Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 15, 1904.djvu/208

188 to pray, to recite Holy Scripture, or to mention sacred words or names. The witch is then called in, and she prepares a little wheat, barley, salt, water, milk, honey, four or six eggs, and some sweetmeats or sugar. At midnight she mixes all these ingredients together, and scatters some of the mixture round the sick-bed, on the threshold, and in the four corners of the room, reciting in a whisper as follows:

"My Lords, I beseech you to pity, compassionate, and have mercy upon the soul (or life) of your servant (or slave, if it be a woman) the patient (giving the name) the son (or daughter) of your maid (giving the mother's name) and overlook his (or her) trespass; and if he (or she) have sinned, and done any evil to you, forgive and pardon his (or her) sins; give him (or her) life, and restore his (or her) health and strength. (If to a barren woman, she adds), Open her womb and restore to her the fruits of her body. (If to those who lose young children). Give life to their sons and daughters, and let this honey (or sugar) be to sweeten your mouths and palates, the wheat and barley to feed your cattle and sheep, and the water and salt to establish peace, friendship, love, brotherhood, an everlasting covenant of salt between us and you."

Here she breaks the eggs and pours the same in the aforementioned places, kneels and prostrates herself, kisses the ground several times, and proceeds with these words:

"Here I offer you life for life, in order that ye may restore the life of this patient." This is continued or repeated for two more successive nights, and if the case is obstinate, for even seven or nine nights in succession.

If the patient cannot afford the necessary expense, or if the neighbours decline to leave the adjoining rooms, the witch may think it sufficient to go to a cistern, bath, or tannery, and there pour a little salt and water and pray as before, and say, "Behold water and salt to be a covenant of peace between us."

The Great Indulca only differs in being prolonged forty-five nights, the patient being required to dress in rich white garments, and the room to be handsomely decorated and well lit with wax candles. In addition to the ingredients above prescribed, there must be many savoury dishes, fruits, and spices.

The great influence upon which the Jews of Palestine depend