The handbook of folklore / [Charlotte Sophia Burne].

  • Charlotte Sophia Burne
Date:
1914
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The handbook of folklore / [Charlotte Sophia Burne]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    352/384 page 336
    Is labour, such as rowing, weighing anchor, hauling on ropes, accompanied by songs? traditional or improvised? sung in chorus or as a solo with a chorus burden ? Note what is done to a new hand on joining the vessel, on first seeing open sea, first going up the rigging, first crossing the Line, etc. ? Are sailors tattooed ? are the patterns original or copied from each other? have they any significance? does each man choose his own pattern or is some special pattern allotted to him by right ? Are any talismans carried to prevent wreck or drowning ? Are any spots haunted by mermen or mermaids? do they drag unwary victims under the water? can these be rescued ? how ? Is it unlucky or unlawful to save a drowning man ? how is wreckage regarded, and wrecks ? Note things done to influence the weather ? Does whistling affect it? Do witches control it? do they raise storms? do sailors buy favourable winds of them? Note what persons or animals are unlucky passengers (natives of certain countries, clergy, women; a corpse; etc.). Are any noted landmarks saluted in passing ? how? Describe rites relating to the birth of an infant at sea, a death and burial at sea; can the captain ofa vessel celebrate marriages at sea? Note what rites are observed on landing, or returning from a voyage. Describe them. Note any legends told by sailors of ghostly ships, the Flying Dutchman, the sea-serpent, or other marvels. Have they any special songs ? How are they regarded in folk-tales, songs and proverbs ? Flocks and Herds. Note what domestic animals are kept and who attends to them, men or women ? or both ? whether cattle are housed during part of the year and pastured during the other part; whether they are pastured in the uplands and lowlands at different seasons; rites and ceremonies observed on changing pasture. Are the cattle ever driven through fire or smoke? What is done in case of murrain? Enquire into veterinary practice (cf. Leechcraft, ch. x.). What is done to preserve the cattle from witchcraft ? to secure fecundity ? Are strange births ominous ? What is done to prevent abortion? if it occurs, how is the immature foetus disposed of ? How is the after-birth disposed of ? What is done to console a cow for losing her calf or a ewe her lamb? Who milks the cattle or sheep ? men, women, or young children of both sexes? Are charms or songs used to induce the cows, etc., to give their milk? Is milk used for human food? note any taboos in connection with it. May other food be taken before it is believed to have passed out of the system ? may it be boiled? is butter or cheese made from it? Do witches and demons steal milk, prevent butter
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