Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 37.djvu/703

Rh place from Bosnia, and it has about fifteen hundred inhabitants. The people can all read and write, are neat, enterprising, industrious, and well off; but, notwithstanding their good schools, they stick to their old, pre-Christian superstitions.

The Vilas, which occupy the greatest space in the popular lore, are female beings of the same kind as the fairies or wood-nymphs of the Germanic nations. The etymology of the name is uncertain, but it is supposed to mean "rustic"; and the Vilas are therefore spirits of the wood. The belief in them controls all the incidents of the peasant's life. The spirits are supposed to appear rarely alone, but usually in companies of two, three, five, or seven. They are distinguished by an extraordinary, maidenly beauty, clear complexion, slender stature, and dark, wavy hair descending to the ankles. They move lightly and freely through the air, being winged, although their wings are usually invisible. They can also lay their wings aside. Their dress is simple, and includes a crown of pearls on the head inclasping the floating hair; a long white robe, such as is worn by the peasant women at their work, reaching to the ground, without any outer garment; and a girdle of red silk.

They enjoy everlasting youth, are acquainted with divination and healing, have access to all the treasures of the earth, and can at will produce love or hatred in the children of men. They are particularly friendly to deer, horses, sheep, and godly men. They can assume the form of the gray mountain wolf. Under some circumstances they are pettish, evil, and vengeful; they teach children to steal; but sometimes, out of pity, take forlorn orphans under their care. They prefer to live upon or in trees, especially favoring the linden and nut trees; travel in the clouds or in whirlwinds; dance on hillocks, in green fields at springs, on roofs, and under isolated trees, accompanying the exercise with songs, and are distinguished by a clear, penetrating cry.

Their ordinary occupations are milking does, combing their hair with golden combs, washing their robes, and bathing in clear streams under the shadows of the overhanging trees. If a person wants to see Vilas or enjoy their presence, he must, if he is not gifted with the second-sight, put on his clothes wrong-side out. Children born on Tuesday or Sunday have the second-sight; but the Vilas never show themselves to children born on Friday or to red-haired men. Really faithful and Vila-fearing men carefully avoid speaking their name. They say "she," "that one" or, in case of more than one—two, for example—"those two."

The Vilas are supposed to be voluptuous creatures, and to lead lives that would not be regarded, according to our views, as moral. They bear only female children, which take after the mother. Whoever has enjoyed their favors can never afterward love a