The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-02-12
Superstition in India.

Rev. Mr.. Ncyes, a missionary of the
American Board, stationed at Cambarn, in
Southern India, writes that the barbarous
practice of hook swinging has been revived
in that section OF India, aud he describes
an occasion of this sort which he witnessed
last summer. 1t is surprising that the
British government which once forbade
this inhuman rite, should allow the priests
to again ipfict it upon the people. We
copy his account as given in the Missionary
Herald
Recently, while laboring in the timer
aucy, 1 witnessed the hook swinging
festival" At the beginning of this festi-
val, the priest OF the pagoda sends the
sacred ashes, and other things, to person
whom he selects as victim to be suspen.
ded. 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, ahd ap-
pears before the idol. The priest performs
ceremony over him, uttering munthrams,
or heathen forms of prayer, and he pre-.
tends to be under the influence of devils
and acts like madman. While in this
state, some person standing by gives him
violent 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 Immediately introduced,
and then pressure is applied on every side
of the wound, to prevent the issue of
blood, greatly increasing the mans suffer
ings The fact that no blood flows is re-
garded by the people as a miraculous i'm
terposition. After these preliminaries the
man is taken to the machine upon which
he is to be suspended and swung about.
This consists of four wheel platform car,
in the center of which is an upright post,
twenty or thirty feet high, and upon the
top of it is traverse beam, forty feet long,
fitted to work like we'll sweep, and also
to be swung around in circle. Upon one
end of this beam, the hooks already insert
ed 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 bent almost double, his head
and feet hanging, and the muscles oil his
back being pulled out to :her utmost ten.
sion. While he is hanging in this posi>
ton, the car is drawn by hundreds of men
over rough ground, around the temple. the
man being shaken and tossed from sido to
side by the motion of the car. 1t was a
full hour, by my watch, that l saw the
man thus suspended. His countenauce
was 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 ana 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 effectually healed by it in twenty days,
if the man survives it. On the first day
he suffers but little, because he is made in.
sensible by Intoxicating drugs and potions
On the second and succeeding days his suf-
fering are so great that he will often at
tempt to commit suicide; but as he is
strckly watched by his friends, he finds nc
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 re-
vived in 1867, and as the people have
come to understand that the Government
will not interfere to prevent it, it Is likely
to become a common occurrence. L esti
mated the number of persons present or
this occasion at Is, 600.