Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/553

 The Worship and Folk-Lore of Meteorites. 205

weigh 5000 pounds." The present whereabouts of the mass are not known, unless a meteorite now in the collection of the United States National Museum be the one described by Mr. Pierson.

Wichita County, Texas. — A mass of meteoric iron first seen here by white men in 1836, and weighing 320 pounds, was an object of worship to the Comanche Indians. It was set up at a point where several trails met, and the Indians in passing by it were accustomed to deposit upon it offerings of beads, pipes, and tobacco. 1 Portions of the mass are now to be seen in several collections.

Ckarcas, Mexico. — This mass of meteoric iron weighing 1500 pounds was seen by Humboldt in the above place in 181 1. 2 It was then, he states, built into the wall of a church (or churchyard), and was worshipped by women in the belief that they would thus be cured of sterility. The mass was brought in 1885 to Paris.

San Grcgorio, Chihuahua, Mexico. — On this mass of meteoric iron weighing twelve tons, which lay in its original position until 1 89 1, was cut in 1 82 1 this inscription: —

" Solo Dios con su poder este fiero destruira Pues en el mundo no habra Quien lo pueda de hacer."

(" Since no one in the world could make it, only God with his power this iron can destroy.") These words at least indicate that a sacred character was given the iron in the eyes of some one, though we have no evidence that any worship of the mass was ever carried on. The mass is now in the museum of the National School of Mines, City of Mexico.

FOLK-LORE OF METEORITES.

Under this head may be classed cases in which meteorites were the source of some legend or belief not involving worship. In these cases something of awe or reverence for the object is indicated, but not of so profound a nature as was felt where worship was carried on.

Elbogen, Bohemia? — Here a mass of meteoric iron weighing 200 pounds was preserved for centuries (and may still be seen) in the Town Hall. It is said to have fallen about the beginning of the fifteenth century. It was long invested by the people with an ex- traordinary character, and was known among them as the enchanted or bewitched burggrave (a burggrave being a court official). The popular tradition in regard to the mass was. that if at any time it were thrown into the castle fountain (which was twenty-two fathoms deep), it would come back to its former place. In 1742 the

1 Mallet, Am. Jour. Set. 3d ser. vol. xxviii. p. 285.

2 Humboldt, Essai politique, vol. ii. p. 582.

3 Buchner, /. c. p. 151.

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