The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

Gaelic Incantations. 237
Martin mentions the Fiiga Dccvwmnn, a term which I may
translate " Sgiursadh nan Deamhan." I think there can
be no doubt that the plant he refers to is St John's Wort*
I le sa\"s :
—
—
"John Morrison, who Ii\es in Bernera of Harris, wears
the plant called Fiiga Dcentomivi sewed in the neck of his
coat, to prevent his seeing of visions, and says he never saw
an}- since he first carried that plant about him. He
suffered me to feel the plant in the neck of his coat, but
would by no means let me open the seam, though I offered
him a reward to let me do it."—( Vide page 334).
Like St John's Wort, the four-lea\-ed Shamrock was
believed to be possessed of many \'irtucs, not onh- in Ireland,
but also in the Isle of Man and the Scottish Highlands.
When found ^\•ithout seeking, it was considered fortunate,
and concerning it the following lines were said :
Seamrag nan duillean 's nam buadh,
Bu chaomh leam thu bhi fo m' chluasaig
'Nam dhomh cadal na'm shuain.
Translated
Shamrock of leaves and virtues,
I would wish you to be under m}^ pillow
On m\- falling asleep.
Every Highlander is acquainted with the belief that a
witch can take the substance out of her neighbour's milk..
The idea is not peculiar to the Highlands, however ;
and as
illustrating the power attributed to witches, I quote two
counts from the indictment charging Marion Pardown,
Hillswick, Shetland, in 1644, with witchcraft. { Vide " Hib-
bert's Shetland's, p. 282). They are as follows :
" Item,—Ye the sd. Marion Pardown ar ind}-ttit and
accusit for that zeers syne, James Halcro, in Hilldiswick,
having a cow that ye alledged had pushed a cow of yours,
}-e in revenge thereof, by yr. said devilish art of witchcraft,
made the sd. James his cow, milk nothing but blood, whereas
)-our awin cow had no harm in her milk ; whereupon they
suspecting you, shewit the sd. bloody milk to Marion Kilti
\-our servant, quha desyrit of you the same bloody milk for
Goddis caus to shew you, and said she houpit the cow sould
be well ; quhilk having gotten, and coming therewith to