The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-05-28
Pool of strathhllnn.

The tradition AYERS that ST. Fillan. n
human being. was made a saint about
tbe beginning Of the eighth century, by
pobert De Bruce cOusccrated the pool
nov called the Holy Pool Of Strathhllan,
ana endowed Il with the power Of healing
all kinds OF diseases, but more especially
madness This healing virtue is supposed
10 BE- more powerful towards the end OF
me first quarter Of the moon; and ! was
toH that II ! had come there the follow
irr night. and the night after, / should
have seen hundreds Of both sexes bathing
An the pool / met FIVE or six who were
3gst coming away from taking their dip,
and amongst them an unfortunate girl
or u her mind, who came from thirty
miles distance TO receive the benefits Of
the waters. and had been there for
several moons together, but had never
derived the smallest advantage, and, IN
deed. she appeared so completely mad,
that. Whatever may be the virtue OF
ST. Fillan's Pool, j am sure Wills would
pronounce hers 10 be a hopeless case.
This pool IS by no means the fountain
head for the water runs for a long way
uD the country: but II is not supposed
On receive It's virtue until 1t empties
into tho pool. Strathhllan derives its
name from the saint, strath, In the
tween two mountains. Near Strathfillan
"a famous battle was fought between
Robert de Bruce and the MacDouglass,
which the former gained, owing 10 the
assistance afforded by the prayers Of
50. Flllan The women battle on one side
Of the pool and the men on the other.
Zach person gathers up nine stones In
the pool. and after bathing walks 70
hin near the water, where there are three
cairns. round each of which he performs
three turns. at each turn deposiung a
stone: and II II is for any bodily pain,
fractured limb or sore that they are
bathing. they throw upon one of these
cairns that piece OF their clothing which
covered the affected part; also, II they
have at home any beast that is diseased.
they have only 20 bring some Of the meal
which n feeds upon, and make II into
paste with these waters, and afterwards
give ~ 20 them 20 eat, and IL Will prove
an infaUible cure: but they must. like
wise. throw upon the cairn the rope
or halter with which II was led Con-
eequentiy the cairns are covered with ola
halters. gloves bonnets, nightcaps. rags
Of all sorts. kits. petticoats, carriers, and
smocks. Sometimes they 20 as far as 10
throw away their halfpence. Money has
often been called the root OF all evil,
- Tor what part Of the body these
haifpenca are thus abused I never could
learn. However we may venture 10 sup
nose that they seldom remained there long
without somebody catching the disorder
again When mad people are TO be
r8fhod they are thrown in with rope
fied about the middle. after which they
are taken 20 ST. Fflan's church, about a
mile distant. where there is a large stone
with a niche carved In IL, Just large
.r0urb 10 receive them. In this stone,
v.bf.h Is I'm the open church-yard. they
.re fastened down TO n wooden frame
work. and remain there for a whole night,
Win n covering Of hay over them. and
81 Fmin's bell Is put over their heads.
II In the morning the unhappy patient
&C. found loose. the saint is supposed TO
bee very propltious; n, on the contrary,
he Is found bound, the cure Is supposed
Q. De doubtful.