Archaeological essays . ach-na-Bratach, and placed in a setting(see Fig. 18) of four silver bands or slips. The following account of the Ardvoirloch curing-stone is fromthe pen of one of the present membersof that ancient family :— It has been in the possession ofour family from time immemorial, butthere is no writing about it in any ofthe charters, nor even a tradition as toivhcn and liow it became possessed ofit. It is supposed to have been broughtfrom the East, which supposition iscorroborated by the fact of the silversetting being recognised as of Easternworkmanship. Its healing powers hav
Archaeological essays . ach-na-Bratach, and placed in a setting(see Fig. 18) of four silver bands or slips. The following account of the Ardvoirloch curing-stone is fromthe pen of one of the present membersof that ancient family :— It has been in the possession ofour family from time immemorial, butthere is no writing about it in any ofthe charters, nor even a tradition as toivhcn and liow it became possessed ofit. It is supposed to have been broughtfrom the East, which supposition iscorroborated by the fact of the silversetting being recognised as of Easternworkmanship. Its healing powers haveFig. 18. stone of Ardvoirloch. always been held in great repute in ourown neighbourhood, particularly in diseases of cattle. I have evenknown persons come for the water into which it has been dippedfrom a distance of forty miles. It is also believed to have otherproperties which you know of. These superstitions would have existed up to the present day,had I not myself put a stop to them ; but six years ago, I took an. SCOTTISH CHARM-STONES. 213 opportunity to do away with them, by depositing the stone withsome of the family plate in a chest which I sent to the bank. Thus,when applied to for it (which I have been since then), I had theexcuse of not having it in my possession; and when the Lairdreturns from India, it is hoped the superstition may be forgotten,and the stone preserved only as a very precious heirloom. I may mention that there were various forms to be observedby those who wished to benefit by its healing powers. The person^^•ho came for it to Ardvoirloch was obliged to draw the waterhimself, and bring it into the house in some vessel into which thisstone was to be dipped. A bottle was filled and carried away ; andin its conveyance home, if carried into any house by the way, thevirtue was supposed to leave the water; it was therefore necessary,if a visit had to be paid, that the bottle should be left outside. Other charm-stones enjoyed, up to the present century
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