Folklore from the Southern Sporades. i8i
lay them upon the tombs of their dead. Children, beggars
or strangers may eat them. The feast at the tomb was a
regular institution amongst the ancients, and this is no
doubt a survival of it. On May 21, in February before the
Carnival, and at one other time, they make dishes of
macaroni and cheese, or boil corn, and the dishes are taken
from one house to the next. The same quantity is brought
in as was taken out.
Miscellaneous Superstitions and Omens. The Evil Eye
{to /adri, /SaaKavla), which has already been mentioned, is
feared in these islands, as everywhere. Skulls are set up in
the vineyards on stakes, to ward it off, in Rhodes, Cos, and
Samos. On the lintel of a new house a piece of wild onion
{dypioKpofi/jivSa or daKcXapovSa) is hung to keep off the
Evil Eye. There is a Sacred Tree in Cos, near the village
of Aspendiou, beside a little chapel. Opposite the tree
there is a small window in the chapel. A sick child is
brought in by the door and passed out through the window,
if not too big, three times ; then some prayer is said, and a
rag of the child's clothes is hung on the tree. Large trees
are for the most part haunted (crTot^^etara), and if you sleep
under one of them the spirit strikes you {^vKaei)} Rivers
and springs are haunted likewise; the spirits usually appear
as beautiful women, but sometimes they take the shape of
foam. Spirits of the springs throttle men. You must
never sweep after sunset, for this is a sin. A sneeze means
that some one is speaking of you ; a loud sneeze that he is
speaking ill of you. People on hearing a sneeze utter some
prayer or ejaculation, in which the title of 7repi8pofio<i
(" run-about ") is given to the Deity. A noise in the ear
betokens some evil which is to befall you. If a hen makes
a noise like crowing, it is a bad omen." When a woman
' Cos, Samos.
- Mr. Marriage sends me the couplet :
A whistling maid and a crowing hen
Are hateful alike to God and men. Compare also Teience, J'honnio, iv. 4, 27, ^allina cccinit, a portent.
