Scottish Charms and Amulets (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1894. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... star. The silver mounting is probably early 17th century work. Another which was worn suspended from the neck by an old Scottish lady for half a century is shown in figs. 5, 6.1 The reverse of the silver Figs. 5, 6. Obverse and reverse of a Flint Arrowhead mounted in silver as a Charm. Scale J. mounting is engraved with the initials 1 below which is the figure I R, 8 and a "broad-arrow " /. A third specimen, which is exhibited by Mr James Cruikshank, of Elgin, is of lozenge form, mounted in pewter, and with a loop for suspension like the two already described. The reverse bears the engraved initials E K separated by a "broad-arrow." Two specimens mounted in silver, each with a loop for suspension, were exhibited in the temporary Museum of the Archaeological Institute in Edinburgh in 1856.* Adder Beads And Stones. The ornamented beads of vitreous paste found throughout Britain, and commonly known as "adder-beads," were formerly believed by the 1 The Reliquary, edited by Llewellynn Jewitt, vol. viii. pi. xx. and p. 207. This elf-arrow is also figured in Evans, Ancient Stone Implements, p. 325, and in Cartailhac, op. tit. The engraving is here reproduced with the permission of Messrs Bemrosc & Sons, the publishers of the Reliquary. * Catalogue, Archaeological Institute Museum, pp. 8, 127. These elf-arrows are now believed to be lost. peasantry to have been made by adders,1 and to be of the greatest efficacy in the cure of numerous diseases. It was believed "that about Midsummer Eve (tho' in the time they do not all agree) 'tis usual for snakes to meet in Companies, and that by joyning heads together, and hissing, a kind of Bubble is form'd like a ring about the head of one of them, which the rest by continual hissing blow on till it comes off at the tail, and then...