Chapter 44

Sweeping Floors--New Year and Christmas--"First-Foots"--Weather Prognostications--How to secure Favourable Gales--Superstitious Customs--Corpse of one guilty of _Felo-de-se_--Finding of Persons who die unseen--Superstitious Belief of Russian Seamen--Ancient Customs of Scotland--Friday an Unlucky Day for commencing an Important Undertaking--Friday as a Marriage Day--Anecdote of a Ship called "Friday"--Loss of the Ship "Amazon"--Sunday a Favourable Day for commencing a Voyage--Lawyers and Clergymen, how looked upon by Sailors at Sea--Rats deserting a Ship--Whistling to raise the Wind--Legend of Vanderdecken or the Flying Dutchman--A Grandfather's Axe--Other Signs and Warnings 393

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AMULETS AND CHARMS.