Such as on certain
occasions kindling a fire, and the people joining hands and dancing
three times round it south-ways, or according to the course of the sun.
At baptisms and marriages they walked three times round the church
sun-ways. The Highlanders, in going to bathe or drink in a consecrated
fountain, approach it by going round the place from east to west on the
south side. When the dead are laid in their grave, the grave is
approached by going round in the same manner. The bride is conducted to
the spouse in presence of the minister round the company in the same
direction; indeed, all public matters were done according to certain
fixed ideas in relation to the sun, all pointing to a lingering ray of
sun worship.
If a fire were slow or _dour_ to kindle, the poker was taken and placed
in front of the grate, one end resting on the fender, the other on the
front bar of the grate, and this, it was believed, would cause the fire
to kindle quickly. This practice is still followed by many, but being
compelled now to give an apparently scientific reason for their conduct,
they say that it is so placed to produce a draught.
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