Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 13, 1902.djvu/59

 More Folklore from the Hebrides. 47

IV. — Divination.

The taking of the Frith or horoscope is still practised. It is practically the observation and interpretation by certain recognised rules of such natural objects as are accidentally present. It is especially in favour in relation to the fate of absent friends. Where postal service is still unfrequent and uncertain, and till lately was almost unknown, and where for long there was practically no written language, one the more easily makes allowance for empirical methods such as these, and many striking stories of coincidence are told in various districts.

The first Monday in every quarter was said to be the right time for casting friths ; but an old woman named Catriona MacEachan, who died lately, and had special skill in this direction, made them at all times. The following account of the methods employed was given by another very old woman, who also had had long practice : —

" To make a frith, you look forth towards the sea, or over the country, to see omens or signs of good or ill luck to men, women, or cattle. Looking forth on to the sea is not so easy as the others. First, in the morning, you say a prayer and a Hail Mary. The Frith is holy, and was practised by Our Lady and St. Joseph when looking for the Holy Child when lost for three days. The person proceeds with closed eyes till he reaches the door-step. Then he opens them, and if he sees a sacred symbol, if only two straws crossing each other, all will be well. When he gets outside he walks round the house, dessil [sunwards] looking straight in front of him through the loosely-closed hand, as Mary looked through the hand of Brigid. As he goes along he says :

' God be before me,

Mary after me,

And the Son whom she bore, the King of the Elements,

And whom Brigid placed in her hand.

May I be upon Thy side, O God,

And may God be on my track,