The author’s intimate knowledge of Gaelic folk-legend enables him to prove his point by a series of convincing episodes. It would seem likely that Dr. Cross may take the place, as the champion of Celtic and especially of Gaelic origins, which Mr. Nutt's lamented death has so long left unfilled.
From the same writer comes also a study of Witchcraft in North Carolina (July, 1919). The author tells us that he had originally intended to deal only with witchcraft, "but that, owing to the heterogeneous character of the collectanea submitted, the paper has become a sort of omnium-gatherum of North Carolina tradition regarding magic and supernaturalism." The paper is, in fact, a compendium of instances of the witch-beliefs, haunted houses, sympathetic magic, black arts, etc., collected within the area in which the North Carolina branch of the American Folk-Lore Society works. Its object, the writer tells us, is two-fold: first, to enumerate such items of witch-lore as had already been collected in the district, and to point out their traditional character; secondly, by means of illustrations from the folk-lore of the neighbouring territory, to indicate what other articles of the diabolical creed future collectors may hope to discover. The author has brought together a large mass of material on these uncanny subjects. The people of America appear to treat witchcraft in a kindlier spirit than did their forebears in the old country, for Professor Cross gives us no examples of witch trials, or even witch-duckings.
Hindu Holidays.
Hindu Holidays and Ceremonials, with Dissertations on Origin, Folklore and Symbols. By Rai Bahadur B.A. Gupte, F.Z.S. Second Edition revised, Calcutta. Thacker, Spink & Co., 1919.
This book is a creditable attempt to provide a complete account of Hindu festivals, a work which is much wanted. The author is an anthropologist of repute who assisted Sir H. Risley in his work, and he has been aided by his wife who has a thorough
