Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 5 1887.djvu/204

196 bullock." Mr. T. Q. Couch, W. Antiquary, 1883, says of one, "He is an old-fashioned man, and, amongst his other 'whiddles' (whims), keeps a goat amongst his cattle, for the sake of keeping his cows from slipping their calves." Branches of carr (mountain ash) were, in the east of the county, hung over the cattle in their stalls to prevent their being "ill-wished," also carried in the pocket as a cure and prevention of rheumatism.

The belief in witchcraft in West Cornwall is much more general than most people imagine. Several cases have lately come under my own notice; one, that of a man-servant in our employ who broke a blood-vessel, and for a long time was so ill that his life was despaired of. He was most carefully attended by a Penzance physician, who came to see him three times a day. But directly that his strength began to return he asked permission to go to Redruth to consult a "pellar," as he was quite sure that he had been "overlooked" and "ill-wished." An old Penzance man, afflicted with rheumatism, who gained his living by selling fruit in the streets, fancied himself ill-wished. He went to Helston to see a "wiseman" residing there, to whom he paid seven-and-sixpence, with a further promise of five pounds on the removal of the "spell." As he was too poor to pay this himself a brother agreed to do it for him, but somehow failed to perform his contract. Now the poor old man thinks that the pellar's ill-wishes are added to his former pains.

The "pellars" wore formerly magical rings, with a blue stone in them, said to have been formed by snakes breathing on hazel-twigs. Our country-people often searched for these stones. Many are the charms against ill-wishing worn by the ignorant. I will quote some mentioned by Mr. Bottrell: "A strip of parchment inscribed with the following words forming a four-sided acrostic:—

"At the time of an old lady's decease, a little while ago, on her breast was found a small silk bag containing several charms, among