Revieivs. 455
Eye belief extends widely. The Kouchedra dries up the spring as the traveller seeks a drink ; Peris and Dogsucklers beset his path ; if he drinks from certain rivers he becomes a were- wolf. The Nereids bring bad weather, and when it thunders they are scared by ringing the church bells. The custom of temporary burial of the dead within the European area is interesting. After three years the body is exhumed ; if " the earth has eaten him," the bones are taken to the church ; if the corpse is undecayed, the man is beheved to be a vampire.
Of the Wallachh Miss Garnett writes : " A singular rite of purely Latin origin is now performed by the bride as she is lifted from her horse at the threshold ; butter or honey is handed to her, with which she proceeds to anoint the door, signifying that she brings with her into the house peace, plenty and joy. The word uxor^ originally unxor, is derived from ungere, ' to anoint.' " It is very doubtful if this custom is of Latin origin, and the suggested derivation seems to be a folk etymology. I learn on the best authority that the word pro- bably means " she who grows in size." Pliny, by the way, says that the bride should anoint the door with the fat of a wolf, possibly as a protective.
Miss Garnett has given us an excellent and instructive book. Its value for students would have been increased if she had given us some indication of the source from which her materials were derived, and if she had provided an adequate index.
W. Crooke.
Books for Rcvicio sJioidd be addressed to
The Editor of Folk-Lore, c/o Messrs. Sidgwick & Jackson, Ltd. Adam St., Adelphi, London, W.C.
