Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/203

 Rh that at this hour [sunset] the ghouls and gins are abroad, and are wandering to and fro? If they hear you whistle they will suppose you are calling them; and, Bismillah, we have no desire for their company.' I afterwards learned that to whistle in the day time is a token of defiance, and not considered proper when others are by."—ii. 264.

Fever Charm.—A woman, too, whose daughter was suffering from fever, brought in a handful of camel's hair, and asked me to manufacture from it a charm for the cure of her daughter's illness. As I had not the slightest notion of what the nature of the charm might be, I addressed myself to Aman Niaz Khan, who immediately undertook to instruct me. By means of a spindle the camel's hair was spun to a stout thread, the Khan all the time droning some verses from the Koran, or some necromantic chant. When the thread was finished it was of considerable length, and, folding it three times upon itself, he respun it. Then he proceeded to tie seven knots upon the string. Before drawing each knot hard he blew upon it. This, tied into the form of a bracelet, was to be worn on the wrist of the patient. Each day one of the knots was to be untied and blown upon, and when the seventh knot had been undone the whole of the thread was to be made into a ball and thrown into the river, carrying, as was supposed, the illness with it.—ii. 319.

Children's Charm.—On page 30 (ante) reference is made to crumbs given to children to eat after they had fallen from a donkey's mouth. The same custom is observed in China. A friend of mine, living near Canton, used to keep a monkey (a sacred animal, and supposed to be concerned in the well-being of children). He observed that the native women often brought articles of food for this creature, and wondered at their kindness. He soon ascertained the cause. A woman one day came and gave the monkey a banana, which she took back again when half eaten. When questioned, she Stated that she had a sick child whose con. plaints would be relieved by its partaking of food left by (or bearing the saliva of) a monkey.—Cf. N. and Q., quoted by Dyer in English Folk-Lore, p. 155.

A Neapolitan Custom (p. 31).—There are links in this chain which are of great interest and value in the study of social and early