Catalooiie of Brand Material.
Ring in porridge or mashed potatoes indicates next bride - - - -
Apple-paring thrown over left shoulder gives initial of future partner
Name of future partner dis- covered by touching writ- ten names blindfold.
Ditto, by holding water in the mouth and listening at neighbour's window for first time heard
Ditto, by holding piece bitten from harvest -cart in the mouth, listening as before
Colour of hair augured from hair found in a mouthful of earth from the top sod of the house-wall or from over the lintel, taken in- doors - - - -
Or from hair found in straw drawn from thatch -
Or from hair found in broken turf placed over live coal in water. . . -
Or from putting burning peat in water used for washing feet . . - -
Vision of future husband procured by placing 3 pails of water in bedroom and fastening 3 holly-leaves to nightdress
Ditto, by washing " sark " and drying it in bedroom ; he will come and turn it -
Sark must be dipped in water from a well " which brides and burials pass over " -
" From a ford where the dead and the living cross "
Left sleeve only dipt ; in south-running water
LOCALITY.
Hebrides. Lowlands, fiighlands, Hebrides.
Ihid. Ibid.
Ibid.
Aberdeen (Fraserburgh).
Orkney.
Highlands, Hebrides.
Borders Ibid.
Renfrewsh. (Eastwood, 1689).
North-east and Shetland.