This book is annotated with a rare biographical sketch of the author, written by Elizabeth Robins Pennell.
Mr. Leland has been very industrious in collecting himself the strange lore of "what is really the practical religion of all peasants and poor people, that is, their magical ceremonies and medicine; " and he also sets forth in an interesting manner very much material derived from authorities little known to the common English reader. Fortune-telling,witch-doctoring, love-philtering, and other kinds of sorcery are very fully illustrated; the volume is, indeed, quite a cyclopedia in its way.
Contents:
Preface
Chapter I - The Origin Of Witchcraft, Shamanism, And Sorcery-Vindictive And Mischievous Magic
Chapter Ii - Charms And Conjurations To Cure The Disorders Of Grown People
Hungarian Gypsy Magic
Chapter Iii - Gypsy Conjurations And Exorcisms-The Cure Of Children-Hungarian Gypsy Spells-A Curious Old Italian "Secret"-The Magic Virtue Of Garlic-A Florentine Incantation Learned From A Witch-Lilith, The Child-Stealer, And Queen Of The Witches
Chapter Iv - South Slavonian And Other Gypsy Witch-Lore.
