The islanders, like all the Irish, believe that the fairies are the
fallen angels who were cast down by the Lord God out of heaven for
their sinful pride. And some fell into the sea, and some on the dry
land, and some fell deep down into hell, and the devil gives to these
knowledge and power, and sends them on earth where they work much
evil. But the fairies of the earth and the sea are mostly gentle and
beautiful creatures, who will do no harm if they are let alone, and
allowed to dance on the fairy raths in the moonlight to their own sweet
music, undisturbed by the presence of mortals. As a rule, the people
look on fire as the great preservative against witchcraft, for the
devil has no power except in the dark. So they put a live coal under
the churn, and they wave a lighted wisp of straw above the cow’s head
if the beast seems sickly. But as to the pigs, they take no trouble,
for they say the devil has no longer any power over them now. When
they light a candle they cross themselves, because the evil spirits
are then clearing out of the house in fear of the light. Fire and Holy
Water they hold to be sacred, and are powerful; and the best safeguard
against all things evil, and the surest test in case of suspected
witchcraft.