Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 20, 1909.djvu/100

80 the similar mound at Marlborough), and that a man and horse of solid gold exist in the centre of it, for which reason the rustics have always taken a lively interest in the excavations which have been made in the hill. In another legend relating to its origin it is stated that the devil whilst making the Wansdyke wiped his spade at this spot, and so formed the mound. It is also believed that no snakes are to be found in the sacred ground around Avebury, and that they would die if brought there.

On Palm Sunday the inhabitants of the district used to meet on the top of the hill, and eat cakes and figs, and drink water carried thither from the Swallow-head springs.

It is believed that warts may be cured by cutting as many notches in an alder stick as you have warts, and then burying it. When it rots your warts will be cured.

A large cist-vaen in the vicinity of Marlborough is locally known as the Devil's Den, and tradition says that, "if anyone pours water into any of the natural cup-shaped cavities on the top stone at midnight, it will always be found in the morning to be gone, drunk by a thirst-tormented fiend"; that "as twelve o'clock arrives each night Satan arrives with eight white oxen, and vainly endeavours to pull the structure down, while a white rabbit with fiery eyes sits on the top stone, and aids matters by his advice and general encouragement of the proceedings"; and that "if a good child walks seven times round it nothing in particular happens," but that "on the seventh revolution of the bad boy or girl a toad comes out and spits fire at them."

Marlborough is provided with pasture and allotment lands. The former is known as "The Common" generally, but is often called "The Thorns." Every householder has the right