Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 18, 1907.djvu/361

 Collectanea. 325

eldest brother of her late husband claims her by the law of inheritance, and takes her away to his own village and home. She and all her children become his property. He enters into all the rights of the real husband. Before the brother can claim the widow he must make her an offering of tobacco, after which he goes to her hut, taking with him several friends and male relatives. When they reach the house, one of these relatives enters the hut, and, as he steps over the threshold, he stamps several times with his feet, and calls out to the deceased husband, "Thou hast no longer possession of this hut; I come to claim it all." The widow, who is sitting on a hide in the ground, now unties her tobacco, gives a little to each one present, and, after mead or milk has been drunk, the ceremony is over.

It is unusual for Gallas to sell their relations, but under exceptional circumstances a man has sold his brother's widow and sometimes her female children. Galla parents inculcate very emphatically the virtue of chastity upon their daughters, and when a case of shame occurs amongst them it is deeply mourned over as a sad disgrace. Formerly, maidens guilty of a breach of purity were thrown into the Sabaki River and drowned.

E. S. Wakefield.

Supplementary Notes on Cat's Cradle and String-Tricks.

I am indebted to Dr. Haddon for permission to publish the following Rumanian string-tricks, which he obtained last year from Mr. L. Gaster. The descriptions are from Dr. Haddon's notes.

The generic name (represented in English by the misapplied word " Cat's " cradle) is given as " Etelbetel."

1. Put one end of the loop over the head. Bring the right string across between the teeth. Do the same with the left string. Cross the strings back again. Pass the long front loop over the head and pull the hands apart.

2. Hang the loop over the left thumb and index. With the