Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-01-22
Hook Swinging I'm India.

Rev. Mr. Noycs, missionary Of the
American Board, stationed in 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 surpris-
ing that the British government, which
once forbade this inhuman rite, should
allow the priests to again inaict it upon
the people. we copy his account as Civ
en- in the Missionary Herald:
Recently, while laboring in the itine-
racy, l witnessed the 'hook swinging fes-
tival.' AT the beginning Of this festival.
the priest of the pagoda sends the sacred
ashes, and other things, to person whom
he selects as victim to be suspended.
On the reception of these gifts, the man
commences 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 ap-
pears before the idol. The priest per-
forms ceremony over him, uttering
munthrames, or heather forms of prayer,
and he pretends to be under the influence
of devils, and acts like a mad man.
While in this state, some person standing
by gives him smart blow on the back,
which produces slight swelling. Tho
muscle is here pierced in two places, and
openings are made sufficient for the in
sertion of the iron hooks, which are inn
mediately introduced, and then pressure
is applied ON every side Of the wound, to
prevent the issue of blood, greatly in
creasing the mans sufferings. The fact
that no blood flows is regarded by the
people as miraculous interposition.
After these preliminaries, the man is ta-
ken to the machine upon which he is to
be suspended and swung about. This
consists of four-wheeled platform car.
in the centre of which is an upright post
20 or 80 feet high, and upon the top of it
a traverse beam, 40 feet long, fitted to
work like well-sweep, and also to be
swung around in circle. Upon one
end of this beam, the hooks already in
serted in the mans back are fastened by
strong ropes. Long ropes are also at
tached 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 multitudes below fill the air
with their shouting. In going up he ia
vors himself by catching hold Of the rope
with his hands, but pretty soon lets so
and is suspended by the hooks inserted
in his back, being bent almost double,
his head and feat hanging. and the mus
cles of his back being pulled out to their
utmost tension. While he is hanging in
this position, the car is drawn by hun
dreds 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
watch, that l saw the man thus suspen
ded. His countenance was the 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 TAX
en- off and other medicines are applied.
This is severe treatment, but the wounds
are said to be efiectually healed by it in
twenty days, if the man survives it. On
the first day he suffers but little, because
he is made insensible by intoxicating
drugs and potions. On the second and
several succeeding days, his sufferings
are so great that he will often attempt to
commit suicide; but as he is strictly
watched by his friends he finds no oppor-
tunity, and the deed is seldom done.
The barbarous practice Of hook swing
ing 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 interfere to prevent it, it is like
ly to become common occurrence. l
estimate the number of persons present
on this occasion at $1,000.
A SUNNY TEMPER.-You gain moth
L. ell.