prize at the National Eisteddfod for the best essay on the Folk-Lore of Merioneth); Mr. Roderick Evans, J. P., Lampeter; Rev. G. Davies, Vicar of Blaenpenal; Mr. Stedman-Thomas (deceased), Carmarthen, and others in all parts of the country too numerous to be mentioned here. Many other names appear in the body of my book, more especially aged persons from whom I obtained information. JONATHAN CEREDIG DAVIES. Llanilar, Cardiganshire. March 18th, 1911. CONTENTS. PAGE. Dedication III. Preface V. Introduction VII. I. Love Customs, etc. 1 II. Wedding Customs 16 III. Funeral Customs 39 IV. Other Customs 59 V. Fairies and Mermaids 88 VI. Ghost Stories 148 VII. Death Portents 192 VIII. Miscellaneous Beliefs, Birds, etc. 215 IX. Witches and Wizards, etc. 230 X. Folk-Healing 281 XI. Fountains, Lakes, and Caves ... 298 XII. Local Traditions 315 CHAPTER I. LOVE CUSTOMS AND OMEN SEEKING. "Pwy sy'n caru, a phwy sy'n peidio, A phwy sy'n troi hen gariad heibio." Who loves, and who loves not, And who puts off his old love? Undoubtedly, young men and young women all over the world from the time of Adam to the present day, always had, and still have, their modes or ways of associating or keeping company with one another whilst they are in love, and waiting for, and looking forward to, the bright wedding day. In Wales, different modes of courting prevail; but I am happy to state the old disgraceful custom of bundling, which was once so common in some rural districts, has entirely died out, or at least we do not hear anything about it nowadays. I believe Wirt Sikes is right in his remarks when he says that such a custom has had its origin in primitive times, when, out of the necessities of existence, a whole household lay down together for greater warmth, with their usual clothing on. Giraldus Cambrensis, 700 years ago, writes of this custom in these words:-- "Propinquo concubantium calore multum adjuti." Of course, ministers of religion, both the Clergy of the Church of England and Nonconformist ministers condemned such practice very sternly, but about two generations ago, there were many respectable farmers who more or less defended the custom, and it continued to a certain extent until very recently, even without hardly any immoral consequences, owing to the high moral standard and the religious tendencies of the Welsh people.