CORRESPONDENCE.
Bells.
I am informed by a friend who has spent some time in Florida, U.S.A., that the negresses there embroider the corners of their pillow-shams and bed-spreads with hand-bells. The embroidery is done in red cotton on a white cotton, or linen, foundation. Sometimes feathers are also introduced into the design. Is this use of bells merely ornamental, or is it connected with an old negro belief? Bells were not infrequently embroidered on bed-curtains and other hangings, as also on ecclesiastical vestments, in the Middle Ages.
Child-birth Custom.
In a Hampshire village until a recent date, if not at the present time, a piece of red tape was tied round one of the thighs of a woman in child-bed, as it was supposed to mitigate the labour-pains and to prevent any mishap. Is the custom known elsewhere?
The girdles of saints, and other holy or magical belts, were formerly placed round women's waists to facilitate delivery (Folk-Lore, vol. iv. p. 467; The Antiquary, October, 1894, p. 160); but do other instances occur of girding such a band round the thigh?
Is it not probable that the tape used was red, because that colour is powerful against the evil-eye, and witchcraft in general? Were parturient animals ever assisted by means of a sacred or lucky band of this kind?
Divining Rod.
I am writing to ascertain whether the divining rod is still used in the Mendips for finding mineral veins (it was as late as 1872),
