Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 11, 1900.djvu/454

 434 Correspondence.

the wise woman or the hero sHts (the word used is always the same, cMrna, just as it occurs in Colonel Temple's quotation, and is the term appropriated to a surgical operation) her or his litde finger (it is always the little finger), produces (the word is always nikdhia, to bring out, as in Colonel Temple's passage) the amrita, or water of life, and reanimates someone of importance to the story. Nowhere is there any attempt at identifying the amrita with the blood of the little finger. It is simply mentioned as a valuable article there existing, which can be found only by those who have received a proper magical education and are hence " in the know."

I am writing far from books and cannot verify my references, but I think that Mr. Crooke has already drawn attention to this valuable property of the little finger.

George A. Grierson.

Burial of the Dead Horse.

In Folk-Lore, vol. viii., p. 281, a description was given of the Burial of the Dead Horse at Sea, but no explanation was offered of the name. It seems to be proverbial for work done in return for payment in advance (Yorks., Chesh., Line, Northants, Sussex, Leicester, Hants). See Wright's English Dialect Dictionary, s.v. Dead, ii., p. 38, col. 2. Perhaps the original idea is expressed in the Hampshire proverb, " To ride the dead horse," to be behind- hand. The seamen thus signify that they have worked off the advance pay.

W. H. D. Rouse.

The Divining Rod in U. S. A.

We have often heard of divining rods for water in this country ; our cousins over the water go one better, and use divining rods for gold, silver, and iron. The "Prospectors' and Miners' Agency, Palmyra, 'Pa.," actually sell these as a trade article. "Recognising