The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

Ihe Highland Monthly.
repeats the paidir (pater), and the creud (credo). He then
takes a coin, or coins. My informant was not very precise
as to the use of the three metals, as stated in the former
description, but she significantly added, " Mar is treise 'n
t-airgiod 's ann is fhearr e," meaning that the more valuable
the coin, the more powerful it is ! The coin, or coins,
are then, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
put into the water. Thereafter three palmfuls (tri
boiseagaii) are sprinkled, in the name of the Trinity, on
the person or animal suffering. The performer then goes
with the dish of water to the fireside, and sprinkles three
palmfuls of the water on the fire, repeating these words :
" An till teine farmad ?
Tillidh teine farmad."
(" Will fire turn envy ?
Fire will turn envy").
— —
The remainder of the water is then taken outside, and
spilled on a flag, or rock— ^on what my informant called
"air lie dhilinn," that is, a flag or rock in situ.
At the present day, in Perthshire, a similar performance
is gone through when a tenant finds that a ram of his flock
is sick. The practice, doubtless, had its origin in the belief
that such sickness was due to the Evil Eye. The ceremony
is somewhat similar to that described in the first charm ;
and it was considered a good sign if the coin adhered to
the bottom of the vessel containing the water.
A version I received from Skye a izw years ago seems
simple. Three coins—half a sovereign, half a crown, and
half a penny—were put into the water ;
the performer knelt
on his right knee, and sprinkled the water on the sufferer,
at the same time repeating the following Incantation :
Chi suil thu :
Labhraidh bial thu ;
—
Smuanichidh cridhe thu
An Triuir ga do dhion
An t-Athair, am Mac, 'san Spiorad Naomh.
(name here)
A thoil-san gun robh deant. Amen.