Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 14, 1903.djvu/205

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Correspondence.
183

Guinea (B). According to the Rev. J. Holmes, "The wild boar's tusk, the acquisition of which is greatly desired as a mark of bravery [by the Elema tribe of the Papuan Gulf], is not so much coveted as a personal adornment, as for the courage, ferocity, and daring which it is supposed to contain, and to be capable of imparting to anyone who secures it." (Journ. Anth. Inst., vol. xxxii., p. 427.) The necklace shown in the figure C looks as if it came from the Louisiades, and the boars' tusks may be symbolic or magical, but I do not recall any definite statement from that part of British New Guinea. The charms D—F have a very different meaning.

A. C. Haddon.




Oxfordshire Folk-Lore.

(Ante, p. 65.)


May I be allowed to supplement Mr. Manning's Notes in one or two particulars? The Headington Wick Farm (see p. 70) was in my childhood a large square house with two wings. One of the latter is all that now remains. It was, I should think, of Restoration date, but might have been earlier. It was always reputed to be haunted. It was then occupied by a farmer of the name of Ely, and I remember hearing that Miss Ely being one night dressing for a ball, saw in the glass someone look over her shoulder, and that the shock caused rather a severe illness. I never knew who "Nanny Martin" was. The place had been the residence of the Wharton family—not a farm, it was far too large for a farmhouse. I think that the last of that name who resided there was Bryan Wharton, who left a bequest to the poor of Headington, as recorded in a notice in the ringing space, under the tower of the church. At any rate, I was told by an old woman in Headington that Mr. Wharton was obliged to leave the Wick owing to the strange noises and sights with which it was troubled. He afterwards lived in a more modern house in Headington, and the old house was left in charge of a bailiff. The said informant further stated that the bailiff's wife, if belated, would stay for the night at her father's cottage some fields off, rather than go up to the house. She also said that when they tried to paper