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the ground； of such circumference as to hold the whole company。 They kindle a fire； and dress a repast of eggs and milk in the consistence of a custard。 They knead a cake of oatmeal； which is toasted at the embers against a stone。 After the custard is eaten up； they divide the cake into so many portions； as similar as possible to one another in size and shape； as there are persons in the company。 They daub one of these portions all over with charcoal； until it be perfectly black。 They put all the bits of the cake into a bonnet。 Every one； blindfold； draws out a portion。 He who holds the bonnet； is entitled to the last bit。 Whoever draws the black bit； is the devoted person who is to be sacrificed to Baal； whose favour they mean to implore； in rendering the year productive of the sustenance of man and beast。 There is little doubt of these inhuman sacrifices having been once offered in this country； as well as in the east； although they now pass from the act of sacrificing； and only compel the devoted person to leap three times through the flames； with which the ceremonies of this festival are closed。
Thomas Pennant； who travelled in Perthshire in the year 1769； tells us that on the first of May； the herdsmen of every village hold their Bel…tien； a rural sacrifice。 They cut a square trench on the ground； leaving the turf in the middle； on that they make a fire of wood； on which they dress a large caudle of eggs； butter； oatmeal and milk； and bring besides the ingredients of the caudle； plenty of beer and whisky； for each of the company must contribute something。 The rites begin with spilling some of the caudle on the ground； by way of libation： on that every one takes a cake of oatmeal； upon which are raised nine square knobs； each dedicated to some particular being； the supposed preserver of their flocks and herds； or to some particular animal； the real destroyer of them： each person then turns his face to the fire； breaks off a knob； and flinging it over his shoulders； says； 'This I give to thee； preserve thou my horses； this to thee； preserve thou my sheep； and so on。' After that； they use the same ceremony to the noxious animals： 'This I give to thee； O fox！ spare thou my lambs； this to thee； O hooded crow！ this to thee； O eagle！' When the ceremony is over； they dine on the caudle； and after the feast is finished； what is left is hid by two persons deputed for that purpose； but on the next Sunday they reassemble； and finish the reliques of the first entertainment。
Another writer of the eighteenth century has described the Beltane festival as it was held in the parish of Logierait in Perthshire。 He says： On the first of May； O。S。； a festival called Beltan is annually held here。 It is chiefly celebrated by the cow…herds； who assemble by scores in the fields； to dress a dinner for themselves； of boiled milk and eggs。 These dishes they eat with a sort of cakes baked for the occasion； and having small lumps in the form of nipples； raised all over the surface。 In this last account no mention is made of bonfires； but they were probably lighted； for a contemporary writer informs us that in the parish of Kirkmichael； which adjoins the parish of Logierait on the east； the custom of lighting a fire in the fields and baking a consecrated cake on the first of May was not quite obsolete in his time。 We may conjecture that the cake with knobs was formerly used for the purpose of determining who should be the Beltane carline or victim doomed to the flames。 A trace of this custom survived； perhaps； in the custom of baking oatmeal cakes of a special kind and rolling them down hill about noon on the first of May； for it was thought that the person whose cake broke as it rolled would die or be unfortunate within the year。 These cakes； or bannocks as we call them in Scotland； were baked in the usual way； but they were washed over with a thin batter composed of whipped egg； milk or cream； and a little oatmeal。 This custom appears to have prevailed at or near Kingussie in Inverness…shire。
In the north…east of Scotland the Beltane fires were still kindled in the latter half of the eighteenth century； the herdsmen of several farms used to gather dry wood； kindle it； and dance three times southways about the burning pile。 But in this region； according to a later authority； the Beltane fires were lit not on the first but on the second of May； Old Style。 They were called bone…fires。 The people believed that on that evening and night the witches were abroad and busy casting spells on cattle and stealing cows' milk。 To counteract their machinations； pieces of rowan…tree and woodbine； but especially of rowan…tree； were placed over the doors of the cow…houses； and fires were kindled by every farmer and cottar。 Old thatch； straw； furze； or broom was piled in a heap and set on fire a little after sunset。 While some of the bystanders kept tossing the blazing mass； others hoisted portions of it on pitchforks or poles and ran hither and thither； holding them as high as they could。 Meantime the young people danced round the fire or ran through the smoke shouting； Fire！ blaze and burn the witches； fire！ fire！ burn the witches。 In some districts a large round cake of oat or barley meal was rolled through the ashes。 When all the fuel was consumed； the people scattered the ashes far and wide； and till the night grew quite dark they continued to run through them； crying； Fire！ burn the witches。
In the Hebrides the Beltane bannock is smaller than that made at St。 Michael's； but is made in the same way； it is no longer made in Uist； but Father Allan remembers seeing his grandmother make one about twenty…five years ago。 There was also a cheese made； generally on the first of May； which was kept to the next Beltane as a sort of charm against the bewitching of milk…produce。 The Beltane customs seem to have been the same as elsewhere。 Every fire was put out and a large one lit on the top of the hill； and the cattle driven round it sunwards （dessil）； to keep off murrain all the year。 Each man would take home fire wherewith to kindle his own。
In Wales also the custom of lighting Beltane fires at the beginning of May used to be observed； but the day on which they were kindled varied from the eve of May Day to the third of May。 The flame was sometimes elicited by the friction of two pieces of oak； as appears from the following description。 The fire was done in this way。 Nine men would turn their pockets inside out； and see that every piece of money and all metals were off their persons。 Then the men went into the nearest woods； and collected sticks of nine different kinds of trees。 These were carried to the spot where the fire had to be built。 There a circle was cut in the sod； and the sticks were set crosswise。 All around the circle the people stood and watched the proceedings。 One of the men would then take two bits of oak； and rub them together until a flame was kindled。 This was applied to the sticks； and soon a large fire was made。 Sometimes two fires were set up side by side。 These fires； whether one or two； were called coelcerth or bonfire。 Round cakes of oatmeal and brown meal were split in four； and placed in a small flour…bag； and everybody present had to pick out a portion。 The last bit in the bag fell to the lot of the bag…holder。 Each person who chanced to pick up a piece of brown…meal cake was compelled to leap three times over the flames； or to run thrice between the two fires； by which means the people thought they were sure of a plentiful harvest。 Shouts and screams of those who had to face the ordeal could be heard ever so far； and those who chanced to pick the oatmeal portions sang and danced and clapped their hands in approval； as the holders of the brown bits leaped three times over the flames； or ran three times between the two fires。
The belief of the people that by leaping thrice over the bonfires or running thrice between them they ensured a plentiful harvest is worthy of note。 The mode in which this result was supposed to be brought about is indicated by another writer on Welsh folk…lore； according to whom it used to be held that the bonfires lighted in May or Midsummer protected the lands from sorcery； so that good crops would follow。 The ashes were also considered valuable as charms。 Hence it appears that the heat of the fires was thought to fertilise the fields； not directly by quickening the seeds in the ground； but indirectly by counteracting the baleful influence of witchcraft or perhaps by burning up the persons of the witches。
The Beltane fires seem to have been kindled also in Ireland； for Cormac； or somebody in his name； says that belltaine； May…day； was so called from the 'lucky fire；' or the 'two fires；' which the druids of Erin used to make on that day with great incantations； and cattle； he adds； used to be brought to those fires； or to be driven between them； as a safeguard against the diseases of the year。 The custom of driving cattle through or between fires on May Day or the eve of May Day persisted in Ireland down to a time within living memory。
The first of May is a great popular festival in the more midland and southern parts of Sweden。 On the eve of the festival huge bonfires； which should be lighted by striking two f