_ 1253 Ib._ p. 48. To prevent a rationalistic explanation of this custom, which, like most rationalistic explanations of folk-custom, would be wrong, it may be pointed out that a little of the crop is sometimes left on the field for the spirit under other names than “the Poor Old Woman.” Thus in a village of the Tilsit district, the last sheaf was left standing on the field “for the Old Rye-woman.” _M. F._ p. 337. In Neftenbach (Canton of Zürich) the first three ears of corn reaped are thrown away on the field “to satisfy the Corn-mother and to make the next year’s crop abundant.” _Ib._ In Thüringen when the after-grass (_Grummet_) is being got in, a little heap is left lying on the field; it belongs to “the Little Wood-woman” in return for the blessing she has bestowed. Witzschel, _Sagen, Sitten und Gebräuche aus Thüringen_, p. 224. At Kupferberg, Bavaria, some corn is left standing on the field when the rest has been cut. Of this corn left standing, they say that “it belongs to the Old Woman,” to whom it is dedicated in the following words— “We give it to the Old Woman; She shall keep it. Next year may she be to us As kind as this time she has been.” _M. F._ p. 337 _sq._ These last expressions are quite conclusive. See also Mannhardt, _Korndämonen_, p. 7 _sq._ In Russia a patch of unreaped corn is left in the field and the ears are knotted together; this is called “the plaiting of the beard of Volos.” “The unreaped patch is looked upon as tabooed; and it is believed that if any one meddles with it he will shrivel up, and become twisted like the interwoven ears.” Ralston, _Songs of the Russian People_, p. 251. In the North-east of Scotland a few stalks were sometimes left unreaped for the benefit of “the aul’ man.” W. Gregor, _Folk-lore of the North-East of Scotland_, p. 182. Here “the aul’ man” is probably the equivalent of the Old Man (_der Alte_) of Germany. _ 1254 M. F._ p. 48. _ 1255 Ib._ p. 48 _sq._ _ 1256 Ib._ p. 49. _ 1257 Ib._ p. 49 _sq._; Wuttke, _Der deutsche Volksaberglaube_,2 § 400; Töppen, _Aberglaube aus Masuren_,2 p. 57. 1258 The explanation of the custom is Mannhardt’s. _M. F._ p. 49. _ 1259 Odyssey_, xvii. 485 _sqq._ Cp. Plato, _Sophist_, 216 A. 1260 For throwing him into the water, see p. 374. 1261 Cieza de Leon, _Travels_, translated by Markham, p. 203 (Hakluyt Society, 1864). 1262 Brasseur de Bourbourg, _Histoire des Nations civilisées du Mexique_, i. 274; Bancroft, _Native Races of the Pacific States_, ii. 340. 1263 Bastian, _Die Culturländer des alten Amerika_, ii. 639 (quoting Herrara). See above, p. 307.