of the eighteenth century, John Ramsay of Ochtertyre.  On the evening of Hallowe’en “the young people of every hamlet assembled upon some eminence near the houses.  There they made a bonfire of ferns or other fuel, cut the same day, which from the feast was called Samh-nag or Savnag, a fire of rest and pleasure.  Around it was placed a circle of stones, one for each person of the families to whom they belonged.  And when it grew dark the bonfire was kindled, at which a loud shout was set up.  Then each person taking a torch of ferns or sticks in his hand, ran round the fire exulting; and sometimes they went into the adjacent fields, where, if there was another company, they visited the bonfire, taunting the others if inferior in any respect to themselves.  After the fire was burned out they returned home, where a feast was prepared, and the remainder of the evening was spent in mirth and diversions of various kinds.  Next morning they repaired betimes to the bonfire, where the situation of the stones was examined with much attention.  If any of them were misplaced, or if the print of a foot could be discerned near any particular stone, it was imagined that the person for whom it was set would not live out the year.  Of late years this is less attended to, but about the beginning of the present century it was regarded as a sure prediction.  The Hallowe’en fire is still kept up in some parts of the Low country; but on the western coast and in the Isles it is never kindled, though the night is spent in merriment and entertainments."[589] In the Perthshire parish of Callander, which includes the now famous pass of the Trossachs opening out on the winding and wooded shores of the lovely Loch Katrine, the Hallowe’en bonfires were still kindled down to near the end of the eighteenth century.  When the fire had died down, the ashes were carefully collected in the form of a circle, and a stone was put in, near the circumference, for every person of the several families interested in the bonfire.  Next morning, if any of these stones was found to be displaced or injured, the people made sure that the person represented by it was fey or devoted, and that he could not live twelve months from that day.[590] In the parish of Logierait, which covers the beautiful valley of the Tummel, one of the fairest regions of all Scotland, the Hallowe’en fire was somewhat different.  Faggots of heath, broom, and the dressings of flax were kindled and carried on poles by men, who ran with them round the villages, attended by a crowd.  As soon as one faggot was burnt out, a fresh one was lighted and fastened to the pole.  Numbers of these blazing faggots were often carried about together, and when the night happened to be dark, they formed a splendid illumination.[591]

[Hallowe’en fires on Loch Tay; Hallowe’en fires at Balquhidder.]