344 Collectanea.
Leechcraft a7id Witdicrajt.
The following account of " the Muckle Wheel Ban'," is taken down from the description of an old man, a native of the glen of Cushnie, West Aberdeenshire. The incident narrated actually occurred in the aforesaid glen some sixty years ago, and its truth can be vouclied for.
An old farmer, having lost several of his calves through sick- ness, thought it advisable to mention the fact to Nannie, who had the reputation in the glen of being a " canny wifie," and with whom he happened to be on very good terms. He stated that another of his calves was ill, and Nannie said, "We'll pit it through the Muckle Wheel Ban', Banners." (The "muckle wheel" was the driving wheel of the old-fashioned spinning-wheel which was driven by hand, by placing the hand on the top of the wheel, and giving it a strong, sharp, backward turn. It was connected by a band — " the muckle wheel ban' " — with the si^indle, and was at least three times the circumference of the later type of wheel which was driven by a treadle. Only an expert could use it, from the fact that the right hand was constantly occupied with the driving of the wheel.) Having only one calf left the farmer was naturally very solicitous for its well-being, and said so to Nanny. The calf was accordingly brought into the house and the wheel set in motion. Having passed the calf through "the ban'" Nanny gave it a sound smack on the back and said, " Ye'll live to be a gey ox yet and gang i' the ploo."
In further conversation with the farmer she remarked, "They're nae far awa that's interferin' wi' yer caur [calves], Banners." " Nay, Nanny?" "Na, Sanners, they're nae that! They'll be comin' in sometimes to see ye, bit jist meal doon some breed in a sup milk, an' gae them that to drink. They'll nae be for takkin' 't at first, but press them to tak' it, an' try an' spuU some o' the milk on them an' they'll tak' it quick eneuch efter that." The amount of pressure that had to be exercised, or the celerity with which the proffered refreshment was taken, was evidently the test of guilty or not guilty as regards meditated evil towards the person visited.
The same informant also recounted the following incident which happened in his own family. On one occasion his father
