quarts of ale, and give a spoonful fasting each morning till the cure is
effected. The liquor is to be strained before use.
DREAMS
Never tell your dreams fasting, and always tell them first to a woman
called Mary.
To dream of a hearse with white plumes is a wedding; but to dream of a
wedding is grief, and death will follow.
To dream of a woman kissing you is deceit; but of a man, friendship; and
to dream of a horse is exceedingly lucky.
To dream of a priest is bad; even to dream of the devil is better.
Remember, also, either a present or a purchase from a priest is unlucky.
FAIRY DOCTORS
The fairy doctors are generally females. Old women, especially, are
considered to have peculiar mystic and supernatural power. They cure
chiefly by charms and incantations, transmitted by tradition through many
generations; and by herbs, of which they have a surprising knowledge.
The fairies have an aversion to the sight of blood; and the peasants,
therefore, have a great objection to being bled, lest "the good people" would
be angry. Besides, they have much more faith in charms and incantations
than in any dispensary doctor that ever practised amongst them.
CHARMS BY CRYSTALS
The charms by crystals are of great antiquity in Ireland--a mode of
divination, no doubt, brought from the East by the early wandering tribes.
Many of these stones have been found throughout the country, and are held
in great veneration. They are generally globular, and appear to have been
originally set in royal sceptres or sacred shrines. A very ancient crystal globe
of this kind, with miraculous curative powers, is still to be seen at
Currahmore, the seat of the Marquis of Waterford, and it is believed to have
been brought from the Holy Land by one of the Le Poers, who had it as a
gift from Godfrey de Bouillon. The ball is of rock crystal, a little larger than
an orange, and is circled round the middle by a silver band. It is still
constantly borrowed by the people to effect. cures upon cattle suffering
from murrain or other distempers. This is done by placing the ball in a
running stream, through which the cattle are driven backwards and
forwards many times.