Notes and Queries, Number 171, February 5, 1853: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. — John Shaqi
Notes and Queries, Number 171, February 5, 1853: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.Various
History
Notes and Queries, Number 171, February 5, 1853: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
_Subterranean Bells._--Hone, in his _Year-Book_, gives a letter from a
correspondent in relation to a tradition in Raleigh, Nottinghamshire, which
states that many centuries since the church and a whole village were
swallowed up by an earthquake. Many villages and towns have certainly
shared a similar fate, and we have never heard of them more.
"The times have been
When the brains were out the man would die,
That there an end."
But at Raleigh, they say, the old church-bells still ring at Christmas
time, deep, deep in earth; and that it was a Christmas-morning custom for
the people to go out into the valley, and put their ears to the ground to
listen to the mysterious chimes of the subterranean temple. Is this a
tradition peculiar to this locality? I fancy not, and seem to have a faint
remembrance of a similar belief in other parts. Can any of your
correspondents favour "N. & Q." with information hereon?
J. J. S.
_Leicestershire Custom._--A custom exists in the town of Leicester, of
rather a singular nature. The first time a new-born child pays a visit, it
is presented with an egg, a pound of salt, and a bundle of matches. Can any
of your correspondents explain this custom?
W. A.
_Hooping Cough: Hedera Helix._--In addition to my former communications on
this subject, I beg to forward the following:--
Drinking-cups made from the wood of the common ivy, and used by children
affected with this complaint, for taking therefrom all they require to
drink, is current in the county of Salop as an infallible remedy; and I
once knew an old gentleman (now no more) who being fond of turning as an
amusement, was accustomed to supply his neighbours with them, and whose
brother always supplied him with the wood, cut from his own plantations. It
is necessary, in order to be effective, that the ivy from which the cups
are made should be cut at some particular change of the moon, or hour of
the night, &c., which I am now unable to ascertain: but perhaps some of
your readers could give you the exact period.
J. B. WHITBORNE.
* * * * *
Minor Notes.
_The Aught and Forty Daugh._--The lordship of Strathbogie, now the property
of his Grace the Duke of Richmond, was anciently known by this name. It is
one of the toasts always drunk at the meetings of agricultural
associations, the anniversary of his Grace's birthday, &c., in the
district. The meaning has often puzzled newspaper readers at a distance. It
was the original estate of the powerful family of Gordon in the north of
Scotland. A _daugh_, or _davach_, contains 32 oxgates of 13 acres each, or
416 acres of arable land. At {129} this rate, the whole lordship was
anciently estimated at 20,000 acres of arable land, and comprehends 120
square miles in whole.
KIRKWALLENSIS.
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