crust of Bread, which he eat ; and a full bowle of Ale, which he drank...

Bibliographic information