HANDFASTING

Your correspondent J.M.G. has brought forward a curious subject, and one well deserving attention and illustration. A fair is said to have been held at the meeting of the Black and White Esks, at the foot of Eskdalemuir, in Dumfriesshire, when the singular custom of *Handfasting* was observed. The old statistical account of the parish says: "At that fair it was the custom for unmarried persons of both sexes to choose a companion according to their liking, whom they were to live with till *that time next year*. This was called *handfasting*, or hand-in-fist. If they were pleased with each other…