[The mode of kindling the need-fire in Hanover.]

In the summer of 1828 there was much sickness among the pigs and the cows of Eddesse, a village near Meinersen, in the south of Hanover.  When all ordinary measures to arrest the malady failed, the farmers met in solemn conclave on the village green and determined that next morning there should be a need-fire.  Thereupon the head man of the village sent word from house to house that on the following day nobody should kindle a fire before sunrise, and that everybody should stand by ready to drive out the cattle.  The same afternoon all the necessary preparations were made for giving effect to the decision of the collective wisdom.  A narrow street was enclosed with planks, and the village carpenter set to work at the machinery for kindling the fire.  He took two posts of oak wood, bored a hole about three inches deep and broad in each, and set the two poles up facing each other at a distance of about two feet.  Then he fitted a roller of oak wood into the two holes of the posts, so that it formed a cross-piece between them.  About two o’clock next morning every householder brought a bundle of straw and brushwood and laid it down across the street in a prescribed order.  The sturdiest swains who could be found were chosen to make the need-fire.  For this purpose a long hempen rope was wound twice round the oaken roller in the oaken posts:  the pivots were well smeared with pitch and tar:  a bundle of tow and other tinder was laid close at hand, and all was ready.  The stalwart clodhoppers now seized the two ends of the rope and went to work with a will.  Puffs of smoke soon issued from the sockets, but to the consternation of the bystanders not a spark of fire could be elicited.  Some people openly declared their suspicion that some rascal had not put out the fire in his house, when suddenly the tinder burst into flame.  The cloud passed away from all faces; the fire was applied to the heaps of fuel, and when the flames had somewhat died down, the herds were forcibly driven through the fire, first the pigs, next the cows, and last of all the horses.  The herdsmen then drove the beasts to pasture, and persons whose faith in the efficacy of the need-fire was particularly robust carried home brands.[698]

[The mode of kindling the need-fire in the Harz Mountains.]

Again, at a village near Quedlinburg, in the Harz Mountains, it was resolved to put a herd of sick swine through the need-fire.  Hearing of this intention the Superintendent of Quedlinburg hurried to the spot and has described for us what he saw.  The beadles went from house to house to see that there was no fire in any house; for it is well known that should there be common fire burning in a house the need-fire will not kindle.  The men made their rounds very early in the morning to make quite sure that all lights were out.  At two o’clock a night-light was still burning in the parsonage, and this was of course