Nor did the Hallowe’en fires die out in Perthshire with the end of the eighteenth century.  Journeying from Dunkeld to Aberfeldy on Hallowe’en in the first half of the nineteenth century, Sheriff Barclay counted thirty fires blazing on the hill tops, and saw the figures of the people dancing like phantoms round the flames.[592] Again, “in 1860, I was residing near the head of Loch Tay during the season of the Hallowe’en feast.  For several days before Hallowe’en, boys and youths collected wood and conveyed it to the most prominent places on the hill sides in their neighbourhood.  Some of the heaps were as large as a corn-stack or hayrick.  After dark on Hallowe’en, these heaps were kindled, and for several hours both sides of Loch Tay were illuminated as far as the eye could see.  I was told by old men that at the beginning of this century men as well as boys took part in getting up the bonfires, and that, when the fire was ablaze, all joined hands and danced round the fire, and made a great noise; but that, as these gatherings generally ended in drunkenness and rough and dangerous fun, the ministers set their faces against the observance, and were seconded in their efforts by the more intelligent and well-behaved in the community; and so the practice was discontinued by adults and relegated to school boys."[593] At Balquhidder down to the latter part of the nineteenth century each household kindled its bonfire at Hallowe’en, but the custom was chiefly observed by children.  The fires were lighted on any high knoll near the house; there was no dancing round them.[594]

[Hallowe’en fires in Buchan to burn the witches; processions with torches at Hallowe’en in the Braemar Highlands.]

Hallowe’en fires were also lighted in some districts of the north-east of Scotland, such as Buchan.  Villagers and farmers alike must have their fire.  In the villages the boys went from house to house and begged a peat from each householder, usually with the words, “Ge’s a peat t’ burn the witches.”  In some villages the lads collected the peats in a cart, some of them drawing it along and the others receiving the peats and loading them on the cart.  Along with the peats they accumulated straw, furze, potato haulm, everything that would burn quickly, and when they had got enough they piled it all in a heap and set it on fire.  Then each of the youths, one after another, laid himself down on the ground as near to the fire as he could without being scorched, and thus lying allowed the smoke to roll over him.  The others ran through the smoke and jumped over their prostrate comrade.  When the heap was burned down, they scattered the ashes.  Each one took a share in this part of the ceremony, giving a kick first with the right foot and then with the left; and each vied with the other who should scatter the most.  After that some of them still continued to run through the scattered ashes and to pelt each other with the half-burned peats.  At each farm a spot as high as possible, not too near