_Irish Superstitious Customs._--The following strange practices of the
Irish are described in a MS. of the sixteenth century, and seem to have a
Pagan origin:
"Upon Maie Eve they will drive their cattell upon their neighbour's
corne, to eate the same up; they were wont to begin from the rast, and
this principally upon the English churl. Onlesse they do so upon Maie
daie, the witch hath power upon their cattell all the yere following."
The next paragraph observes that "they spitt in the face; Sir R. Shee spat
in Ladie ---- face."
Spenser alludes to spitting on a person for luck, and I have experienced
the ceremony myself.