Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 3 1885.djvu/289

Rh forty-seven years old, when he weighed 14¾ stone."—(Public Opinion, May 15, 1885.)

Death and Burial Customs, Scotland.—In the Highlands of Scotland it used to be customary for the friends of a deceased person to fight at the funeral till blood was drawn (the drawing of blood was essential). The coffin was never carried against the sun; in order to avoid this, it was carried long round-about ways to the grave-yard (how this could effect the object, I do not pretend to say). It was thought wrong to weep lest the tears should hurt the dead.—(Communicated to me orally by Mrs. Wood, of 4, Oxford Terrace, Edinburgh, April 3, 1885.)

In Scotland, when a death took place in the house, the bees used to be told of it and a bit of crape was put on the hive. If this was not done, it was thought that the bees took offence and never did so well afterwards, sometimes leaving the place. At a death, the mirrors used to be turned to the wall, or were covered up. The door or window of the room used to be opened to let the spirit out easily, and for the same reason people should not lean over a dying person, that the spirit might take flight without obstruction. A plate of salt used to be placed on the breast of the deceased person in the coffin.—(Communicated by my Mother in a Letter, February 25, 1885.)

A dead body used to be constantly watched till it was buried. It was thought unlucky to be buried first in a churchyard. At Loudon, in Ayrshire, when first the burying-place round the church was opened, no one would be buried there. At last a funeral, passing it as usual, was stopped by the villagers and the body forcibly taken and buried. After that no one had any objection to be buried there. About drowning it is said that in a river or pond a light is seen pointing out the body.

About a hundred years ago a young man attending a funeral was told that after the funeral there was a dance, and that he was to dance with the widow. He was to ask her to name the time; her answer was, "It would need to be a merry one, for my heart is very sair." She appeared in full weeds, and the guests were arranged for a country-dance. She and her partner stood at the top of the dance, went down the middle hand in hand and out at the door of