The Colfax chronicle., 1888-11-24

page 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 sufferer from dis
ease or the hostile influences OF the
stars and other heavenly bodies.
A severe and prolonged probation
must be undergone before a man is
considered competent to commence the
practice of the magic art. He must go
through course of recitation or cabal-
istic words, consisting of unintelligible
Sanskrit roots, and Of repetition Of the
name of the deity to be conquered
about million times. Special hours
are assigned for the performance,
special postures Of the body, special
diet, and specially appointed space.
beyond which the probationer is not
allowed to go until the process OF in
| itiation is finished. OF course, all OF
| this has to be accompanied with hand
some offerings to the deities and the
Brahmins. and substantial feasts to the
latter.
OF the six magical arts, the one most
frequently practiced in Indian modern
times is that of the neutral ''subjuga-
tion." Certain ingredients are pre-
scribed for this operation. A small
piece of the frontal bone of man, the
fruit of the poisonous plant dhatura,
camphor and honey are to be taken in
proper proportions and well mixed to-
gether, and the forehead is to be
painted with the compound before the
wearer may bring under his influence
and control the mind of any person
whom he fears or loves. Other nos
trums, similar to the ingredients in the
: witches cauldron in Macbeth, in
creasipg in complexity and gruesome-
ness as the higher departments OF the
black art are reached, are to be found
in the Sanskrit treatises.
Now, to give you some examples OF
the practice of the dreaded art in India
of the present day:
I. A few days ago the father OF a
Government official in the neighbor-
hood of Calcutta suffered from malig-
: nant fever, which increased so rapidly
that he suspected the evil influence OF
. some of the inmates of his family.
I He therefore sent for an exorcist, who
D on arriving, told the sufferer that the
culprit was young man living at the
Q time in his house, and under great OBJ.
4 legations to him. The patient, greatly
Q astonished to hear of such base In
: gratitude, at first declined to be
8 lieve the accusation. The youth, how
ever, at once confessed his guilt, stat
Q ing that he had at one time learned
certainincantation which, when called
: to mind in the sight of any one suffer.
ing from illness, would infallibly ag-
It gravate 1t. The efficacy of these spells
Q was, however, by the advice OF the sor
u cerer, destroyed by their being whis
It pered into the ears of goat, and M
% obstacle then remained to the patients
% recovery.
/ The jealousy of rival practitioner
Is sometimes leads to tragical results, a
u the next illustration will show. 4
l. man who had studied the black ar
IS at Kamroop, in Assam, with the mos
Is celebrated performers, Witnessed
8. performance by famous sorcerer a
1, another place some years ago, and
- after it was over. he muttered certai
q charms through which his rival los
. his way on leaving the house, fell dow
~ and vomited blood. But the occul
!e powers of the latter enabled him t
Ia detect his opponent, and he determine
r to revenge himself. A few days after
!" ward his enemy was entering TEN
10 pie with some cobras around his necl
which he had caught in the Jungle an
re charmed into quiescence. The sorcere
D destroyed by incantations the infuenc
80 of the charms, and the cObras bit hi
40 enemy. the Kamroop magician, fatal.
o Very recently the water in certai
y, pond belonging to a zemindar of hig
a. standing and wealth having run low
Oh a staff OF coolies under an oversee
sn were employed to draw water into
os from an adjacent tank. But, notwitl
NJ standing the use of the usual hydrauli
~ apparatus and great exertions of tt
~ men, the water would not rise beyOn
~ the root of a certain tree on the banl
10 Further efforts were made without SUI
Cd cess. The contractor refused to col
=" tinue the work, as he suspected so
w cery. Induced to resume it, he short
no after lost his wife and one Of his sor
10 through fever. Finally he was himse
NO seized with fever, and he dreamt tn
he .r.. .na that !, w.s .o.,nst +h. chost