Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/404

396 St. Elmos Light.—"St. Elmo's Light," that at times appears on the masts and yards of boats and ships, goes by the name of "Corbie's Aunt" among the fishermen and sailors on the north-east coast of Scotland. Its appearance is looked upon as the harbinger of foul weather.

Skimmington Riding (ante, pp. 330, 365).—An article on the horns of Highgate, together with the ritual connected with their use and two or three attempts to account for an absurd custom, may be found in Hone's Every Day Book, vol. ii. pp. 40-44.

Witchcraft in the Highlands.—Recently a lady from a distant part of the kingdom had occasion to visit a certain village, situated on the west coast of Ross, and reside there for a short time. In course of her sojourn there she on one occasion felt slightly indisposed, and her friends at once set her illness down to witchcraft and the influence of the evil eye; and a witch-doctor was forthwith called in, who subjected her to his usual course of treatment. The treatment, which was both simple and inexpensive, consisted in taking water, before sunrise, from a stream running south, immersing a piece of silver in it, and liberally splashing the patient in the face with it! From some cause or other, which we have not heard explained, the treatment failed, and other and more rational means were resorted to, which, we are glad to say, proved more successful. Sometimes this treatment is slightly varied by the witch-doctor breathing all over the patient, at the same time muttering a Gaelic incantation ! When practicable, the patient is made to swallow large quantities of the prepared water. It is an essential condition to successful treatment that the patient should be kept in profound ignorance of the intended treatment, the first intimation of which should be a splash of cold water in the face. To this end the witch-doctor cunningly diverts the attention of his patient, and then applies the water unsparingly. It is very important that the piece of silver used for that purpose should be of the shape of a heart. Some witch-doctors are provided with antique heart-shaped silver brooches, which are treasured as invaluable heirlooms from generation to generation on account of their healing virtues. Some of the natives wear amulets round their necks as a protection against witchcraft and the evil eye, and carry moles' feet in their purse to