n Turkey, on the Bulgarian frontier,
and not far from the town of Bourgas, on the Euxine, in the department of
Lozen Grad. The ministrants (Nistinares) have the gift of fire-walking
as a hereditary talent; they are specially _just_, and the gift is
attributed as to a god in Fiji, in Bulgaria to St. Constantine and St.
Helena.

'These _just ones_ feel a desire to dance in the flames during the
month of May; they are filled at the same time with some unknown
force, which enables them to predict the future. The best Nistinare
is he who can dance longest in the live flame, and utter the most
truthful prophecies.'

The Nistinares may be of either sex.

On May 1 the Nistinares hold a kind of religious festival at the house of
one of their number. Salutations are exchanged, and presents of food and
raki are made to the chief Nistinare. The holy icones of saints are
wreathed with flowers, and perfumed with incense. Arrangements are made
for purifying the holy wells and springs.

On May 21, the day of St. Helena and St. Constantine, the parish priest
says Mass in the grey of dawn. At sunrise all the village meets in
festal array; the youngest Nistinare brings from the church the icones of
the two saints, and drums are carried behind them in procession. They
reach the sacred well in the wood, which the priest blesses. This is
parallel to the priestly benediction on 'Fountain Sunday' of the well
beneath the Fairy Tree at Domremy, where Jeanne d'Arc was accused of
meeting the Good Ladies. {169} Everyone drinks of the water, and there
is a sacrifice of rams, ewes, and oxen. A festival follows, as was the
use of Domremy in the days of the Maid; then all return to the village.
The holy drum, which hangs all the year before St. Helena in the church,
is played upon. A mock combat between the icones which have visited the
various holy wells is held.

Meanwhile, in each village, pyres of dry wood, amounting to thirty,
fifty, or even a hundred cartloads, have been piled up. The wood is set
on fire before the procession goes forth to the hallowing of the
fountains. On returning, the crowd dances a horo (round dance) about the
glowing logs. Heaps of embers (Pineus acervus) are made, and water is
thrown on the ground. The musicians play the tune called 'L'Air
Nistinar.' A Nistinare breaks through the dance, _turns blue_, trembles
like a leaf, and glares wildly with his eyes. The dance ends, and
everybody