The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-24
BLACK ART IN INDIA.
. COUNTRY WHERE WITCHES AND
SORcERERS LIVE AND THRIVE.
How Anxious Hindoo Mo hers Try to
Fender Their Children Witch Troof.
Brahmins Who Excel in he Black Art


Brahmins Who Excel in The Black Art
There is scarcelya village ia Eastern and
Southern India that does not possess its witch.
70 whom terrible powers are attributed by
the popular mind. The witches, they say
can suck the blood cf healthy children; and
the anxious mother, directly she sees the
witch approach, catches up her child and
mutters some charm 10 save the dear ono from
being sucked to death. OF course the best
antidotc TO the occult infiuenceof the dreaded
bags is the gift Of few copper coins or some
sort Of aims. But there are other means en-
ployed to counteract their malignity. They
are sometimes detected by salt being placed
on their heads, which causes them TO turn
round and mutter incoherent syllables. Some
times the trembling mother spits on the head
Of her child, or gently bites bis little finger
in order 10 render him witch proof No
woman Of the lower orders who lives in
village infested by a witch would venture to
leave her house with her child until she had
made herself and her child safe By putting
certain mark on his forehead.
TREATMENT OF THE BEwIrcHED.
There are various modes Of treatment for
persons supposed to be under tho influence OF
a witch The forehead Of a child suffering
from illness brought on by n witch's curse Is
sometimes marked with burnt tarncric.
Often the mother, muttering some spells,
sprinkles water over her child and rubs his
forehead over with burnt wicks Of earthcn
lamps fed with mustard oil Sometimes
branches Of particular trees are waved over
the patient, who is made 20 chew the leaves
OF plum trees. But should these simple ronic-
dies fail. rs they often do, 20 produce any
effect on the bewitchel child, what would
happen then 10 the poor suiiercri lherc Is
no nee1 TO he in despair in this natter for
as the dock grows side by side with the
nettlc 50 in India there lives close 10y the
witch the sorcercr, the practitioner Of the
black art, who is always called in when the
simple remedies fail
Lake tho witches, the sOrcerers are believed
20 possess great occult POWERS; but, unlike
the former. they often use their skill fer
benefcent purposes Thecommon sorcerers
in India are a people Of very low caste, or
no caste at al. belonging mainly 10 the
aboriginal races who arcstill outside the pale
OF HindoOism. Their treatment, though
often violent. does not in modern tim srcsllt
in death, as it did in some authenticated cases
which happened years ago. Tie sorcerer,
taking his place in front of his patient, with
flowers in his hand and lamp and incense
burning before him, gives burnt turmeilc
and charmed mustard seed 10 tie bewitchcd
person 10 smell. and dashes cold water win
violence upon his face. Sometimes tho treat
ment Of tie patient at the hands Of asorcercr
vicariously tortures the witch Thus it Is
said that in ono instance, upon the sorcercr
squeezing the juice Of a certain plant into
the eyes Of bewitched child, the witch lm-
mediately complained Of pain in the eyes,
which she los, and the cLsld wa cured
METHODS or BRAHsuN sOg-EiE2i
By far the most formidable magic powers
are, however, attributed 10 a class Of Bran-
nins. wLoare par excellence tho professors
of the black art i'm India Tho Brahmiu scr
cerers are vcSed IN the practice Of the spells
and charms which. with the accompanying
rites, arc described in the sanskrit books,
called taniras. The keynote Of these IS struck
in a well known couplet which, done into
English, runs thus: Tho whole world is ia
the power Of tine gods, and the gods are ~
the power of magic magic is in the power Of
the Brahmins, and therefore toe Erahmn is
himself the god Ii must no. DC forgotten.
however. shat in spite Of this orcular de-
liyerauco, and tho systematizaton Of the
magical spells aud charms in several san
skirt trcatscs and their commentaries, the
Brahmins themselves acquired the black art
from the wild aboriginal races ri India. OF
tho six modes ia which tie BraAmiH sorccTcr
can influence bis ueighbors four are malig-
nant, one is doubtful and one only IS beneii-
cial The four malignant operations arc the
causing Of death, the destruction Of property
or mental capacity, the stoppagc OF physical
or mental action and the causing Of feuds be-
tween friends The art OF bringing an indi-
vidual completely under tine control Of the
expert is the neutral operation. Tie only
branch Of white magic discussed IL the power
OF relieving sufferer from disease or the
hostile influences of the stars and other
heavenly bodies.
\ severe and prolonged probation Inust be
undergone before man Is considered com
petent to commence the practice Of the magic
art lie must 60 through q course OF recita-
ton Of cabalistlc words, consisting OF unin-
tenigible Sanskrit roots, and Of repetition OF
the name Of tho deity 60 he conquered about
q million times. Special hours are assigned
fer the peslorgnas,c, special posturcs o. tho
body, special diet and "a specially appointed
space, beyond which the probatiOner Is not
allowed t. 60 until the process OF initiation
is finished or course, all Of this has TO be
accompanied with handsome offerings 70 tho
deities and tho BrahmiEs and substantial
feas;s 70 tho latter. OF the SIX magical arts,
the one mos. frequently prectlced IN India IN
modern times is that Of the neutral "subju-
CATION Certain ingredients are prescribed
for this operation 4 small piece Of the
frontal bone OF a man, the fruit Of the pols-
onous plant dhatura, camphor AID honey arc
70 be taken in proper proportions and we'll
mixed together, aud tho forehead Is 20 be
painted with the compound before the wearcr
may bring under his influence and control
tue mind Of any person whom he fears or
loves. Other uostruns similar to the ingre-
dents in the witches caldron il Mac.
BETH increasing in complexity and grew
solneness as the higher departments OF the
black art are reached, are 10 DO found IN the
Sanskrit treatises. London STANDARD.
The Development Of Central America
Honduras has given a vast tract Of land 10
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