Beliefs Regarding Death in Cumberland.
The Editor is indebted to Sir James Frazer for the following communication.
A few days ago I was discussing with the Dean of Carlisle, Canon Rashdall, some of the customs connected with death I have come across in my practice as Coroner in this county and he said that he was sure you would be glad to hear of them, though no doubt you know of their existence already. On one occasion the deceased was a yeoman and the jury were mostly farmers, I observed that nearly every one took the deceased’s chin between his thumb and forefinger. It was with great difficulty I could find out why they did this. One man however told me that if one touched a dead body, the idea of it did not haunt one, and also that if the body was cold there was no danger, but if moist and clammy to the touch someone in the room would die within the year. I have only come across this custom once.
Another custom, almost universal amongst the poorer classes in the country, is the placing of a saucer of salt on a dead man’s breast. I have never noticed it on a woman’s. An undertaker told me it was done for hygienic reasons, but I doubt this. On one occasion when the deceased was of the gipsy type—I do not think he was a gipsy—I found the body laid out in the caravan with a small round piece of green turf about 4 ins. in diameter on his breast.
The custom of covering over the looking-glass in the room where the deceased is lying is quite common and finds favour even amongst some of the well to do.
J. W. Halton,
Coroner Eastern Division of Cumberland.
38 Lowther Street, Carlisle.
