Indian Antiquary Vol 26

SR No.: 032518
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 360
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

Page 17

JANUARY, 1897.]
SPIRIT BASIS OF BELIEF AND CUSTOM.
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house.13 In Scotland, oaths were taken on bread and salt, and salt waspnt into milk as a guard against the Evil Eye. In England (1590), oonsecrated salt saved men from witches. 16 In North England, spilt salt brings ill-luck, unless part of it is dropped over the left shoulder. 16 If the milk is bewitched, in Lancashire they put into it a hot iron, in Northumberland a crooked coin, and in Cleveland a pinch of salt.17 In the north of England, there is a saying: “Help ine to salt; help me to sorrow."'18 In the Isle of Man, people always carry salt in their pockets.19 Eton scholars, every third year, used to go to the sali hill and distribute salt; while friars used to sell consecrated salt for healing.30 An Irishman recovered his wife from a rout of fairies by throwing over her, as she passed, salt, hen's blood, and all flower water.31
The use of salt to keep evil from an anbaptised child was common in Middle-Age Europe 22 In a Scottish ballad the infant anbaptised daughter of the king dies and is laid, swathed in linen, in a golden casket with much salt and a lighted lamp because she had never been in God's House. In Scotland, the new-born babe is bathed in or rubbed with salt and water and made to taste it three times. The mother's breast is also washed with salt-water before the child begins to suck. When a babe is brought to a house for the first time the head of the house must put sugar and salt into its mouth and wish it well.24 In Argyleshire, in Scotland (1800), when a child was taken to be baptised, before leaving the house salt was carried round it against the sun.25 In the Christian rite of baptism salt is put into the child's mouth that he may spit out the evil one, despuere malum.26 In Lincoln (1833), a newly-christened child brought nto a neighbour's house was presented with eggs and salt.7 In Scotland, if a child has a blink, of the evil life a sixpence is borrowed, a good fire kept burning in the grate, the door locked, silence kept, and the child laid in front of the fire. A spoon is filled with water and the borrowed sixpence is piled with salt, and both sixpence and salt are spilt into the water. The child's feet, hands, and brow are rubbed with the salt-water and the rest is thrown into the fire with the words, "Guid preserve from all scaith." 28 A dish full of salt was the first article of the bride's which was carried into her new house. In entering the house some of the salt was scattered on the floor.29 In Lincoln (1833), salt was a pledge of welcome. It was given to a guest as soon as he entered the host's house.90 In 1597, James Stuart, and in 1603 James Reid, cured a woman by making her drink south-ranning water and by casting salt and w.beat about her bed.1 In 1607 Bartie Paterson cared a sick man by making him always wear nine grains of wheat, nine grains of salt, and nine twigs of rowan. In 1600 & Scottish midwife eased a woman's pains in child-birth by laying an open knife and sprinkling salt under the bed.33 About 1600 & cattle plagae was stayed by burying in a pit a live ox and a live cat with much salt. In 1863 salt and wheat were bound in & cloth to a cow's horn to keep off disease, and in another case (1649) to help her milk.85 In Yorkshire (1646), salt and an old sickle were put under a cow's stall to cure disease.36 In North England (1825), when & cow is calving salt is strewn along her back to keep the witch from hurting her.37 Salt is dropped into the first milk drawn from a lately calved cow.38 And in Lincoln (1830), when
18 Henderson's Folk-Lore, p. 217.
1 Brand's Popular Antiquities, Vol. III. pp. 164, 165, 15 Op. cit. Vol. III. p. 19.
16 Henderson's Folk-Lore, p. 121. 17 Op. cit. p. 188.
15 Dyer's Folk-Lurs, p. 278. 11 Op. cit. p. 275.
20 Madras Almanac, 1840, p. 631. 21 Notes and Queries, Vol. VI. p. 10.
23 Napier's Folk-Lore, p. 34. 93 Black's Folk-Medicine, p. 180 ; Napier's Folk-Lore, p. 30. 7Napier's Folk. Lore, p. 33.
% Black's Folk- Medicine, p. 31. 26 Elworthy's The Evil Eye, p. 422 37 Gentleman's Magazine Library, "Manners and Customs," p. 31. * Napier's Foll-Lore, p. 37.
29 Napier's Folk-Lore, p. 47. 30 Gentlemun's Magazine Library, p. 118.
31 Dalyell's Darker Superstitions of Scotland, pp. 85, 90. 22 Op. cit. p. 395.
39 Op. cit. pp. 85, 99. 34 Op. cit. p. 193.
85 Op. cit. p. 100. 36 The Denham Tracts, Vol. I. p. 315.
37 Op. cit. Vol. II. pp. 323, 365. * Op. cit. p. 101.