Page:Cornish feasts and folk-lore.djvu/170

 158 Charms, etc. called the 'cheeld's fuggan.'* This was a cake with plenty of currants and saffron, about the size of a modern tea-plate. It was to be given to the first person met on returning, after the child was christened. It happened that, as most of the parishioners were at the service, no one was met until near home, almost a mile from the church, when a tipsy village carpenter rambled around a corner, right against our party, and received the cake. Regrets were ex- pressed that the ' cheeld's fuggan ' should have fallen to the lot of this notoriously evil liver, and my idea was that it was a bad omen. However as my brother has always been a veritable Rechabite, enjoys good health, a contented mind, and enough of this world's goods to satisfy every moderate want, no evil can thus far be traced to the mischance." — J. C, Western Morning News. "'Kimbly' in East Cornwall is the name of a thing, commonly a piece of bread, which is given under peculiar circumstances at weddings and christenings. When the parties set out from the house to go to church, or on their business, one person is sent before them with this selected piece of bread in his or her hand (a woman is commonly preferred for this office), and the piece is given to the first individual that is met. I interpret it to have some reference to the idea of the evil eye and its influence, which might fall on the married persons or on the child, which is sought to be averted by this unexpected gift. It is also observed in births, in order that by this gift envy may be turned away from the infant or happy parents. This 'kimbly' is commonly given to the person bringing the first news to those interested in the birth." — T. Q. Couch, Western Morning News. "I witnessed this custom very frequently at Looe, in South-east Cornwall, from fifty to sixty-five years ago. I believe it is correct to say that this gift was there a small cake, made for the occasion, and termed the ' christening-crib,' a crib of bread or cake being a provincialism for a bit of bread," etc. — William Pengelly, Western Mornifig News. Children, when they leave small bits of meat, etc., on their plates, are in Cornwall often told "to eat up their cribs."
 * Fuggmi, a flat cake.