J. F. Campbell Collection > Minstrelsy of the Scottish border > Volume 1

INTRODUCTION. CJ
" cloth, or somewhat that did relate to the bodies
" of men and women, and a shackle, or tether,
*' belonging to cow or horse, and these being cast
*' into the loch, if they did float, it was taken for
" a good omen of recovery, and a part of the wa-
" ter carried to the patient, though to remote pla-
" ces, without saluting or speaking to any they
" met by the way ; but, if they did sink, the re-
" covery of the party was hopeless. This custom
" was of late much curbed and restrained ; but
" since the discovery of many medicinal fountains
" near to the place, the vulgar, holding that it
" may be as medicinal as these are, at this time
" begin to re-assume their former practice." — Ac-
count of Presbytery of Penpont, in Macfarlane''s
MSS.
The idea, that the spirits of the deceased return
to haunt the place, where on earth they have suf-
fered, or have rejoiced, is, as Dr Johnson has ob-
served, common to the popular creed of all na-
tions. The just and noble sentiment, implanted in
our bosoms by the Deity, teaches us that we shall
not slumber for ever, as the beasts that perish.
Human vanity, or credulity, chequers, with its