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Gypsy Sorcery and Fortune Telling: Illustrated by numerous incantations, specimens of medical magic, anecdotes and tales

Chapter 39

I. de fascinatione, II. Del Rius, lib. i., part 21. Garzonius nel

Serraglio. J. Cæsar Baricellus secundus scriptor in hort. genialé." [8] "Über Marcellus Burdigalensis, von Jacob Grimm. Gelesen in der Academie der Wissenschaften," 28 Juni, 1847 (Berlin. Dummler). In this work, as well as in the German Mythology, by the same author, and in Rudolf Roth's "Litteratur und Geschichte des Veda" (Stuttgart, 1846), the reader will find, as also in the works of the elder Cato and Pliny, numbers of these incantations. [9] The divination by the running brook has been known in other lands. The Highlanders when they consulted an oracle took their seer, wrapped him in the hide of a newly-killed ox or sheep, and left him in some wild ravine by a roaring torrent to pass the night. From such sights and sounds there resulted impressions which were reflected in his dreams (Vide Scott, "Lady of the Lake," and notes). The fact that running water often makes sounds like the human voice has been observed by the Algonkin Indians of Maine and Nova Scotia (Vide "The Algonkin Legends of New England," by Charles G. Leland). [10] "Südslavische Hexensagen, Mittheilungen der Anthropologischen Gesellschaft in Wien." xiv. Bande, 1884. "Medizinische Zaubersprüche aus Slavonien, Bosnien, der Hercegovina und Dalmatien." Wien, 1887. "Sreca, Glück und Schicksal im Volksglauben der Südslaven." Wien, 1886. "Südslavische Pestsagen." Wien, 1883. [11] "Witch. Mediæval English wicche, both masculine and feminine, a wizard, a witch. Anglo-Saxon wicca, masculine, wicce, feminine. Wicca is a corruption of wítga, commonly used as a short form of witega, a prophet, seer, magician, or sorcerer. Anglo-Saxon witan, to see, allied to wítan, to know. Similarly Icelandic vitki, a wizard, is from vita, to know. Wizard, Norman-French wischard, the original Old French being guiscart, sagacious. Icelandic, vizkr, clever or knowing, ... with French suffix ard as German hart, hard, strong" (Skeat, "Etymol. Dictionary"). That is wiz-ard, very wise. Wit and wisdom here are near allied to witchcraft, and thin partitions do the bounds divide. [12] For a very interesting account of the mysterious early dwarfs of Great Britain the reader may consult "Earth Houses and their Inhabitants," by David MacRitchie, in "The Testimony of Tradition." London: Trübner and Co., 1890. [13] The many superstitions relating to cutting nails may be referred in part to the very wild legend of the ship Naglfara given in Sturleson's "Edda." "Then in that Twilight of the Gods (the Norse Day of Judgment) will come the ship Naglfara, which is made of dead men's nails. In that sea it will go forth. Hrymer steereth it. And for this cause no man should die with his nails unshorn, for so the ship is made, and the gods would fain put that off as long as possible" ("Edda, Gylfesgynning," 26th tale). [14] "Geit suer Heidrun heitr stendr uppi a Valholl.... En or spenum hennar rennr moilk ... tháer ero sva miklar at allir einheria verda fuldrucknir af." ("A ewe named Heidrun stands up in Valhalla. And from her udders runs milk; there is so much that all the heroes may drink their fill of it"). (Snorro Sturleson's "Edda," 20th tale). [15] Though not connected with this work, I cannot help observing that this extraordinary simile probably originated in a very common ornament used as a figure-head, or in decorations, on Mississippi steamboats, as well as ships. This is the sea-horse (hippocampus), which may be often seen of large size, carved and gilt. Its fish tail might be easily confused with that of an alligator. Prætorius (1666) enumerates, among other monsters, the horse-crocodile. [16] Schott, "Wallachische Mährchen," p. 297. Stuttgart, 1845. [17] In Northern Sagas it appeared that Berserkers, or desperate warriors, frequently bound themselves together in companies of twelve. Vide the Hervor Saga, Olaf Tryggvason's and the Gautrek Saga. So there were the twelve Norse gods and the twelve apostles. [18] Vide "Drawing and Designing." London: Whittaker & Co., 1888. [19] This was written long before I heard that the same idea had occurred to others. [20] Another Italian was fined or imprisoned for the same thing in London in July, 1890--i.e., for telling penny fortunes by the same machine. [21] This chapter is reproduced, but with much addition, from one in my work entitled "The Gypsies," published in Boston, 1881, by Houghton and Mifflin. London: Trübner & Co. The addition will be the most interesting portion to the folk-lorist. [22] This song which, with its air, is very old in the United States, has been vulgarized by being turned into a ballad of ten little nigger boys. It is given in Mrs. Valentine's Nursery Rhymes as "Indian boys." [23] It is not generally known that Sir H. A. Layard and Sir William Drake were the true revivers of the glass manufacture of Venice. [24] See the "Algonkin Legends of New England," by Charles G. Leland.