Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/383

Rh his companions used to delight in coming across rice and flowers strewn across the road; boylike, they used to tramp through the grain, scattering rice and flowers right and left, to the infinite horror of the passing natives. Not a native would step over such a line across the road, as the firm belief was that the person so doing would fall sick of the disease, which it was intended should be thus passed on by the offerings. These offerings were usually to be seen at early dawn, as if the panic-stricken sufferers had hastened forth by night, hoping to secure some unwary, early wayfarer, as a pass over.

That this idea had taken a strong hold in the popular mind was further corroborated by a fact which took place, in 1879, at Benares. A poor woman had lost several children; they were all born dead. At length the husband, in a fit of despair, took the body of the last-born child, and buried it where cross-roads met, believing firmly that the trouble would pass to the first woman who walked over the spot where the child was buried.

There is one rather touching superstition, prevalent amongst native women-servants, which deserves to be recorded. When a mother returns from church exhausted and fatigued, and with nourishment failing the small infant dependent upon her, the women-servants have a saying that it is one of the ways the Lord has of providing for the wants of the poor and starving babies all over the world. The mother must not grieve nor be alarmed; for it is known that when mothers go to church their nourishment goes to satisfy the poor and hungry wee things who need it so much, How ever such an idea has arisen, there is a touching tenderness about it which must appeal to most women's hearts, and few would grudge the wee waifs and strays their Sabbath dole. Whether such an idea has emanated from an European source, or has grown up in the native mind, is worth inquiry.

The superstitions connected with trees, shrubs, and flowers, ought to open out a wide field. Almost every country has its sacred trees, or trees to which blessing or bane is attached. Here, in India, the Ficus, or peepul-tree, is held in most reverence. Not long since in the neighbourhood of Benares, an old woman was observed walking round and round a certain peepul-tree. At every round she sprinkled a few drops of water from the water- vessel in her hand on the small