The Magical and Ceremonial Uses of Fire. 361
protect them from these unwelcome guests.^ In the old days the farmers of Perche, in France, in order to protect their cattle against witchcraft or disease, lighted little private bonfires in their farmyards and made the animals pass through the smoke and flames."- In Central France you protected yourself against sickness and obtained good luck by leaping several times over a fire. The embers from such a bonfire were taken home, dipped in holy water, and kept as a charm against all misfortunes and especially against lightning.^ On May Day in the Isle of Man the cattle dealers drive their beasts through a fire so as to slightly singe them and to preserve them from harm.^
Among the Reindeer Chukchee the fire-making imple- ment itself is used as a protective charm. The hearth, or lower stick, is usually roughly made in human form, the bow-drill being used. The hearth is used as a protection to the reindeer and is one of the most valued possessions of the family, the old worn out ones being the most highly prized. Some families have many fire-boards, the oldest usually protecting the reindeer, another protecting the hunting pursuits, and a third the sacrifices. Each fire- board is associated with the ownership of a part of the herd, and has its own brand with which that division of the herd is marked. When a boy reaches the age of four or five years, he is given a fire-board with its associated brand ; but, if the number of fire-boards already in the possession of the family is not enough to go round, a new one is made and a new brand invented. If any part of the herd is lost, the fire-board protector is brought out and requested to find the lost reindeer. If any household pro- perty has to be piled up out of doors, a fire-board is often
^ W. Crooke, Folklore of Northern India, vol. ii. pp. 23-24. "T- G. Frazer, Balder the Beautiful, vol. i. p. 188. "J. G. Frazer, Balder the Beautiful, vol. i. pp. 189-190. ■* Folk-Lore, ii. 303 ; Brand, Observations, 7 ; Rhys, Lectures, 520, quoted by W. Crooke, Folklore of Northerti India, vol. i. p. 298.
