The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-10-24

A Country where Witches sd ssr-
cereFs Live and Thrfve.


BLACK AKT IN INDIA.
A Ceuntry where WEt<hes 60 ser-
cerers Live and Thrive
London Standard.
\ There Is scarcely village In Eastern
ard Southern India that does not pos
sess It's witch, to whom terrible pow
ers are attributed by the popular mind
The witches, they say. can suck the
blood OF healthy children: and the
anxious mother. directly she sees the
witch approach. catches up her child
and nutters some charm TO save the
dear one from being sucked TO
death OF course the best antidote
TO the occult influence OF the dreaded
hagz Is the gift Of a few copper coins
or some sort OF aims. But there are
other means employed 10 counteract
their malignity. They are sometimes
detected by salt being placed on their
heads, which causes them to turn
round and mntter incoherent sylabieS
Sometimes the trembling mother spits
on the bead os her child, or gently
bites his little finger, in order 20 render
him witch proof No woman OF the
lower orders who lives in a village ia
tested BIZ witch would venture 10
leave her house with her child Until
she had made herself and child safe
! by putting aSerrain mark on his fore
head
TREATaKsT or Tbs sEwITCHEB.
There are various modes Of treas-
Ez1ent for persons supposed 70 he under
the influence OF witch. The fore
head Of child suffering from Illness
brought on by witch's curse is some
times marked with burnt tarmeric.
Often the mother. murtering some
spells. sprinkles water over the child
ami rubs his forehead over with
burnt wieks OF earthern lamps fed
with mustard oil. Sometimes branches
OF particular trees are waved over
the patient, " ko is made TO chew the
leaves OF plum trees But should
these simple remedies fail. as they
often do, To produce any effect ON the
/ hewitched child, what would happen
then 70 the poor sufferer There i no
need TO be in dispair in this matter;
| for. as the dock grows side by side
| with the nettie, 30 In India there lives
close BIZ the witch the sorcerer, the
| practitioner of the black art, who is
always called in when the simple RENE
dies fail
Like the witches, the sorcerers are
believed 70 possess great occult pow
ers but, unlike the former, they often
| use their skill for bene6cent purposes.
The common sorcerers in India are a
people of very low caste, or no caste at
all, belonging mainly 10 the aboriginal
races who are still outside the pale OF
Hindooism. Their treatment, though
often violent, does not in modern
times result in death, as il did in
| some authenticated cases which
| happened years ago. The sorcerer,
| taking his place in front OF his patient.
with flowers in his hand and lamp
and incense burning before him, gives
| burnt turmeric and charmed mustard
seed to the bewitched person TO smell,
and dashes cold water with violence
upon his face. Sometimes the treat
ment OF the patient at the hands OF a
soTcerer vigorously fortunes the witch.
Thus it is said that in one instance,
upon the sorcerer squeezing the juice
OF certain plant into the eyes of a
| bewitched child, the witch immediate
| Is complained OF pain In the eyes,
which she lost, and the child was
cured.
| zfETHoHs OF BRAHAIS soacEREEs.
| BY far the most formidable magic
powers are, however. attributed 10 a
class OF Brahmins who are par excel
| ience the professors OF the black art
/ in India The Brahmin soreerers are
yessei in The practice OF the spells and
charms which, with the accompany
! ing rites. are described in the
Sanskrit books. called tantras.
/ The KEYNOTE of these. is struck in
well known eouplet, which, done into
English. runs thus ''The whole world
I is in the power OF the gods, and the
gods are in the power OF magic; magic
+ i In the power OF the Brahmins, and
therefore. BFahmin is himself the god.
IL must not be forgotten, however,
that in spite of this oracular deliver
ance. and the standardization of the
magical spells and charms in several
| sanskrit treatises and their comment
aries. the Brahmins themselves ac-
auirei the black art from the
wild. aboriginal races of India. OF
the six modes in which the Brahmin
sorcerer can influence his neighbors.
| four are malignant, one IS doubtful
and one only is beneficial. The four
malignant operations are the causing
of death, the destruction OF property
or mental capacity. the stoppage of
physical or mental action and the
causing of feuds between friends. The
art OF bringing an individual COM
pletely under the control of the expert
| Is the neutral operation. The only
branch OF white magic discussed is the
power of relieving a sufferer from
disease or the hostile influences of the
stars and other heavenly bodies.
A severe and prolonged probation
must he undergone before a man is
considered competent to commence
the practice of the magic art. He
must 20 through course of recitation
OF cahaiistic words, consisting of unin-
teliigihie Sanskrit roots, and of rope
tition OF the name of the deity to be
conquered about million times.
| Special hours are assigned. for
the performance. special pos
lures of the body, special diet
and a specially appointed space,
beyond which the probationer is not
allowed to go until the process OF in.
| itiation is finished. OF cogrse, all of
| this has To be accompanied with hand
some offerings to the deities and the
Brahmins and substantial feasts 10
| the latter. OF the six magical arts.
the most frequently praetlsed in India
N modern uttes I ttlAt OF the hettEdt
"subiugation. Certain ingredients
are prescribed for this operation.
/ A small piece of the frontal bone
OF man, the fruit OF the pois-
onous plant dhatura, camphor and
honey are taken IN proper proportions
and well mixed together. and the fore
head is to be painted with the COM
Mound before the wearer may bring
under his influence and control the
mind of any person whom he fears or
| loves. other nostrums similar TO the
/ ingredients in the witches caldron IN
| 81 Macbeth. increasing IN coHpieXliy
/ and greWsomcness as the higher de-
partments Of the black art are reached.
/ are 10 he found in the Sanskrit treat
/ iscs