Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 7, 1896.djvu/14

4 2. Stone bearing the impression of the devil's toe nail; if broken, they are supposed to emit a sulphurous odour, and are unlucky to those who own them, for the devil will come to claim them.

3. Stone used as a charm against rheumatism, which an old man of 80 gave me, having had it for many years hanging under his bed.

4. Frairy stone, also called frairy loaves; hence the saying "If you keep a frairy stone you will never want bread."

An old lady, Mrs. Ulph of Billingford, aged 86 (now dead), told me: "the reason we see no frairies about now is because they all turned themselves, whole villages of them, into 'frairy' stones, and remain so till this day. In my young time there used to be these curious stones lying in the gardens and fields, and we called them 'frairies.

5. Bone 100 years old worn as a charm against cramp. It was formerly the custom for the wearer to carry it in a specially-made little pocket on the left hand side of the waist.

Mr. Basil Thomson read a paper "On Leprosy Stones in Fiji," by Dr. Corney; and a discussion followed, in which the President, and Messrs. Gomme, Nutt, and Higgens took part. At the conclusion of the discussion, Mr. Thomson offered some observations upon the paper and in answer to questions.

The President laid on the table Professor Kuno Meyer's "Voyage of Bran, son of Febal," with Mr. Nutt's essay on "The Celtic Doctrine of Re-birth," presented to the Society by Mr. Nutt.

A paper entitled "Folklore Firstfruits from Lesbos," by Mr. W. H. D. Rouse, was read by the President, who also exhibited an ornament of plaited corn, the first ears of harvest, illustrative of a harvest custom in the island, sent by Mr. Rouse as a present to the Museum.

The paper was followed by a short discussion, in which Messrs. Nutt and Kirby took part.

At the conclusion of the meeting a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the writers of the papers, to Mr. Basil Thomson for his kindness in reading Dr. Corney's paper, and to all who had sent objects of folklore interest for exhibition.