Evil eye in the western HighlandsMaclagan, Robert Craig
Religion
Evil eye in the western Highlands
Maclagan, Robert Craig
Evil eye; Folklore; Superstition
Five men meeting his neighbour outside the lighthouse stopped him and
informed him that having left their boat on the beach, when they went
back to it they found it had a hole, and they wished to see in the
looking-glass who had done the mischief. When the lighthouse-keeper
assured them that he had no such looking-glass, and expressed
astonishment that they would believe in such nonsense, they seemed
somewhat displeased. In recounting this incident afterwards the
light-keepers learned that an impression had gone abroad in the place
that there was a particular mirror at the station that had the property
of showing who those were that had taken part in cases of witchcraft.
It is easily comprehensible how the reflectors in a lighthouse might be
spoken of as of peculiar efficacy, with the usual “Three Crows” result.
The difficulty of course is to distinguish between claims advanced
of the possession of a power, of which, under the circumstances, a
demonstration cannot be demanded, and the actual carrying out of some
impressive hanky-panky. The following is an illustration:—
A messenger being sent for a cure, and having received it, the
scientist told him that if the cow had been his own she could make the
shadow (_faileas_) of the one who had done the mischief to pass before
him, or, if the woman who was the owner of the cow had come, she could
have done it for her.
One can scarcely be accused of a want of Christian charity if he
suggests that if the professor had had the owner before him he would
not have claimed the powers he did.
In the story already related of Campbell of Skipness showing the
injurious one in a carefully darkened barn, the reciter, also a
Campbell, had all the appearance of believing in the story, but as it
was told of a relative of his great-grandfather’s, no one can say what
are the accretions time has added to the facts of the case.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account