presided over places and shrines. For example, the fire taken to the kiln was called angel; "Maighister," i.e. master, was employed on special occasions for the common word "mùn," i.e. urine.
On this subject vide Martin's Western Isles, p. 18.
V. — A Serpent's Head, a Cure for a Serpent's Bite.
I have a definite recollection of hearing, in my young days, that a cured serpent's head was a remedy for a serpent's bite. The person whose cattle were believed to be suffering from serpents' poison obtained the cured head from the party who, he knew, kept it for the purpose. He placed it in a dish of water, and poured the water from the dish down the cow's throat, or if the wound was external it was washed with it. Times have so changed since, that one now scarcely hears a word of this method of cure.
Since writing the above I have been informed by a clergyman friend, a native of Lewis, that an old woman, an acquaintance of his, has still a serpent's head in her possession for cure as indicated above.
"Clach-nathrach" (serpent's stone) was also considered equally efficacious. The "Clach-nathrach" was a circular, smooth slab, about two inches in diameter, of a brownish — Welsh-slate — colour, with a round hole — size of a thimble — in the centre. The stone was believed to be carefully guarded by the serpents coiling themselves round it in their hibernal state. The hole in the centre was supposed to be the passage through which they emerged from their winter seclusion.
My friend, in his young days, had a "Clach-nathrach" in his possession, but unfortunately lost it.
VI. — "Ghabh sùil air." (Lit. He is being Eye-smitten. The English equivalent is "The Evil Eye.")
The Evil Eye might affect disadvantageously either man, or beast, or goods. It was believed to do so sometimes when its possessor did not intend it.
The general cure (the only cure I ever knew for it) was to give the patient "Uisge air airgiod" — i.e. water on silver — water from a dish in which a silver coin was placed.[1] I have a distinct re-
- ↑ In other parts of the Highlands it was named "Uisge airgiod," i.e. Silver-water.
