Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/222

 214 to Charles the First, on the subject of burning fern, which in the North of England is supposed to bring rain:—

",

His Majesty taking notice of an opinion entertained in Staffordshire that the burning of Ferne doth draw downe rain, and being desirous that the country and himself may enjoy fair weather as long as he remains in those parts, his Majesty hath commanded me to write to you, to cause all burning of Ferne to bee forborne untill his Majesty be passed this country. Wherein, not doubting but the consideration of their own interest, as well as of his Maties, will invite the country to a ready observance of this his Maties command,

"I rest your very loving friend,

".

"Belvoir, 1st August, 1636.

"To my very loving friend the High Sheriff of the county of Stafford."

In Burmah the inhabitants still have a custom of pulling a rope to produce rain. A rain party and a drought party tug against each other, the rain party being allowed the victory, which in the popular notion is generally followed by rain.

We may now consider the Rain-Deities proper, or those possessing rain-producing attributes. Mr. Tylor says, "the Rain-God is most often the Heaven-God, exercising a special function, though sometimes taking a more distinctly individual form, or blending in characteristics with a general Water-God." In an early form we find, from Mr. Fergusson (Tree and Serpent Worship), that the chief characteristic of the serpents throughout the East in all ages seems to have been their power over the wind or rain, which they gave or withheld, according to their good or ill will towards man."

The prophet Elijah was always associated with rain, and Dr. Schliemann mentions that "at Mount Eubœa, near Mycenæ, is a temple to Elias, and in times of drought the inhabitants of neighbouring villages go there in a pilgrimage to invoke Elias to send rain. Formerly the