Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 18, 1907.djvu/84

56 ornaments, probably a head-dress or necklace of coins, can be distinctly heard.

Even a cistern, i.e. an artificial reservoir, should not be approached after dark. If, however, water is absolutely required, the name of God must be frequently uttered while drawing it, and it is better to do so in an iron vessel.

The hot springs at Callirrhoe and elsewhere are heated by a fire which is kept up by a jinn whom those afflicted with rheumatism seeking relief here must propitiate by sacrifice. The great water-wheels used for irrigation have to be overhauled at intervals, and before they are again set in motion a ram is slaughtered to propitiate the jinn in charge of the affair.

When a ghost story, or fairy tale, is told, it is better to avoid mention of the name of the supernatural being involved. Whenever any accident occurs, however slight, the name of God should be often invoked, and the attention of the Evil One distracted, on the principle of the Gaelic proverb, "Ill will come if mentioned." This is the case, not only in the event of any bystander uttering such a chance exclamation as "Have you hurt your arm?" "Are you blind to-day?" and so on, which must be replied to with some such phrase as "The name of God be over me," smallah ‘alēyi, but still more upon occasions yet more serious, such as when a servant, threatening a child, should say, "The cat will get you." This once gave rise to a very serious incident. A woman one night wished to fetch some bread which she had left in the oven,—an oven here being a separate construction of clay, away from the house. She asked her husband to accompany her, and he churlishly replied, "What are you afraid of? There is nothing but the sheep in the court. Sheep, come and take her!" She thus went alone for her baking, and was no more seen, and all search was useless. One day her husband, thus widowed, was ploughing in the field when a Dervish came by, and,