110 THE MAGIC OF JEWELS AND CHARMS
in
Inniskea, an island off the coast of Mayo, there was, in 1851, a stone
idol called in the Irish tongue Neevougi. This was said to have been
preserved and worshipped from time immemorial. The stone is described
as having been wrapped in so many folds of homespun flannel that it
looked like a mass of that material. This is explained by the custom of
dedicating a dress of this flannel to the stone whenever its aid was
sought, the garment being sewed on by an old woman who officiated as
the priestess of the stone. Prayers were offered to this strange idol
for the cure of diseases, as it was supposed to be endowed with
extraordinary powers. A stranger petition sometimes made was that a
storm might arise and wreck a ship upon the coast so that the thrifty
islanders might profit by its misfortune ; on the other hand, with
charming inconsistency, when they wished to go a-fish-ing or pay a
visit to the mainland, the trusty stone was expected to assure them
fair weather and a calm sea.
In
Tavernier's time (about 1650) many poor families living in the woods
and on the hillsides in India, far from any village where there was a
temple, would take a stone, probably one of a peculiar shape, and would
roughly paint on it a nose and eyes in red or green color. This being
done, the whole family would gather about this stone and reverÂently
adore it as their idol.77
In
certain districts in Norway, up to the end of the eighÂteenth century,
superstitious peasants used to preserve round stones, and set them up
in a conspicuous place in their houses. At Yule-tide these stones were
sprinkled with fresh ale. Some of them were worshipped as divinities,
and every Thursday, or oftener, they were smeared with butter, or some
similar substance, before the fire. This ointment was allowed to dry on
the stone, which was then returned to its
" " Les Six Voyages de Jean Baptiste Tavemier," La Haye, 1718, vol. ii, p. 439 ; liv. iii, chap. xi.
