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

Hev. MIR. Noyes, 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. tbs
surprising that the British Government.
which once forbade this inhuman rite
should allow the priests to again il fiict
1t upon the people. We copy his nc.
count as given in the Missionary Heruid:
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 and other things TO a
person whom he selects US a victim to
be suspended. On the reception Of these
gifts the man commences fast, deny
ing himself all bodily indulgence. On
the day fixed for the celebration of the
feast ho enters the temple with pomp
and 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
a severe blow on the back, which pro.
duces slight swelling. The muscle is
here pierced in two places, and openings
are made sufficient Tor the insertion OF
the iron hooks, which are Immediately
introduced, aud them pressure is sp-
piled on every side Of the wound to pre-.
vent the issue Of blood, greatly increas-
ing the mans sufferings. The fact that
no blood flows is regarded by the people
as a miraculous interposition. After
these preliminaries the man is taken TO
the machine upon which he is about to
be suspended and swung about. This
consists Of a four-wheeled platform car,
IN the centre Of which is an upright
post, twenty or thirty feet high, and
upon the top Of it a transverse beam,
forty feet long, fitted to work like q
well'sweep, aud also to be swung around
IN circle. Upon oae end of this beam
the hooks already inserted in the man
back are fastened by strong ropes. Long
ropes are also attached to the otherend
by means Of which several men manage
its motions. ts ,.,... A
The victim is first swung around 10
a circle and then raised high in the air
while the multitudes below Gil che air
with their shouting. In going mp he
favors himself by catching hold Of the
rope with his hands, but pretty soou
lets 60, and is suspended by the hooks,
being bent almost double, his head and
feet hanging and the muscles of his
back being pulled out to the utmost
tension. While he is hanging 10 this
position, the car is drawn BY hundreds
of men over the rough ground, around
the temple, tiio man being shaken aud
tossed from side to side by the motion
OF the car. IL was full hour, by my
watch that | saw the man thus suspend
ed. His couutenasee was a picture of
distress, and when taken down he seem.
ed much exhausted 4zsi a84af,ir Il
He is next presented to the people
TO receive their offerings, and receives
large presents Of money and hands
property such as he could not have 10.
canulsted by laborof years. He Is nov
taken to his house, the hooks are re.
moved, aud bis wounds are treated by
the application of small cakes Of mud
made so hot as to burn tho skim
Three Of these plasters are placed on
each wound, and kept there for seven
days, when they are taken off aud other
medicines are applied This i Severe
treatment, but tie wounds are said 70
ee eficctualiy healed BY ID ID twenty
days, II the man survives It, On ske
first day he suffers butlittle, becsuse he
Is made insensible BY intoxicating drues
aud potions. Ga tie second, and Sow.
eral succeeding days, his snaeripcs are
50 great that he win often uttempt, 70
commit suicide