"the dead and the livin' cross," and draw water up the stream, and fetch it back without uttering a word. A little of the water was given to the animal that was ill, to drink from the cog with the silver coin still on its bottom. A little of the water was dropped into each ear, and the sign of the cross was made on its back and the remainder of it poured over it in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. If it was a human being that was to be cured, the same course was followed with the exception of dropping the water into the ears.
(Corgarff, Aberdeenshire.)
TO TAKE OFF WITCHCRAFT.
A woman had to spin without speaking, a hank of lint on Sunday during the time of divine service. The thread was twisted round the neck of the one on whom the spell had been cast.
(Told by a woman 80 years of age, who saw the ceremony performed. Portsoy, Banffshire.)
When a cow or any other animal fell ill, and the "ill ee," (evil eye) or witchcraft was suspected as the cause, "Unspoken "Water" was administered as a cure. The water was taken from a part of the stream where "the dead and the livin' cross," i. e., a ford. The usual time chosen for drawing the water was after sunset, "atween the sin (sun) and the sky," but sometimes in the "silence o' the nicht," i. e., about midnight. It was, usually, one that fetched the water, but at times, two went. They must not speak to each other, and if they chanced to meet anyone that saluted them, they must pass on without speaking. Not a word must be uttered, till the draught of water had been administered to the ailing animal. A shilling was put into the cog, on setting out to draw the water. On returning, the water was given to the animal, and the cog was turned upside down. If the shilling stuck to the bottom of the cog, the animal was under the spell of a witch, but the unspoken water had taken effect, and a cure would follow.
My informant has been sent on an errand of this kind.
(Strathdon, Aberdeenshire. )
