The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries

by W. Y. Evans-Wentz

[156] E. O’Curry, Manners and Customs (Dublin, 1873), I. cccxx; from Book of Ballymote, fol. 145, b. b.

[157] Codrington, The Melanesians, p. 286.

[158] Ib., p. 275.

[159] Ib., pp. 226, 208-9.

[160] Crawley, Idea of the Soul, p. 114.

[161] Codrington, The Melanesians, p. 289.

[162] Ib., p. 194.

[163] Cf. Crawley, Idea of the Soul, chap. iv.

[164] For a thorough and scientific discussion of this matter, see J. L. Nevius, Demon Possession (London, 1897).

[165] N. G. Mitchell-Innes, Birth, Marriage, and Death Rites of the Chinese, in Folk-Lore Journ., v. 225. Very curiously, the pagan Chinese mother uses the sign of the cross against the demon as Celtic mothers use it against fairies; and no exorcism by Catholic or Protestant to cure a fairy changeling or to drive out possessing demons is ever performed without this world-wide and pre-Christian sign of the cross (see pp. [270-1]).