Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 17, 1906.djvu/499

Rh employment was freely acknowledged, upon searching all the numerous infants within reach, in the hope of making a sale, only two were found. One of these was of bone, and of the form commonly worn during teething; the other was of twisted glass (Pl. IV., No. 12). Besides these, a second one of bone, of the common type, at that moment not in use, was found. Most of the children examined wore only religious medals.

A number of women wore silver finger-rings set with trochus shell, similar to those worn by the Spaniards (compare ), called by them, as by the Spaniards, haba, but also, so it appeared, less frequently known as "The Eye of S. Lucy." These rings are worn for preservation from headache, jaqueça.

Several women wore silver rings set with a small piece of hard white glassy material whose nature could not be determined, and which was not recognised by Spanish residents of Granada to whom it was shown. This substance was said to be the petrified milk of a fish, and to prevent and cure headache and nervous troubles.

(76, V.) A small leaden figure of S. Antony of Padua, worn in contact with the skin, suspended from the neck, by a Gipsy woman, as a protection against all manner of ills; Granada.

(77, V.) A silver medal of S. Angustias (the patron saint of Granada), worn by an infant against all manner of ills; Granada. A favourite medal.

(78, IV.) A silver finger-ring set with a piece of a hard white substance (see above); Granada.

Ex votos are still very extensively employed in Spain. The majority are made in moulds, of wax, of white metal, or of silver, and are bought, but some are made by the givers themselves. They are commonly very rudely executed, the ordinary ones of wax being cast, and those of metal stamped from very thin sheets. They take the forms of persons praying—men, women, or children; of parts of the human body—heads, eyes, hands, arms, or legs; and of domestic animals—donkeys, horses, pigs, or