Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-01-05
Superstition in Southern India.
HOOK SWINGING.

Rev. Mr.. Noyes, a missionary of
the American board stationed at Kan
barn, in southern India, writes that
the barbarous 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 once for
bade this inhuman rite. should allow
the priests to again infict it upon the
people. We copy his account as CIV
en- in the Missionary Herald:
Recently, while laboring in the itin-
eracy, | witnessed the hook swinging
festival. At the beginning of this fes-
tival, the priest Of the pagoda sends
the sacred ashes and other things to a
person whom he selects as a victim to
be suspended. On the reception of
these gifts, the man commences a fast,
denying himself all bodily indulgence.
On the day fixed for the celebration
of the feast, he enters the temple with
pomp and ceremony, and appears be-
fore the idol. The priest performs a
ceremony over h N. uttering mum
thrams, or heather forms of prayer,
and he pretends to be under the infu.
ence of devils, and acts like a mad
man. While in this state, some per
son standing by gives him a severe
blow on the back, which produces a
slight swelling. The muscle is here
pierced in two places, and openings
are made sufficient for the insertion
OF the iron hooks, which are immedi
ately introduced, and then pressure is
applied on every side of the wound tC
prevent the issue of blood, greatly in
creasing the mans suferings. 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 upor
which he is to be suspended anC
swung about. This consists of foul
wheeled platform Car, in the center of
which is an upright post, 20 or 80 fee
high, and upon the top OF it traverse
oeam, 40 feet long, fitted to work like
a well-sweep, and also to be swung
around in a circle. Upon one end of
this BEAM the hooks already inserted
I in the mans back are fastened by
strong ropes. Long ropes are also at
tached 10 hc other end, by means of
which several men manage its motions
The victim is first swung round in {
circle and then raised high in the air
while the multitudcs below fill the all
with their shouting. In going up ht
tavors himself by catching hold of the
rope with his hands, but pretty sooI
lets go, ahd is suspended by the hook,
inserted In his back. being bent al
most double, his head and feet hang
ing, and the muscles of his back being
pulled out to their utmost tension
While he /, hanging in this position
the car is drawn by hundreds of men
over rough ground, around the temple
the man being shaken and tossed
from side to side by the motion of the
car. 1t was full hour by my watcl
that | saw the man suspended. Hi,
countenance was picture of distress
and when taken down he seemed mucf
exhausted.
He Is next presented to tie 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 severe treatment, but til {
wounds are said to be efectuaIly heal
ed by it in twenty days, if the man
survives it. On tie first day he suf
ferS but little, because he is made in
sensibleby the Intoxicating drugs and
potiOns. On the second, and several
succeeding days, his sufferings are SC
great that he will often attempt to
commit sHj,iIc; but as he is strictly
watches by his friends he finds no op
portunity, and the deed is seldom
done.
The barbarous practice Of hook
swinging was discontinued for many
years in the Madura district, until il
was again revived in 1867; and as
the people have come to understand
that the government will not inter
tere to prevent it, it is likely to be
come common occurrence. | esti
mated the number of persons present
on this occasion at | 5 600"