Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-02-03
SuDersiitiOn in India.

Rev. Mr.. NOice, a missionary of the
American Board. stationed at Cam
barn, in Southern India, writes that
the barbaTous practice of hOok-swing-
ing has been revived in that section
of India, and he describes an occasion
of this sort which he witnessed last
summer. 1t is surprising that the
British government, which forbade
this inhuman rite, should allow the
priests to again inflict it upon the
people. We copy his account as
given in the Missionary Herald:
Recently, while laboring in the
itineraDcy, I witnessed the ''hoOk-
swinging festival" At the beginning
of this festival, the priest of the
pagOda sends the sacred ashes, and
other things, to a person whom he
selects rs Il victim to be suspended.
On the reception of these gifts, the
man commences a fast, denying him
self all bodily indulgence. On the
day fixed for the celebration of the
feast, he enters the temple with pOmp
and ceremony, and appears before the
idol. The priest performs a ceremo-
ny over him, uttering munthrams, or
heathen forms of prayer, and he
pretends to be under the influence of
devils and acts like n madman.
While in this state, some person
standing by gives him a violent blow
on the back, which produces 4 slight
swelling. The muscle is here pierced
in two places, and openings are made
sufficient for the insertion of the iron
hooks, which are Immediately intro
duced, and then pressure is applied
on every side of the wound, to pre-
vent the issue of blood, greatly
increasing the mans sufferings. The
fact that no blood flows is regarded
by the people as a miraculous inter
position. After these preliminaries
the man is taken to the machine upon
which he is to be suspended and
swung about. This consists of
four-wheeled platform car, in the
center of which is an upright post,
twenty or thirty feet high, and upon
the top of il is transverse beam, forty
feet long, fitted to work like a well
sweep, and also to be swung around
in n circle. Upon one end of this
beam, the hooks already inserted in
the mans back are fastened by strong
ropes. Long ropes are also attached
TO the other end, by means of which
several men manage its motions.
The victim is first swung around in
a circle, and then raised high in the
air, while the multitude below fill the
air with their shouting. In going up
he favOrs himself by catching hold OF
the rope with his hands, but pretty
soon lets go, and is suspended by the
hooks inserted in his back, being
II, s,n,vhIn l,fc han1 and fanf
hanging, and the muscles of his back
being pulled out to their utmost ten
sion. While he is hanging in this
position, the car is drawn by hun
dreds of meu over rough ground,
around the temple, the man being
tossed from side to side by the motion
of the car. 1t was full hour, by my
watch, that l saw the man thus
suspended. His cOuntenance was a
picture OF distress, and when taken
down he seemed much exhausted.
He is next presented to the people
to receive their offerings, and receives
large presents of money and lands
property such as he could not have
accumulated by the labor of years.
He is now taken TO his house, the
hooks are removed, and his wounds
are treated by the application of small
cakes of mud, made so hot as to burn
the skin. Three of these plasters are
placed on each wound and kept there
for seven days, when they are taken
off and other medicines are applied.
This is a severe treatment, but the
wounds are said to be ehectually
healed by it in twenty days, if the
man survives it. On the first day he
suffers but little, because he is made
insensibIe by intoxicating drugs and
potions. On the second and succeed
ing days his sufferings are so great
that he will attempt to commit suicide;
but as he is strictly watched by his
friends, he finds no opportunity, and
the deed is seldom done.
The barbarous practice of hook
swinging was discontinued for many
years in the Madura District, until
it was again revived in 1867, and as
the people have come to understand
that the Government will not inter
fcre to prevent it, it is likely to
become a common occurrence. /
estimate the number of persons pres
ent on this occasion at $1,000.