Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 24, 1913.djvu/409

 Correspondence. 2^'^}^

had a great fondness for dogs, and had always at his heels a harm- less animal which was rather inclined to bark at game. This annoyed and really distressed a gamekeeper in the immediate neighbourhood, but the carter took offence at the keeper's remarks and refused to leave his dog at home. A bitter quarrel followed, and the carter and keeper- were from that time sworn foes. Then came trouble in the carter's household, from which consumption claimed three victims (two fine tall sons, and a nice girl who had become a factory hand at Yeovil), and the keeper had rheumatism. The two men believed each that the other possessed the power to "will" their misfortunes. They never spoke to each other, and I have known them, if compelled to meet in the course of their duties, both to walk in the ditch to avoid contact.

They consulted a "wise woman," in the hope of getting the spells removed. The carter used to borrow a horse sometimes to visit her, as she lived at a distance. We did not know till after- wards for what he wanted the horse. Once he asked me for a pair of fowls, which I let him have. He had been ordered by the rabbit in order to work her spell.
 * ' wise woman " to bring her a couple of live hens and one live

After the third death in the carter's household, matters seemed to improve. The family being smaller, there was no overcrowding, and the more delicate members being gone, all were well and strong when I last heard of them. The keeper's ailment was cured by a good doctor, and was found to have been caused by lying on the ground in bad weather while tending his pheasants. Both men then seemed to awake to their folly, and ceased to make gifts to the " wise woman."

[Mrs.] M. a. H.\rdv.

Guesses Farm, Wiston, Sussex.

Folk-Medicine in the Report of the Highlands and Islands Medical Service Committee.

Paragraph 21 of this Report reads thus: — ^'' Primiihe Customs and Habits. In some parts of the Highlands and Islands there