Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-11-12

turned round three times" A curious
pile of rocks in the parish of st. Clesr,
known as the Cheesewring was noted in
days past for the same peculiarity. II was
generally supposed, too, that q special
feature of the rocking stones" which are
more or less plentiful all over the country,
was that they would immediately rock at
the slightest touch of the innocent, but
still remain immovsble when pushed by
the guilty. Occasionally, however, they
were reported to vibrate when touched by
the guilty, a feature which tradition af-
firms is the case with one at Island Magee,
on Browns bay, which begins to oscillste
at the approach of "sinners, landlords and
malefactors generally" Another remark
able stone was one near Nancledrea, Corn
wall, and locally known as the "Twelve
O'clock Stone, "having been, by super
natural power, impressed with some pecu-
liar sense at midnight" Although i'm
movable during daylight, or, indeed, by
human power at any other time, it would
rock like a cradle exactly at midnight, and
many child is reported to have been
cured of some bodily weakness by being
placed at this mystic hour on the Twelve
O'clock Stone"
Stones of healing are far from uncom-
mon. In Carmarthen are still to be found
traces of a belief in the alluring stone
whose virture lie that it will cure hydro
phobia. sit is represented" writes Mr..
Writ Skies in his British Boblins' QSS0,
1853, "as soft white stone, about the size
of mans head, originally found on a
farm about twelve miles from Carmarthen.
Grains were scraped from the stone with a
knife and administered to the person who
had been bitten by rabid dog. And the
popularity of the stone was that though
generation after generation had scraped it,
nevertheless it did not diminish in size" !"
A woman who once ate of this remarkable
stone after being bitten by dog testified
that it caused ga boiling in her blood. I"
In the ruins of the Church of st. Columb-
kille, in the townland of Kilaned, Done
gal, is the healing stone, which for centu-
ries mas had the reputation of curing dis
eases. 1t is stated that this stone was
once sent to America for the benefit of ma
tives of this portion of Donegal who had
emigrated and wished to make use of its
healing powers, and who afterwards re-
turned it.
1t may be remembered, too, that in the
Ashmolean museum, Oxford, there is a
mutilated st. Johns head, which bears an
inscription to the effect that powder of it
is said to have done great service to sore
eyes, especially when there was a white
speck." Certain stones, from their magic
properties, have long been used as amulets
in differents parts of the world In India
the t'salagrama" stone is supposed to pos
sess extraordinary qualities. 1t is about
the size of billiard ball, and is believed
to be found only in the Gandaki, river
in Nepsul. The lucky possessor of this
enchanted stone preserves it in a clean
cloth, from which it is frequently taken
and bathed and perfumed. The water in
which it has been placed acquires sim
expelling potency, and is therefore drunk
and greatly priced. The amulets of the
Tasmanians are composed of sacred stones
suspended from the neck to prevent the
malignant influence of witchcrrft. Strange
powers were attributed to the load-stone
in olden timss, and one used by the Eng
lish admiral, Sir George Somers, and still
preserved by his descendants, was consid-
cred a charm against drowning. In con-
nection with the sea We find numerous en-
chanted stones. In the Javan mythology,
for instance, we read how a famous per-
sonage, who was superior in abilities to all
other created beings, was sent by his faith
er to do penance in the ocean. But, be-
fore leaving, he gave him a wonderful
stone, which rendered its possessor insen-
sible to hunger, cold, thirst, etc, and COM
pletely fortified him against the effects of
water. An upright stone in Iona Island
is said to confer the power of steering
well to any one who will stretch his arm
along it; and e correspondent in Notes
and Queries describes stone at Innisken,
near Mayo Island, which SO recently as the
year 1851 was brought out and importuned
to bring wrecks along. 1t was of cylindri-
cal shape and was carefully wrapped in
flannel.