the fire was produced. From this a bonfire was lighted, stretching right across some of the lanes in the village, and through this the cattle were driven.[1] One woman who died a few years ago could remember from her girlhood how the common herdsman went through the village shouting: "The door must be shut, and the fire put out; they are going to draw fire (drage ild) at Hovgaard."
The latest volume of Danish Legends (vol. v.) is one of 600 pages on "Ghosts and Apparitions." The manner in which many of these tales are narrated, shows clearly the hold they still have upon the popular mind; and probably the belief in ghosts is in Denmark, as elsewhere, the most vigorous part of the whole cycle of folklore. In this volume there are over 2,000 versions of ghost-tales, many of them naturally bare and vague enough; but giving a very thorough picture of popular views on the existence and import of ghostly visitants. So far as one can see from these tales, the laying of a ghost is still regarded by some as part of the ordinary duties of a clergyman, although it is not every one who is learned and skilful enough to do it successfully. A very interesting section is that on various devices to prevent the dead from coming back to annoy the living; some of these are perhaps worth quoting.
"925. When my grandfather died, my grandmother bought two pounds of flax-seed, and went round the house 'withershins' and sowed it. If nothing appears on the third night after the dead
- ↑ The connection between this and Cormac's explanation of Bel-tene need scarcely be pointed out. It may be worth recording that within the past 50 or 60 years a similar practice was observed in Glen Esk, in the north of Forfarshire; fires were kindled in front of the cattle-houses, and through these the cattle were driven when first taken out to the fields in spring.
