The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

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284 ^/^^ Highland Monthly.
Gypsy ceremony against the influence of the Evi! Eye, and
as it is somewhat akin to our Highland method, I may
briefly repeat it liere. A jar is filled witii water from a
stream, and it must be taken zvith, not against the current.
In it are placed seven coals, seven handfuls of meal, and
seven cloves of garlic, all of which are put on the fire.
When the water begins to boil, it is stirred with a three-
forked twig, while the gypsy repeats a rhyme of which the
following is a translation :
Evil eyes look on thee,
May they here extinguished be,
And then seven ravens
Pluck out the evil e\'es.
Evil eyes (now) look on thee.
May they soon extinguished be.
Much dust in the eyes,
Thence may they become blind.
Evil eyes now look on thee ;
May they soon extinguished be;
May they burn, may they burn
In the fire of God !
It is pointed out that the seven ravens in the rhyme are
probably represented by the seven coals ; while
the three-
pointed twig, the meal, and the garlic, symbolise lightning.
From the Evil Ej/e one naturally turns to what is called
in the Outer Islands,
EOLAS AN T-SNAITHLEAN, OR THE TRIPLE THREADS.
I have previously pointed out that Pennant, in his Tour,
refers to Virgil's description of the charms used by the
shepherd Alphesibosus, and the use of triple threads in
connection with these :
" Necte tribus nodis ternos, A •narylH, colores."
("Tie three colours in three knots, O Amaryllus."
Eolas an t-Snaithleaii is simp!)- the Charm or Incantation
of the threads, that is, the triple threads ; and it is worthy
of note that the triple threads of Virgil were white, rose