Evil Eye

Among the numberless superstitions enthralling mankind, no one has been more extensively diffused, throughout
all countries and in every age, than implicit credulity in an Evil Eye, or the malevolent injuries inflicted by its effects in fascination. It is only a few years since a domestic in the author’s family having died of small-pox, then
believed to be extirpated from the place, his mother on arriving from the western parts of Scotland, expressed her conviction that he had fallen a Victim to an evil eye.

In various quarters ready acquiescence yet attends the importunity of the mendicant, from dreading the consequences of refusal ; and should an uncouth
demeanour and aspect be conjoined with his vocatIon, objects of interest are carefully withdrawn from his gaze.

Children have been thought the most susceptible of injury. Robert Kirk, minister of Aberfoyle, speaks of the destruction of that animal whereon the eye glances first in the morning; and he names a man in his parish, ‘‘who killed his own cow after commending its fatness, and shot a hare with his eyes.”

Supernatural faculties were generally ascribed to the instruction of Satan, as the arch-enemy of mankind, ever ready in finding instruments to wreak his vengeance on them.

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