The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-05-06
Misfellaneous.
Hook Swinging in India.

ltev. MI NCyes, q missionary OF the
American Board, stationed at Kambarn,
in Southern India, writes that the bar.
barous practice of hook swinging 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 forbade this iuhuman rite,
should allow the priests to again il Aict
it upon the people. We copy his nc
count as given in the Missionary Herald:
Recently, while laboring in the itin.
eracy, witnessed the hook swinging
festival At the beginning Of this
festival the priest of the pagoda sends
the sacred ashes aud other things to
person whom he selects as victim TO
be suspended On the reception Of these
gifts the man commences fast, deny
ing himself all bodily indulgence. %
the day fixed for the celebration Of the
feast ho enters the temple with pomp
aud ceremony, and appears before the
idol. The priest performs ceremony
over him, uttering muuthrams or hea.
then forms Of prayer, and he pretends
to be under the influence Of devils, aud
acts like a mad man. While in this
state some person standing by gives him
severe blow on the back, which pro
duces a slight swelling. The muscle ID
here pierced in two places, and openings
are made sufficient for the insertion o.
the iron hooks, which are Immediately
introduced, and them pressure is up
piled on every side Of the wound to pre-
vent the issue of blood, greatly increas
ing the mans sutferings. The fact tina
no blood flows is regarded BY the peopl
as a miraculous interposition. Ate
these preliminaries the man is taken u
the machine upon which he is about b
Q be suspended and swung about. Thi
consists oil four. wheeled platform cal
in the centre of which is an uprigh
: post, twenty or thirty feet high, an
4 upon the top Of il a transverse bean
9 forty feet long, fitted to work like
4 well-sweep, aud ALSO TO be swung aroun
in circle. Upon one end Of this bea,
the hooks already inserted in the man
/ back are fastened by strong ropes. Lon
! ropes are also attached to the otheren,
|. by means Of which several men lnanag
% its motions. 4a sl ,svgs.t
! Tho victim is first swung around
y a circle and then raised high in the vi
d while the maltitudes below Gil the a
with their shouting. In going up
iayors himself by catching hold of n
: rope with his hands, but pretty 500
: lets 60, aud is suspended by the hook
D. being bent almost double, his head on
3 feet hanging and the muscles OF b
q back being pulled out to the utmo
: tension. While he is hanging in III
!, position, the car is drawn by hundres
! Of men over the rough ground, aroun
= the temple, the man being shaken an
10 tossed from side to side by the motto
of the car. Ii was . full honr, by M
watch that l saw the man thus suspen,
N cd. His countenaace was picture
" distress, and when taken down he seer
Y cd much exhausted ;-4siis
70 He is next presented TO tho poop
!. to receive their offerings, and receiv'
Of large presents Of money and lands
" property such a. he could not have Q
y cumulsted by laborof years. He il no
I. taken to his house, the hooks are r
Of moved, and his wounds are treated |
" tho application Of small cakes Of mu
or made 50 hot as to burn tho skim
or Three Of these plssters IRE placed {
re each wound. and kept there for sew,
2. days, when they are taken of and 9th
o. medicines are applied This b seve
or treatment, but the wounds are said
50 be efIectnally healed by it ia TWEEN
q days, il the man survives IT, On d
first day hessuders butlittls, because
le is made iuscnsible by intoxicating dru
is and potions. Ga the second, ana Sc
70 eral succeeding days, his safesines a
re- so great that he will ofton 'utteppt.
commit suicide"