Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 5, 1894.djvu/90

82 passion on the peasant, and gave him for his help a pair of oxen. Afterwards again the Devil went round the field, and asked of the peasant how his work fared with the oxen. The peasant grumbled that the oxen were too lazy, and that he could not get through much work with them. And the Devil gave the peasant a pair of horses, that they might go quickly for him. Another time St. Paul came thither again, and asked the peasant how the horses helped his work. But the peasant grumbled again that the horses flew about the field, like devils, and that he couldn't get through his work with them. At this St. Paul pulled out a knife and cut the sinews upon the horses' feet. The sinews fell over and became the horses' knuckles. From that time horses have knuckles above their hoofs, and are better for work in the fields, and they are not so skittish as when the peasant had them from the devil; however, their flesh is not eaten, because horses are just the devil's handiwork. [The Christian saints and devil are quite naturalised in Slavonic folk-tales, as may be seen at a glance into the collections.]

152 ff., 160. Pictures of national costume, embroidery, and the like.

158, 159. Pictures of most extraordinary wedding cakes.

178 ff. Ancient Stone Crosses, with pictures.

116. Mirzapur. Local Gods.—A detailed account of the worship of several. P. 56b, mention is made of the custom of vowing a gold image of any diseased part, which is duly done in case of recovery. [W. H. D. R. has two such offerings, in silver, got from Indian coolies by a priest in Mauritius.]

117. Jain Rosaries. 118. Rosaries.—It is mentioned that images of gods which are stolen from other people are much more valuable than those bought or otherwise got. They are more easily propitiated. [See 199, below.]

157. Rosaries.

158. Curious Charm against Snake-bite.—(Peacocks' feathers are nearly always used by Hindus in their charms and spells. Spitting appears.) Others against cattle-disease, fever, spirits, thieves. Ashes are used, to which a Scotch parallel is quoted.

"When a man yawns, it is very wrong not to snap the fingers three or seven times. It is said that the Emperor Akbar once yawned, and while his courtiers were snapping their fingers, his minister, Bīrbal,