Ward & Lock's descriptive and pictorial guide to the Isle of Man ...

!Introduction. 15auxiously, fear struggling with hope, the dawu muat beawaitedHunting the wren was a favourite amusement on St.Stephen's day, and when the poor bird was captured, itsfeathers were distributed as guards against witchcraft.So recently as 1837, Baal-fircs were kindled ;and in December,1843, a trial equivalent to a trial for witchcraft tookplace before a jury of Manxmen. 'While a female witnesswas under examination, and questioned as to whether sheever came '' in any shape or form,'' to do injury to a personinterested in the case, somebody let loose a rabbit in thecourt ; and the jury, " with eyes staring, hair on end, andmouths dilated," exclaimed, " The witch ! the witch ! " andthe uproar was not quelled till one of the crowd seized andkilled the animal.At the meeting of the Archaeological Association in January,1867, the Rev. J. C. Gumming read a paper, in the courseof which he stated that '• There is still on the island a prevalentbelief in the effect of the evil eye ;and that whena person Avishes to purchase an animal, but will not give theprice demanded, the owner of the beast lifts the earth ordust from the footprint of the person trying to make thebargain, and rubs the creature all over to prevent the illeffects of overlooking." According to the same authority,the Manx folk resort to the hot well of St. Maughold, on thefirst Sunday in August, and carry away bottles of water tobe used during the year as a cure for the afflicted beasts. Ifa beast die from the supposed effect of the evil eye, thecarcass is pubhcly burnt at four crossways, and the firstperson who passes that way after the fire is kindled is fixedupon as the author of the disease. Tourists, look out, if yousee smoke rising near the junction of four cross-roads.Not very many years ago, one of the best-known charactersin the island was a " fairy doctor,"' who had a large practice ;and he is remembered by many not yet past middle age. Ifanybody was supposed to be bewitched, Teare was sent to, andthe messenger was strictly charged neither to eat nor drinkby the way, nor to tell any person his mission. The recoveryof the bewitched person was firmly believed to be securedfrom the moment the '" Doctor " was made acquainted withthe case. Farmers delayed sowing crops till Teare couldcome to bless the seed. He is described by one v/ho knewhim, as a little man, Avho used to ride about on a Manx pony.On one occasion, when the chief magistrate of Castletownintroduced a visitor to Teare, ne fii'st called upon him to