Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 16, 1905.djvu/92

 yo Collectanea.

Miscellaneous.

When washing dead people do not wet their backs, for should you do so they will follow you, saying they are cold.

It is believed that the ghost of a person rises on the third night after burial and returns to the house, which he finally leaves on the ninth night. This absurd belief causes people to keep what is known as "wakes" or "nine nights."

When a man dies who is not good enough to go to heaven, and not bad enough for hell, he returns to the earth and becomes a "rolUng calf."

If duppies trouble you in your house put a horse shoe over the doorway and this will keep them away.

If you want to prevent any ghost whatever from coming into your house cross ten (X) on the doors.

Duppies cannot count over nine.

Do not throw water outside in the nights, for you may wet ghosts, and consequently catch harm.

Do not whistle in the nights, for duppies will catch your voice.

Do not knock a green lizard that lives in a grave-yard, for he is a duppy and will hurt you.

Do not let your house remain at nights without water, for the ghosts of those who have died in it will come back to drink water, and will show you some token of their displeasure should they find none.

If a duppy should be following you, to stop him you must cross ten (X) across the road, and stick up a pin or a pen- knife in it. In the morning, should you go back and observe the spot, you will find an ant or some small insect dead beside it.

If you happen to be in a bush, and should hear a stick break, arise and go away at once, for it is a warning from some one of your dead relatives that the place is not good to stay in, and that some harm will attend you if you remain.

If you should draw out a hair of your head and wish for anything at "New Moon," before you speak to any one, you will obtain your wish.