Collectanea. 79
ing the while "weights, weights." A tumbled "weight" becomes in turn a "cuddy," and the performance is repeated.
Port the Helm.
The description comes from Cowal. The players form a chain by joining hands. The one at the end of the chain, the leader for the time being, continues crying " Port the helm," wriggling and jerking the others about as much as he can, trying to get them into a condition of unstable equilibrium. When he thinks he has achieved this, he lets go the hand of the boy next him with the intention that all should fall " in a heap " like the murdered wives of the King of the Cannibal Islands.
Supple joints and a long arm are necessary for the following feat. It is generally considered a girls' trick.
Passing her right hand round the front of her neck, she stretches round the back till she can catch her right ear with her right hand. Conversely, it may be done with the left hand and the left ear.
ARTICULATION.
(P. 4, after line 22.)
10. "Brod na poite bige air ceann na poite mhor ; Brod na poite mhor air ceann na poite bige."
(Lid (board) of the little pot on the top of the large pot ; lid of the large pot on the top of the little pot.)
11. " Cu dubh, stumpach dubh, gun earbull." (Black dog, stumpy black, without a tail.)
12. "The cobbler came to cut pumps, new fashioned country cut, cut pumps cobbler."
AUGURIES.
(P. 7, after line 7.)
Falach a CMobha. (Hiding the Tongs.)
This is an indoor amusement. All retire but one who remains to hide the tongs within the limits of the apartment. On the signal given the remainder return and commence searching for them, the one who finds them being the first to be married. Tnere is a cryptic allusion in this use of the tongs which also
