Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 15, 1904.djvu/231

 Collectanea. 207

If a looking glass drops and breaks it means seven years' sorrow for the family.

If a hen crows, cut its throat at once, or misfortune or death will overtake you.

If a duppy is following you mark a x on the ground or turn your jacket wrong side out, and it cannot continue to follow you.

Mark a circle on your door with chalk, and no duppy will enter.

The room in which a person dies must be kept for some days exactly in the same state as it was in the person's lifetime, other- wise the person's duppy will wander around to look for the things it is accustomed to.

If your house is haunted, burn rosemary bush, cow dung, and horn, and the duppies will leave.

To keep duppies from troubling you, tie a piece of assafoetida with string around your neck.

Never let your tears drop on a dead body, or harm will come to you.

Never clean your boots on your feet, or you will lose your em- ployment.

Never talk loud at night, or duppy will catch your voice and injure you.

To see a ghost or duppy you must look over your left shoulder.

Never kiss a dead person on the mouth, or you will lose your teeth.

If you see a firefly on the ceiling you will have a visitor.

When your nose itches you are going to kiss a fool.

If you leave your house for work or on any important business never turn back halfway, or ill luck will attend you.

Never make a sketch of the building in which you are em- ployed, or you will be discharged.

Never add a piece to your house or cut down a very old tree, or some member of the family will die.

Never open an umbrella or carry a load on your head in your house, or misfortune will overtake you.

Never take off your wedding-ring, or you will be unhappy with your husband.

If you are visiting a young lady and you have a rival, hang your hat on the rack over his, and you will be sure to be the successful one.