Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 7, 1896.djvu/380

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350
Minutes of Meeting.

herd's club, a lamp used in farm-kitchens, a bundle of rush-lights and box for flint and steel, a candle mould, and twisted rushes for binding besoms, from Aberdeenshire ; and a meal bason for baking oatcakes, a fairy bottle, a witch bottle, an old-fashioned reel for winding yarn, and specimens of treacle-cakes from Galloway. All these objects were presented by Dr. Gregor to the Society.

Dr. Gregor also gave an account of the work he had done for the Ethnographical Survey Committee in Dumfriesshire and Kirkcudbrightshire, and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to him.

Mr. J. B. Andrews exhibited and presented to the Society a number of charms he had obtained from a professional witch in Naples, consisting of (1) three cords: (a) black, to cause illness in the head, (b) red, to cause illness in the heart, and (c) white, to prevent infidelity ; (2) a lemon and a potato with nails implanted in them; (3) a padlock (till unlocked the enchanted person must obey) ; (4) a magnet which draws a lever irresistibly, and which is to be worn on the person ; (5) a horseshoe and whorl to protect against witchcraft; and (6) a small bag of fine sea-sand (when this is worn a witch must perform the impossible task of counting the grains before she can enchant the wearer). A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Andrews.

The Hon. J. Abercromby read a paper entitled "Funeral Masks in Europe ;" and Miss Burne read a paper entitled "Staffordshire Folk and their Lore;" but time did not admit of a discussion on either paper.

A note on "Easter Day," by Major A. F. Mockler-Ferryman (see arite, p. 295), was read by the Secretary.