Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 7, 1896.djvu/343

Rh of the peasantry I knew would have gone to the place at night. I only had the honour of the acquaintance of one witch in the district. In addition to the routine paraphernalia of witchcraft, Lizzie Davidson had a spinning-wheel and kept a frog in a milk jug. This odd combination gave her the power of "twining the rape," that is, of charming the cream off her neighbours' milk-pans into her own jug. She was believed to dispose of her butter surreptitiously to different merchants, to divert suspicion which might be aroused on account of the quantity she sold. After her death the spinning-wheel passed into the hands of Bell Adam, who also by repute dealt in the occult science : possibly the spinning-wheel proved a veritable Elijah's mantle. My brother purchased it at a sale of her effects.

My cousin informed me that a crofter named "Auld Sautie," who lived near the above-mentioned Bridge of Savock, enjoyed a widespread reputation for supernatural dealings. Auld Sautie was never to be seen when any one came to consult him, so whilst they waited his wife questioned them about the object of their visit. Auld Sautie, who had been listening unseen, then appeared as if returning from the farm buildings. Without any preliminary greeting he accosted them something like the following: "Aye! you have come about your brindled coo!" "It's been ailin' since Feersday!" &c., &c. Having thus demonstrated his supernatural power, Auld Sautie found a ready market for his charms and simples.

At the beginning of my paper I stated that the belief in witch-brooches lingered to a comparatively recent date amongst the fishing population. These people were of a distinct race from the rest of the inhabitants of Aberdeenshire, towards whom their social relations resembled those of the Jews and the Samaritans. Their customs and superstitions were likewise distinct in most cases. Their most binding oath was, "May my boat be my bonnet next time I go to sea." One instance I recollect when, to the horror and dismay of the judge on circuit, this oath proved more potent in extracting the truth from several witnesses than the one ad- ministered in due form by the court official.

Their superstitions were the butt of every Aberdeen schoolboy. They had a dread of having their boats counted when at sea. On several occasions we have been chased off the pier for counting the boats in the bay in a loud voice. It was also commonly sup-