Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 25, 1914.djvu/425

 Reviews. 393

The English Folk-Danxk Society's Journal.

The first number of the Journal issued by the English Folk-Dance Society, and edited by Mr. Percival Lucas, shows that this new Society is now well started and engaged in valuable work. A special feature is the report of Cirencester and District Branch, and a Bibliography of the Morris Dance, prepared by the Editor. The secretary is Mrs. Huxtable, 73 Avenue Chambers, Blooms- bury Square, London, A\'.C.

Sport and Folklore in the HnLALAVA. By Captain H. L. Haughton. Demy Svo. Pp. ix-i- 332. 12s.6d.net. London: E. Arnold. 1913-

In this book, in addition to some good stories of sport, the author gives a considerable collection of folklore from that little worked region, the Himalaya. Gilgit, in particular, supplies much material : fairy tales, myths based on historical fact or custom, of snakes guarding the mystic coral tree on the summit of Nanga Parbat, legends connected with Alexander the Great, known as Zu-1-Karnain, " Lord of the Two Horns," ruler of East and West. Numerous tales of Nags or snakes show the wide prevalence of the serpent cult. Mrs. Banbuddhi, " Old Lady of the Forest," is a wild creature, gaunt and tall, with long, matted hair and burning sunken eyes; she has the feet of a beast joined to her legs back to front. The Chili tree (J>inus exce/sa) is used at a rite per- formed when the herds are first driven down to the summer grazing grounds. Until this is done no g/ii, milk, or butter may be sold or given away. In each flock the best milch-goat is annually selected or re-selected. The first g/it made from her milk is placed in a new bowl and melted over a fire made of Chili wood. NN'hen it is melted a branch of the tree is dipped into it, set on fire, and then extinguished before it actually blazes, but continues to smoke freely. The smoking branch is then passed over and round the body of the chosen animal, so that it is purified by the smoke. The remnant of the gh' is rubbed on its forehead