Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 11, 1900.djvu/134

 124 Miscellanea.

which had the effect of loosening tied men. I went to Vassih, and got some water from him. He washed the snake's horn in the tumbler, and gave me the water. I took the water to the bridegroom, and gave it to him. On Tuesday morning I went to ask for news, and the groom told me he was loosed. I don't know in what way he used the water. He is now dead.

Cross-exammed : I took my kumbaros' word for the facts. I did not examine the bride. I never used the horn myself. The Plaintiff is my brother. He did not charge me anything for the water.

Case for Plaintiff.

Haralampo Hajji Rafail (sworn) : I had from Defendant \sic, sc. Plaintiff] the snake's horn. He first said : " I will give you some water, because if you take the horn you will lose it." I said : " No. Give me the horn, and if I lose it I will pay for it." He did not tell me how much it was worth. I took it, pro- mising to bring it back. If he had told me it was worth ^80, I should not have taken it. I asked the schoolmaster to offer Plaintiff los. for it. The horn was lost. I hear that Plaintiff has some ill-feeling against me. I have none against him. I would not give los. for it.

Cross-examijied : I took the horn to the schoolmaster Artemis. The schoolmaster had been married, and was tied up ; and it was said Vassili's horn was most effectual in these cases. That was why I borrowed it from Vassilis. It was on a Tuesday I gave it to him, and I did not go and ask for it till the following Sunday. I had to go reaping next day. On Sunday I went to schoolmaster and asked him for the horn. He said he had left it on the table and it was lost. I feel sure it has been lost.

Artemis Alamides (sworn) : I am the schoolmaster of Tochni. I received from Defendant a little horn. The Defendant gave it to me and he said : " It does good in cases when people are tied up." It was a little thing as big as a match. I took it, laughed at it, and put it on the table during the night. I do not believe in its magical force. I should not be a schoolmaster if I did. I try to eradicate such feelings amongst the peasants. Five or six days after. Plaintiff came and asked for it, but we did not find it at its place. I offered him ids. to settle the