and repeating the following doggerel verse:

"A friend, a foe,

Money to come, a journey to go."
The number of white spots on a person's nails determine the number of years he has
to live. (Alsace-LAMBS, p. 39).
If the nails of a person suffering from fever be cut, and the parings stuck on with wax
on a neighbour's door before sunrise, the fever will be transferred to the neighbour.
(PLINY, Nat. Hist., XXVIII, 86).
The Russian peasants place the parings of a dead person's nails along with the body
in the grave, in the belief that the same has to climb a steep hill before reaching
Paradise. (RALSTON, Songs of the Russian People, 109; cf. FRAZER, Golden Bough,
Vol. I, p. 368sq.).
In America white spots on the nail are considered lucky.
In East Anglia spots on the thumb nail are more certain of fulfilment than the others.
According to the local doggerel:
"Spots on the fingers are sure to linger,
Spots on the thumb are sure to come."
A girl who bites her finger-nails will bring forth children with great difficulty. (Japan-
GRIFFIS, M.E., p. 469).
Finger and toe nails should be carefully destroyed, otherwise other people finding them
may perform magical operations. (Gt. Britain, France, Germany, India, etc.).
If while cutting nails, a piece springs into the fire, the owner will meet with a speedy
death; the consequences may however be averted by throwing some salt in the fire.
Nails should be trimmed just before starting on a journey, and never at night. (Japan-
GRIFFIS, M.E., p. 467).
If babies' nails be cut before they are a year old, they will not grow.
If you cut your nails on a Monday, you will have luck all the week; but if on a Friday,
unluck (Gt. Britain), or it will bring luck and help to keep away toothaches. (Germany--
WUTTKE, pp. 12, 17).
If you throw away nail-clippings in the fire either you yourself or your house will catch
fire. (Japan-CHAMBERLAIN, T.J, Ger. tr. p. 18). Vide European.
Nail Iron: An iron coffin nail, if accidentally found, is used for various magical purposes,
such as for curing diseases, punishing thieves, catching game, etc.
Name: If two children belonging to the same family bear the same name, one of them
is sure to die. (Pomerania--WUTTKE, p. 197).
The real names of persons are often concealed, for fear that others ascertaining it, may
perform various magical operations. (FRAZER, G. B., Vol. I, p. 406 sq; CROOKE,
P.R.I., Vol. II, p. 5).
The Finns and Esthonian peasants are very loth to mention wild beasts by their proper
names, for they believe that either they will have poor sport, or that the creatures will
do them much harm. (CASTREN, Vorlesungen, p. 201; BOECLER-KREUTZWALD, p.
120).
The Kamtchatkans abstain from mentioning the names of bears, whales and wolves,
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for they say that these can understand human language. (STELLER, p. 276).
Bengali women do not mention snakes and thieves by their propernames. (N.I.N.Q.,
1,15; Ethnologie du Bengale p. 83).
Various other animals and things are called by names different to their own, generally
through fear of their vengeance. (FRAZER, G.B., Vol. I, pp. 451-469).
In Brittany, the name of a deceased is not uttered. (LE BRAZ, Vol. I, p. 287). Vide
Child.
Namtar: Babyl. Myth. They were plague-demons.
Nana: Egypt. Myth. Another name for Tashmit.
Nandini: Hindu Myth. The cow of plenty belonging to the sage Vasishtha, said to have
been born of Surabhi. The cow of plenty that was produced at the churning of the
ocean. (DOWSON, H.C.D., p 218).
Nanna: Norse Myth. The daughter of King Gevarus of Norway. Balder is said to have
been in love with her.
Narcissus: A flower. According to a Greek fable Narcissus fell in love with his own
reflection in a fountain, and, having pined away because he could not kiss it, was
changed into a flower which bears his name.
Navel: After the first human being was made, the Evil One spat in his stomach, but
Allah hastened to tear out the contaminated flesh, and thus the navel originated.
(Turkish, KUNOS. T.F.T., p. 2. For various superstitions see PLOSS, Das Weib, Vol. II,
pp. 277 et seq.).
Nebo: Assyro-Babyl. Myth. A god of Borsippa which is supposed to be older than
Babylon itself. He is the representative of wisdom, and to him is the art of writing
ascribed, even by the priests of Babylon.
Neck: If the neck of anyone grows stiff, or the muscles of the head are twisted awry, it
is a portent that the person will die by the neck. (HAZLITT, p. 430).
Needle: You are inviting trouble if you utter the word "needle" soon after you wake up in
the morning. (Bengal).
Death is presaged by the finding of a needle threaded with black cotton, on the way.
(Silesia--WuTTKE, p. 38).
If while sewing, the needle breaks in three pieces, it is a sign of a wedding in the near
future. (Gt. Britain, Germany, Bohemia.)
Needles should not be lent to others, lest they "prick" your friendship. (Tyrol--WUTTKE,
p. 135).
It is unlucky to pick up a needle in the street. (Gt. Britain). Cf. Pin.
If a lizard runs over your hand you will be handy with the needle. (Alsace-LAMBS, p.
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30).
Negro: To dream of negroes portends illness or death. (U.S.A. -KNORTZ, p. 21).
To see a black man the first thing on waking up in the morning is an omen of luck (Gt.
Britain).
Nek: Another name for the Nkke.
Nekhebit: Egypt. Myth. Nekhebit and Uatchit were taken by Horns in the form of two
serpents, that they might consume the still-remaining rebels by fire. (WIEDEMANN,
Leg. of the Winged Sun-Disk).
Nekir: Vide Munkir.
Nekkan: In Sweden it is the musical spirit of the mater. He assumes various shapes
and governs the sea. Sometimes he appears as a young man on the surface of the
sea, and is especially severe to young maidens who have not treated their lovers well;
hence you should always carry a piece of iron (q.v.) or steel as a protection against
him. (THORPE, N.M., Vo. II, p. 39; BASSETT, p. 96).
Nekogami: The cat-god possession of Japan.
Nemesis: Gr. Myth. An ancient goddess who was the personification of retributive jus-
tice.
Nemodilky: Bohemian Folklore. Beautiful maidens with coal-black hair falling loosely
over their snow-white throats. They are dressed negligently in red, and go about at
night enticing young men, whom they drown and are united to them. (GROHMANN, p.
11.)
Neoptolemus: Gr. Myth. The valiant son of Achilles and Deidamia, who, after the death
of his father, joined his forces against Troy. After the fall of Troy, he married
Andromahe, wife of Hector. He was one of the heroes in the wooden horse, and the
husband of Hermione. He was also called Pyrrhus.
Nephthys: Egypt. Myth. A goddess, daughter of Seb and Nut, sister and wife of Set,
who, with Isis, was especially associated with the ritual of the dead.
Neptune: Rom. Myth. Son of Saturn, brother of Jupiter and Pluto, husband of
Amphitrite. He was a god of the water, especially of the sea, whose worship was early
introduced in Rome. He is usually represented as bearing a trident.
Nereid: Certain kinds of nymphs. Class. Myth. A sea-nymph. The Nereids, about fifty or
hundred in number, were the daughters of Nereus and Doris, and attendants upon
Poseidon. They are represented as riding sea-horses, and are either of entire human
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form or with the tail of a fish. cf. Mermaid.
Nereus: Class Myth. A god of the sea, husband of Doris, father of the Nereids.
Nergal: Assyro-Babyl. Myth. One of the great gods. He is the god of the Midsummer
sun, the sun in its burning aspect, also the god of war and pestilence. In Babylonian
mythology, he is a sun-god who was worshipped in Cutah. In Assyria he was also a
god of chase. Vide Aralu.
Nerthus: Teut. Myth. A goddess whose chief seat of worship was the island of Zeeland.
According to Tacitus, her character was that of a deity of peace and fertility.
Nesnas : Arab. Folklore. It resembles half a human being; it has half a head, half a
body, one arm and one leg, and has the power of human speech. It is found in
Hadramat and El-Yemen. (LANE, A.S.M.A., p. 45.)
Nessus : Gr. Myth. A Centaur shot with a poisoned arrow by Hercules for trying to out-
rage the hero's wife, Deianira. She, by the advice of the dying Centaur, steeped her
husband's shirt in his blood as a love charm; when he put it on, this shirt poisoned
Hercules' flesh and caused such agony that he killed himself.
Nest : If a bird finds a person's hair, and builds its nest with it, the person will suffer
from headache. (Germany--BIRLINGER, Aus Schwaben, p. 509; PANZER, Beitrage,
Vol. I, p. 238; WOLF, Beitrige, Vol. I, p. 224; HAZLITT, p. 296.) Among the gipsies of
Eastern Europe the same superstition prevails. (FRAZER, G.B., Vol. 1, p. 378, quoting
WLISLOCKI, Zigeuner, p. 81.) Sometimes it is thought that the person whose hair is
thus used will have an eruption on the head. (Tyrol-ZINGERLE, p. 181.)
Net: Hurons and Athabascan Indians married their nets to young girls to obtain luck in
fishing. (BASSETT, p. 411.)
News, Good: Good news is foretold by a flea-bite. (WUTTKE, p. 34.) Vide Music, Nose.
New Year: It is customary in China to cover the outside of doors and windows on this
day with paper scrolls containing some mottoes, quotations from ancient literature, etc.,
as suggestive of material prosperity. (Epic. Rel. Eth., Vol. VIII, p. 260.)
In Bengal people put on new clothes on this day, in the belief that they will not he in
want for the rest of the year, and nothing is lent or sold on credit.
To meet a dark man immediately on getting up on New Year's morn is a prognostica-
tion of luck for the whole year. (Great Britain.)
In Tyrol and Silesia the peasantry believe to the present day that numerous phantoms
such as wraiths, headless spirits, etc., can be seen on New Year's Eve.
If a person goes at midnight on New Year's Eve with a candle in each hand in front of a
mirror and calls a dead man three times loudly by his name, the face of the deceased
will he reflected on the glass. (General-cf. WUTTKE, p. 224.)
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"He who is born on New Year's morn,
Will have his own way as sure as you're born."
--BERGEN, Cur. Sup., p. 21.
Vide Tear, Star.
Neznama pani: In and around the district of Holitz, Death personified is designated by
this name.
Nibelungs: Ger. Myth. The children of the mist; a race of dwarfs or demoniac beings,
and the original possessors of the famous hoard and ring won by Siegfried (q.v.).
Nidaba: Babyl. Myth. A goddess of the agricultural type.
Nidhogg: Scand. Myth. A dragon or adder that gnaws the roots of the fabled ash-tree
Yggdrasil.
Nifiheim: Scand. Myth. A region of cold and darkness into which one of the roots of the
ash-tree Yggdrasil descends.
Nifihel: Norse Myth. A name of the underworld.
Night: In Ireland, people born at night are said to have the power of seeing ghosts.
(LADY WILDE, p. 204.)
St. Christopher protects people from night alarms.
Nightingale: Adon, after the death of her son, was changed into a nightingale by Zeus.
cf. Philomele.
Nightmare: It is believed to be caused by a female demon called Mara (q.v.) sitting
astride the sleeper's chest.
In Indian superstition nightmares are caused by the soul being tortured in its peregrina-
tions during sleep.
Nightmares can be kept off by keeping a coal-rake in the bedroom. (Yorkshire.)
Nigi-haya-hi: Jap. Myth. "Gentle, swift sun." A sun-god who came down from heaven in
a heavenly rock-boat, and became chieftain of one of the tribes subdued by Jimmu
Tenno.
Nikasha: Hind. Myth. (i) A female demon, mother of R.vana. (ii) The mother of the car-
nivorous imps called Pisitsanas.
Nin-agid-Khadu: Babyl. Myth. A goddess, probably of a local nature.
Nin-dara: Babyl. Myth. A deity of a local character.
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Nin-gursu: Babyl. Myth. A solar deity, the patron deity of Sipurla.
Ninib: Assyro-Bahyl. Myth. A solar deity, one of the chief gods of the pantheon.
Primarily he was the god of the spring and the morning sun, and patron of agriculture.
In Babylonian mythology he is essentially an agricultural deity who presides over the
fields, and who is appealed to not merely to ensure fertility, but to protect the bound-
aries of the fields against unlawful invasion.
Ninigi : A grandson of the Japanese sun-goddess. Ninigi was despatched to earth, and
descended on a mountain in Kiushiu. Here he married a mountain-god's daughter,
named Konohana-sakuya-hime (q.v.), rejecting as too ugly her elder sister Ihanaga-
hime. The latter uttered a curse, whereupon human beings became short-lived.
Ninko: The human-fox possession of Izumo, Japan. Vide Izuna.
Nin-mar: Babyl. Myth. An ancient goddess whose seat of worship lay in or near the
Persian Gulf.
Nin-sun: Babyl. Myth. "The destructive lady"; consort of Lugal-Banda.
Niobe: Gr. Myth. Daughter of Tantalus, wife of Amphion. Her pride in her fourteen chil-
dren led her to compare herself to Leto who had only two, Apollo and Diana. To punish
her Apollo and Artemis (Diana) slew all her children; she herself was changed into a
stone by Zeus, in which form she continued to mourn her loss. She is the personifica-
tion of motherly love.
Niskai: Celt. Folklore. The water-nymphs are so called.
Nisse: Scand. Myth. A class of household spirits. In Danish superstition they are of the
dwarf family. They are described as small as infants but have faces like old men; they
wear a grey dress and a pointed red cap. They are domestic spirits, and are often
favourably disposed towards the members of the household. (THIELE, Danniarks
Folkesagn.) cf. Brownie, Doniovoy, Gardsvor.
Nithhogg: Same as Nidhgg.
Nixie: Teut. Myth. A class of water-spirits. The female nixies are noted for their beautiful
singing by which they allured human beings into their toils. They sometimes intermar-
ried with mankind. The male Nix was occasionally armed with a hook, with which he
dragged people down under the water. cf. Lorelei, Siren, Bugarik, Jalpari, Alrinach.
Njord, Njorth: Teut. Myth. One of the Vanirs. He was the hostage given by the Vanir to
the AEsir after their contest. He was protector of seafarers, having power over the
winds.
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Noatun: Norse Myth. Njord's dwelling in Asgard.
Nonitz: Russian Folklore. "Night-hags"; they torment children by tickling them or suck-
ing their blood, or disturb their sleep by their mere touch.
Noise: Demons are said to be scared by noises. (CROOKE, P.R.I., Vol. I, p. 167; cf. H.
L. STRATFIELD, 'Ranchi, Journ. As. Soc. Bengal, LXXII, pt. III (Cal. 1904), p. 36;
FRAZER, The Scapegoat, p. 139; DOOLITTLE, The Chinese, Vol. II, p. 265; SKEAT,
Malay Magic, p. 11; MARSDEN, History of Sumatra, p. 157; BASSETT, p. 33.)
Nokke: In Danish superstition he is a river-spirit who sometimes appears in the form of
a horse, sometimes as an old man; oftener as a golden-haired boy who plays the harp
most melodiously. (THIELE, Danmarks Folkesagn; THORPE, N.M., Vol. II, p. 20;
GRIMM, Teut. Myth., Vol. II. p. 488.)
They love to dance in the moonlight, and, like mermaids, foretell the future and are
possessed of protean wisdom. (THORPE, op. cit., Vol. III, p. 87.)
Nona: Rom. Myth. One of the goddesses of Fate. She is identical with the Greek
Clotho.
Noorele: A being with three unbegotten sons, who lives up among the clouds. He is all-
powerful and of a benevolent nature. He made the earth, trees, water, etc. He receives
the souls (ladko=shades, umbra) of the natives, who join him in the skies and will never
die. (Australian natives--LANG, Magic and Religion, p. 60.)
Norn: Norse and Teut. Myth. One of the demi-goddesses or giantesses who preside
over and determine the fates of both men and gods. In Norse mythology they are usu-
ally spinners, weaving the fabric of Fate. They were three in number, and named: Urth,
Verthandi and Skuld. cf. Bidhatapurusha, Fates, Parca, Hathor, Sudicky.
Nose: In India all ghosts are said to speak with a strong nasal accent. (DAY, Folktales
of Bengal, p. 199; CROOKE, P.R.I., Vol. I, p. 237; cf. SKEAT, Malay Magic, p. 31).
Itching of the nose prophesies corporal chastisement. (Macedonia--ABBOTT, p. 113);
or in Scotland, a letter. (CAMPBELL, Sup. Scot. Highl., p. 258); or in America it denotes
that the person is loved. (Memoirs of the Amer. Folk Lore Soc., Vol. IV, p. 63.)
An irritation of the nose denotes, if inside, vexation; if outside, pleasant news. (Great
Britain, India.)
Three drops of blood dropping from a lover's nose, is an indication of the end of love.
(Rhineland, Westphalia--WUTTKE, p. 42); or the death of a parent. (GREGOR, p. 205.)
The bleeding of the nose can be stopped by tying a piece of wool round the little finger
of the left hand (STRACKERJAN, Vol. I, p. 82); or by wearng a red ribbon or a skein of
scarlet silk round the neck (LEAN, Vol. II, P. 486.); or by sniffing in cold water, or in
grave cases, a big iron key is also placed on the back of the patient's neck (India,
Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 140; cf. HOVORKA, Vergleichende Volksmedizin, Vol. II, P.
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79).
If your nose itches, it is a sign that
"You'll be mad,
See a stranger,
Kiss a fool,
Or be in danger."
(Prince Edward Island--BERGEN, C.S., p. 140.)
Nosegay: It is unlucky to dream of making or gathering nosegays; our best hopes will
come to naught. (KNORTZ, pp. 21, 138.)
November: Vide Topaz.
Nox: Rom. Myth. Goddess of night; same as the Greek
Nyx: Vide Charon.
Nu: Egypt. Myth. The double lion-god of Egypt. (BUDGE, Book of the Dead, p. 166.)
Nuada: Celt. Myth. A king of the Tuatha De Danann. He lost his hand in the battle in
which the Firbolgs were overthrown, and replaced it by one of silver. Bress was chosen
as king in his place, but was deposed and Nuada set on the throne again. He was
killed by Balor. Probably he was an early war-god.
Nudd: Celt. Myth. A Cymric god of the sky. Same as Llud.
Num: A Samoyed water-god. (CONWAY, Demonology, Vol. 1. p. 213.)
Nun: To dream of becoming a nun denotes confinement, disappointment in love or a
rival.
Nurjehan's Bracelet: It gave warning of poison by a tremulous motion of the stones,
which increased as the poison approached nearer and nearer.
Nusku: Assyr. Myth. A deity symbolizing the element of fire. Same as Girru.
Nut: Egypt. Myth. The heavens personified as a goddess, consort of Seb, and mother
of Osiris, Isis, Nephthys, Set, Anuhis, Shu and Tefnut. A winged picture of her is usually
to be found painted on the outside of coffins. She is the feminine principle of N, that
is, the watery mass out of which all the gods were evolved; she is the goddess of the
sky. (BUDGE, Book of the Dead, p. 4.)
Nymph: Myth. One of the numerous classes of semi-divine beings, imagined as beauti-
ful maidens inhabiting the sea, rivers, fountains, hills, woods, or trees.
"By night they appear, and, like all the nymphs of ancient times, amuse themselves
Page 163
with graceful dances." (TOZER, Highl. Turkey.)
Vide Obtaining, Nymph.
Nyx: Gr. Myth. An ancient goddess, a personification of night. She is the daughter of
Chaos, and mother of Day and Night; she is identified with the Roman Nox.
O
Oak: Tent. Folklore. The oak is said to have sprung from the mouth of a king slain in
battle; it is the abode of departed souls (See FRAZER, Spirits of the Corn and of the
Wild.)
Oak Speaking: Gr. Myth. A great oak tree at Dodona, which not only had human
speech, but was oracular.
Oannes: Babyl. Myth. Under this form, Nebo (q.v.) is the god who instructs mankind in
various arts, including writing. (CORY, Ancient Fragments, p. 57.)
Oar: In Icelandic belief if an oarsman leaves a little of the handle of the oar uncovered,
the devil will use it (BASSETT, p. 89, quoting F.L.R., 1879.)
Oats:
"Who in janiver sows oats,
Gets gold and groats;
Who sows in May,
Gets little that way."
--(LEAN, Vol. I, p. 913.)
Oberon: Scand. Myth. King of the elves.
Obl Bibi: The Hindus frequently invoke the help of Obla. Bibi in cases of cholera.
Obsession: The hostile action of the Devil or an evil spirit besetting anyone.
"These classes belong rather to obsession than to possession (q.v.), the spirits not
actually inhabiting the bodies, but hanging or hovering about them."
--TYLOR, Primitive Culture, II, 113.
Obtaining Nymphs: The Hindu Tntra gives a detailed account of how a companion
nymph may be acquired by a man, by means of worshipping her and repeating her
name in a cemetery. (WARD, Hindus, Vol. II, p. 151; TYLOR, P.C., Vol. II, p. 173;
Ethnologie du Bengale, p. ioi.)
Oceanid: Gr. Myth. Certain kinds of nymphs, daughters of Oceanus and Tethys.
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