Evil eye in the western Highlands

Chapter 47: WOOD AND WATER

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About This Book

A folkloric and anthropological study examines belief in the evil eye among Gaelic-speaking Highland communities, attributing it to natural jealousy and covetousness while noting how Christian teaching has shaped its expression. The author collects oral testimony and Gaelic examples that describe symptoms, social repercussions, and effects attributed to the glance, and provides extensive documentation of charms, preventive measures, diagnostic rites, cures, and theories of transmission alongside discussion of local variants and practice.

WOOD AND WATER

The reciter in this case was a native of Tarbert, Kintyre. Believing his cow to be suffering from the Evil Eye, he sent for a practitioner of eolas. When she arrived, the first thing she did was to procure various kinds of wood and “different kinds of water.” She made circles with a stick, repeating “words” the while. This done, she requested the owner to go out of the byre, she remaining alone in it for a considerable time. She put the water in which the wood had been steeped on the cow. The animal recovered.

It seems reasonable to conclude that the iubhar beinne (the juniper) would be one of the woods used, but no exact information was obtainable. (See page 119)