Jamieson's splendid "Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language," supplies us with valuable information on the point we are discussing, drawn from a variety of reliable authorities. Under "BELTANE, Beltein, the name of a sort of festival observed on the first day of May, O.S.;" we have:--"A town in Perthshire, on the borders of the Highlands, is called _Tillie-_ (or _Tullie_) _beltane_, _i.e._ the eminence or rising ground of the fire of Baal. In the neighbourhood is a druidical temple of eight upright stones, where it is supposed the fire was kindled. At some distance from this is another temple of the same kind, but smaller, and near it a well still held in great veneration. On Beltane morning superstitious people go to this well, and drink of it; then they make a procession round it, as I am informed, nine times. After this, they in like manner go round the temple. So deep rooted is this heathenish superstition in the minds of many who reckon themselves good Protestants, that they will not neglect these rites, even when Beltane falls on Sabbath." Quoting from P. Loudon, Statist. Acc. iii., 105, the writer proceeds:--"The custom still remains [in the West of Scotland] among the herds and young people to kindle fires in the high grounds, in honour of Beltan. _Beltan_, which in Gaelic signifies _Baal_ or _Bel's fire_, was anciently the time of this solemnity. It is now kept on St. Peter's Day." Just here we may turn to Mr. Pennant's "Tour in Scotland," for the following interesting particulars. "On the first of May, the herdsmen of every village hold their Beltein, a rural sacrifice. They cut a square trench on the ground, leaving the turf in the middle; on that they make a fire of wood, on which they dress a large caudle of eggs, butter, oatmeal, and milk; and bring, besides the ingredients of the caudle, plenty of beer and whisky; for each of the company must contribute something. The rites begin with spilling some of the caudle on the ground by way of libation: on that every one takes a cake of oatmeal, upon which are raised nine square knobs, each dedicated to some particular being, the supposed preserver of their flocks and herds, or to some particular animal, the real destroyer of them: each person then turns his face to the fire, breaks off a knob, and flinging it over his shoulder, says--_This I give to thee, preserve thou my horses; this to thee, preserve thou my sheep_; and so on. After that they use the same ceremony to the noxious animals; _This I give to thee, O Fox! spare thou my lambs; this to thee, O hooded Crow! this to thee, O Eagle!_"[25]