Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/146

138 But it would be tedious to give every detail in full; suffice it to say that the greatest power is shifted successively from the water to the canoe, from the canoe to the rock, from the rock to mankind, from mankind to the sorcerer, from the sorcerer to the tangéna (poison ordeal), and from the tangéna to God. The last and complete paragraph reading thus:—

"Nay, I am not strong," said the tangéna, "for God overcomes me." "Ah, it is who is strong," said Ibotìty, "for God overcame tangéna, tangéna killed sorcerer, sorcerer overcame man, man broke rock, rock broke canoe, canoe crossed water, water quenched fire, fire softened iron, iron cut rope, rope caught cat, cat killed mouse, mouse burrowed hill, hill stopped wind, wind broke tree, tree broke the leg of Ibotìty."

So Ibotìty and all things agreed that God is the strongest of all, and governs all things in the world, whether in the heaven above, or on the earth beneath, or underneath the earth, or to the verge of the sky, for God will bear rule for ever and ever.

1. Parish of Aghaboe (Queen's County).

St. Canice's Well was in my orchard in Aghaboe: there the pedlars laid down their packs and said their prayers. About a quarter of a mile distant from the town was a group of thorn-bushes, called after St. Canice, there likewise the poor people performed their devotions.—(Vol. i. p. 42.)

2. Parish of Ardbraccan (Meath).

At Telltown (Tailtean) games similar to the Olympian were held