Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 26, 1915.djvu/250

 240 Some Algerian Superstitions.

noted among the Shawia and described in the AntJiropo- logical Journal}^ and which consists in allowing a goat's spleen in which thorns have been placed to shrink and dry up in sight of the patient.

Among the miscellaneous charms which are worn by the Shawia I may mention a small piece of the skin of an animal, said to be a lion (once common in the Aures) which was worn by a small boy upon his necklet in order that he might have power, and possess plenty of friends, while among the Ouled Ziane I collected a "bandolier" of charms, including a morsel of hide, the species of which was unknown to the child's mother, but which had been left with the family by one of the wandering negro clowns whose antics cause so much amusement to young and old in southern Algeria, and was worn by the baby boy in order that he might grow into as big a man as the negro. This string of charms, worn over one shoulder like a bandolier by the little Ouled Ziane boy, held no less than fifteen items, consisting of

A viper's head against the " evil eye."

A piece of hide given by a negro clown.

A chameleon's head against the " evil eye."

A piece of a camel's gorge as a preventative against coughs.

A bundle of" hantit " (asafoetida), presumably against the " evil eye" and jenoun.

A bundle of " ommouness " (a herb) against crying.

A disc of lead against the " evil eye."

A European key

An iron model of an Arab key against the

,, ,, „ „ a reaping hook >"evil eye"

„ „ ,, „ a hoe andjenoun.

,, „ ,, „ an agricultural implement

A written talisman against a complaint in the eyes.

Two written talismans against fever.

^* Hilton-Simpson, " Some Arab and Shawia Remedies" [Joiirn, Roy. A>ith. Inst., xliii., p. 70S). ^