Caman iubhair (Shinty-club of yew).
Ciod an t-iubhar? (What yew?)
Iubhar athair (Yew of air),
of which another reciter gave the slightly altered pronunciation, iubhar athar (father’s yew).[7]
A native of the Lewis says it was pretty common to protect cows from evil influences by the use of a charmed burrach (cow fetter). The burrach was made of different things, and when a cow calved it was fixed on her hind legs.
The burrachs the writer has seen were made of hair, possibly they may have made them upon occasion of some tough wood.
Note that it was in calving that the charmed burrach was of advantage, and thus the observances for the protection of the cattle are solely connected with their increase.
[7] “Games of Argyle,” pp. 33, 34.
PREVENTING BY HORSE NAILS AND SHOES
An Arran reciter said: “I was one time staying with a friend here, and I noticed that a horse nail was tied round the churn. I mentioned nothing about it till one day when washing the churn I said, ‘I suppose I may take this off,’ but would she let me, though she did not tell me why it had been put on, but I soon found that out for myself.”