Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 20, 1909.djvu/546

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482
Collectanea.

Lerwick.—As on Christmas Eve, a large number of "guizers," young and old, were in evidence. The custom of going "guizing" is decidedly on the increase in Lerwick, and the fun and frolic are entered into largely by young and old.

North Benvick.—"Guizing" amongst the younger portion of the community was largely in evidence on Hogmanay night.


Other Practices.

Auchterarder.—Huge bonfires were kindled at the Townhead and the Common Loan.

Banff brought in the New Year with a pipe and drum band and the firing of squibs, rockets, etc.

Berwick, Earlston, Inverleithen, Kelso, and Kirkcudbright mention "firstfooting" as being on the wane, while Haddington, Hawick, and Kilmarnock mention a good deal of it.

Earlston.—The territorials, following the example of their predecessors, had the annual wapinschaw on the range at the Black Hill.

Fordyce.—Scarcely had the chimes of the Old Year died away when the village youths were busy at the time-honoured custom of removing the mortar-stone[1] to the door of the young lady whom they wish to see joined in wedlock during the year.

Keith.—The Institute Bell was tolled for half an hour, and the engine-drivers at the station kept their engine whistles going for a like period. David Rorie.




Indian Folklore Notes, II.[2]

I am again indebted to the courtesy of one of our members, Mr. Halliday Sparling, for numerous cuttings from current Indian newspapers, from which I give some extracts:

Sympathetic magic; sacrificing an animal to cause injury to an enemy.—In South India the head of a fowl which has dark-

  1. Particulars are desired.—Ed.
  2. For I. see "Some Notes on Indian Folklore," ante, pp. 211-3.