There is a subject closely allied with the religious feelings of a people, and that is the subject of their superstitions.  To enter upon that question, in a general view, especially in reference to the Highlands, would not be consistent with our present purpose, but I am induced to mention the existence of a singular superstition regarding swine which existed some years ago among the lower orders of the east coast of Fife.  I can observe, in my own experience, a great change to have taken place amongst Scotch people generally on this subject.  The old aversion to the “unclean animal” still lingers in the Highlands, but seems in the Lowland districts to have yielded to a sense of its thrift and usefulness[26].  The account given by my correspondent of the Fife swinophobia is as follows:—­

Among the many superstitious notions and customs prevalent among the lower orders of the fishing towns on the east coast of Fife, till very recently, that class entertained a great horror of swine, and even at the very mention of the word.  If that animal crossed their path when about to set out on a sea voyage, they considered it so unlucky an omen that they would not venture off.  A clergyman of one of these fishing villages having mentioned the superstition to a clerical friend, and finding that he was rather incredulous on the subject, in order to convince him told him he would allow him an opportunity of testing the truth of it by allowing him to preach for him the following day.  It was arranged that his friend was to read the chapter relating to the herd of swine into which the evil spirits were cast.  Accordingly, when the first verse was read, in which the unclean beast was mentioned, a slight commotion was observable among the audience, each one of them putting his or her hand on any near piece of iron—­a nail on the seat or book-board, or to the nails on their shoes.  At the repetition of the word again and again, more commotion was visible, and the words “cauld airn” (cold iron) the antidote to this baneful spell, were heard issuing from various corners of the church.  And finally, on his coming over the hated word again, when the whole herd ran violently down the bank into the sea, the alarmed parishioners, irritated beyond bounds, rose and all left the church in a body.

It is some time now, however, since the Highlanders have begun to appreciate the thrift and comfort of swine-keeping and swine-killing.  A Scottish minister had been persuaded by the laird to keep a pig, and the gudewife had been duly instructed in the mysteries of black puddings, pork chops, and pig’s head.  “Oh!” said the minister, “nae doubt there’s a hantle o’ miscellawneous eating aboot a pig.”