Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 28, 1917.djvu/461

 Catalogue of Brand Material.

427

Bit thrown into fire will quell raging storm

The "Ashen Faggot" of small branches encircling a larger one or sometimes a tree-trunk, bound with 3. 9, or more " binds " of hazel, bramble, or withy, or of ash itself, burnt instead of log

Cut by farm-labourers, pre- sented by woodmen, or (Exeter) purchased of greengrocer.

A whole main branch of tree used ; green wood, to burn longer

Bad luck to omit faggot. Object, to burn up bogies, which fi}^ up chimne\' -

Brought in by four oxen, though one would have sufficed

Sometimes laid on fire ; sometimes head of house proceeds through lines of servants and lights faggot with length, of tow

All who helped in harvest invited to join party ■ Distinctions of rank dis- carded while faggot burns

Quart of cider " craved " at bursting of each " bind " - - -

Young people choose " binds " ; order of break- age denotes order of marriage. . -

Whitby.

Devon (" some parts ') and Somerset.^

Exeter, Kiagsbridge.

Bampton.

Torwood Manor House, Torquay, 1836.

Somerset. Authority ? Ashburton.

General. General.

1 Localities noted : Torquay, Kingsbridge, Ashburton, Exeter (Cleve), Dart- moor, Torrington, Bampton and Dolton in North Devon. More information is needed as to the several areas and the local circumstances affecting them.