A KING OF CATS

Evening Star, Issue 20048, 13 December 1928, Page 16

A KING OF CATS

Queer superstitions that exist in remote parts of the country were mentioned at. the Jubilee Congress of the Folk Lore Society at Devonshire,House recently, reports the ‘Daily telegraph.’ Miss Mona Douglas said there was a belief that the cats of the Isle of Man had a king ot their own. “This king lives the life of an ordinary house cat during the day, but at night ho assumes his regal powers .and travels the lanes in fiery state. • Woo betide the householders, with whom fie lives if he has been unkind to his royal guest, for the king ot the Manx cals may take terrible vengeance. , “Cats are believed to.be on intimate terms with the fairies' and with all the inhabitants of the invisible world. Pussy is the only, member ol the household who is permitted to remain in the kitchen when the fames come in at night to warm themselves after the human inhabitants have gone to bed.” .. Speaking of large black dogs with flaming eyes tba* were' supposed to roam the island at night. Miss Douglas said the best method'.of .catching a witch was -to pursue her with a black greyhound not having a white hair upon t. She understood that there was an old law ; to the effect tiiat if any Manxman might kill a Scotsman 'if he went to Scotland and' brought back two goats to keep away the Scotsman’s ghost. ■■ Professor H. J. Rose said that Coinish charms were to be' found practically ah over Europe._ Present belief in Cornwall i'i “pixies”, and the “evil eye” was also mentioned. Miss W. Blackman described the methods employed by the women inhabitants of the “Harley., street of Cairo.” Among the cures was one tor a heacbache obtained by tying a stone from'the Holy Land upon the Jiead and keeping it there Tor three days and nights.