The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-29
The Heather Superstition Observed
Among the Natives in Parts
Of India.
A Man Suspended in the All by
Hooks Inserted in His
Flesh.
Granhic Description of the Scene Given by
Missionary Who Was an
Eye Witness.

Among the heathenish customs observed
by the natives of certain parts of India,
having in view the Precipitation of the gods,
in the hope of obtaining rain in dry Sea
sons, is the practice of hook swinging, says
the New York Press. This revolving per-
formance was at one time suppressed by
the English government, but its revival has
of late been allowed, and its observance ap-
pears to give much satisfaction to thou
sands of devotees. These people worship
the demoness Mariamman, said to be tho
spirit of a Pariah woman who formerly was
attacked by smallpox and was LETT to die
without assistance. She has now become
the patron of smallpox and cholera, ana Is
believed to have the power to send or with
hold rain, and hook swinging ia thought to
be a means of propitiating her, 80 as to In
fluence her to send rain in abundance.
In 1867 this practice was revived, after
having been prohibited for many years;
but upon representation to Lord Napier at
that time he again prohibited it, and now,
after twenty-four years, the people, having
learned thai the present powers that be
would do no more than discourage il. have
revived it again with great eclat. A recent
observance Of the heathenish custom is de-
soribed bv an American missionary h
witnessed it. #%#.$#
Young man was selected to perform the
act. It is said that previous to the inser-
ton OF the hooks into the middle OF the
back the muscles and skin are rendered IN
sensible by shaping and pinching. How
ever that may be, there is no doubt thas
arrack was given to the mar at the time.
TY.--- -a.-L a. thn rn11Na 0Gaf1CN Will
the two hooks Inserted back to back, ono
each side Of the spine. The hooks we're
not large, and the flesh taken up by them
seemed very little. The wonderful strength
OF the muscles of the back was shown by
this performance.
wheels, supporting a great frame about ten
feet in length and breadth and fifteen feet
in height, the platform itself being six feet
from the ground. Up through the middle
of the great frame rose q stout circular
beam Of great strength three feet above the
frame, and on the top of this beam was
pivoted the pole. sixty feet in length. from
which this man hung thirty-fve feet from
the ground.
Promptly at three O'Clock the hooks were
inserted, within some building, and the
man came rushing along the street. es-
corted by constables and others, who beat
back the crowd and kept up a big tanning,
urging bIo "aA y ASoP
the short stay at the police station they
made q grand rush for the car, which
stood on an adjacent street, and there III
end Of the sweep was lowered to receive It'll
victim. Soon it was carried up again will
the man attached. As he went up h'
clapped his feet and hands together in
measured way, and this he kept up during
the whole performance. His ankles ha'
jingles on them that could be heard as they
beat together with q steady ''ohing, ching
Before carrying him up to the creates
height the pole was held horizontally, an
the man was carried around in q complet
circle, swinging over the tops of the houses
Then the car was drawn forward to til
first corner, where it was delayed, that
kid might bs sacrificed. Once in a Will
the man would draw up with q rope plan
tains and flowers and throw them down t.
the crowd below. In ono place there was
ditch to be crossed, and the jolt caused hir
to seize the rope that hung by his side, blu
with that exception he seemed to hang en-
tirely by the two hooks in his back. Th
flesh was gathered up, showing great ten
sion. and his back was bent.
After an hour and a quarter the car re
turned to its starting place and the maj
was released. The hooks were not takel
out. but were kept in that they might NOV
the people to be liberal in giving present
to the performer. His pulse was good an
his condition seemed normal, but the aes
of the back was 80 drawn up as to leav
deep holes for the hooks.