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Hand-Fasting.-Funeral Ceremonies

perity of the contract. "Howbeit," he says, " it skilleth not at this day what metal the ring be of. The form of it being round, and without end, doth import that their love should circulate and flow continually. The finger on which this ring is to be worn, is the fourth finger on the left hand, next unto the little finger, because there was supposed a vein of blood to pass from thence into the heart."

We shall conclude this chapter with an account of an ancient custom, called HAND-FASTING. This custom formerly took place at an annual fair, in the parish of Eskdale-muir, in Dumfriesshire, thus described by the Rev. W. Brown, in his Statistical Account of that parish : "At that fair it was the custom for the unmarried persons of both sexes, to choose companions with whom they were to live till that time next year. If they were pleased with each other at that time, then they continued together for life; if not, they separated, and were free to make another choice, as at first. The fruit of their connection, if there were any, was always attached to the disaffected person. A priest, whom they named Book-i'-bosom, (because he carried in his bosom a Bible, or a register of the marriages,) came from time to confirm the marriages." Mr. Brown traces this custom from the Romans. - See Sir J. Sinclair's Statistical Account, vol. xii. p. 615.