Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 15, 1904.djvu/236

 2 1 2 Collectanea.

going to have some quarrel or other, or somebody is going to do him an injury. If he overcomes the difficulty in his dreams he will be victorious in the end.

The falling down or division of a house and the breaking off of a green branch of a tree is a doleful prognostication of coming death.

If trees shoot and grow, an infant will be born whose life will be a happy one.

Aliscellaneous.

It is not good to give away handkerchiefs, scissors, knives, pins, or needles. If a friend makes a present of any of these articles to a friend there will a rupture between them.

The breaking of a mirror betokens seven years of misery.

When a funeral is passing never bend your head down and look between your legs. The dead will break your neck for you.

Wakes and ninth nights are very common. Even in Kingston the practice is kept up by fairly intelligent persons. It may truth- fully be said, however, that the majority only do these "sitting up " business as a matter of mourning the loss of the departed ; but it is affirmed that many old people have the custom of spreading the bed and setting water, &c., for the reception of the " duppy," who is sure to come at twelve midnight. They take good care also next morning to empty the vesselsof the water that had been placed in them the evening before, and other foolish and superstitious ceremonies.

C.

IV.

In all ages of the world's history, from the ages of antiquity until the present time, we find that a great drawback to the people's welfare and prowess is their superstition. It was to be found in all ranks and grades of society, from the peasant's fire- side, among sailors and soldiers alike, even in the mansions of the rich and great ; and in many cases their superstitions ruled their will. Even at the present age, with our advance of civilisation on previous ages, there are incidents which happen