Catalogue of Brand Material.
11
east),^ saying charm ; ap- parition follows, mowing -
Enquirer " fathoms " (mea- sures) a stack with out- stretched arms three times (six, Shetland), and em- braces apparition
Enquirer throws ball of blue wool — otherwise a ball spun by herself from the fleece of a ram lamb (a heather rope, Uist) — down the flue of a kiln (a water- mill, Shetland), winds again, and asks, " Who holds the end of my clue ? " destined husband appears
Future events augured from throwing shoe over house -
Fate of individuals augured from named stones placed under bonfire, examined next morning - - -
Holes dug ; death or marriage augured from anything found in them next morn- ing or from anything found in buried flesh -
Winter's weather (Novem- ber-April) augured from " milt " (spleen) of
slaughtered " mert " (win- ter beast)
LOCALITY.
Ayrsh., North-east, High lands and Hebrides.
Ayrsh., Shetland, North- east.
North-east, Shetland, Uist.
Highlands and Hebrides.
Perthsh., i8th cent.
Outer Hebrides, High- lands and Islands.
Shetland.
IV. Special Local Observances.
Hallowmas Kivn or Harvest Home Harviestoun Ale poured out to sea-god Shony to implore supply of sea-ware
^ Over nine ridges of plough-land.
Lewis. (Highlands and Islands.)
