The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-07
Tales of
Savages Who Kill by
Black Magic.

Having lived thirty years on the Nil
girls, employing the various tribes of the
hills on my estates, and speaking their
languages, I have had many opportunities
of observing their manners and customs,
writes Mrs. E. II. Morgan in the London
Theosophist, and of witnessing the fire.
quent practice of demonology and witch
craft among them.
On the slopes of the Nilgiris live several
semi-wild people-the Curumbers, who
frequently hire out to neighboring estates
and are irst-rate fellers of forest; the
Toim, or Honey Curumbers, who live
largely on honey and roots and who do
not come into civilized parts, and the
Mulu Curumbers, who are rare on the
slopes of the Mills, but common in Wy
naad, lower down the plateau. These
Mulu Curumbers are credited with con-
trolling power over all wild animals.
1 had on my estates, near Ootacamund,
thirty young Badagas whom l had in my
service since they were children. From
week to week l missed one or another or
them and on inquiry was told they had
sickened and died. One market day
met the Monaghan of the village to which
these young men belonged. The moment
he saw me he stopped me and said.
mother, am in great sorrow and trouble,
tell me what l can do?"
why, what is wrong?" I asked.
"All my young men are dying, and
cannot help them nor prevent it. They
are under the spell of the wicked Curum-
uers, who are killing them"
"Pray EXPLAIN" said.
"Oh, madam, they are vile extortioners,
always asking for money. We have given
and given till we have no more to give.
told them we had no more money, and
they said, All right-we shall seep Surely
as they say this we know what will fol-
low. At night when we are all asleep we
wake up suddenly and see Curumber
standing in our midst-in the middle of
the room occupied by the young men,"
"Why do you not close and bolt your
doors? ' l asked.
what is the use of bolts and bars to
them? They come through stone walls
Our doors are secure, but nothing can
keep out a Curumber. He points his
finger at Madu, at Kurira, at Jogie; he
utters no word, and as we look at him he
vanlshes In few days these three young
men sicken, low fever consumes them,
their stomachs swell; they die. Eighteen
Young men, the flower of my village, have
died thus this year. These effects always
follow the visit of Curumber at night
"Why not complain to the Govern
ment2" I SAID.
"Ah, no use; who will catch them2 We
muct find the money som chow, I sup
pose," and be turned sofrowtully away.
A Mr.. K is the owner of coffee
plantation, and employs burghers. On
one occasion he took seven or eight
burghers along with him on hunting ex.
petition for big game. He severely
wounded a fine elephant with tusks.
Wishing to secure the ivory, he followed
up his quarry, but could not induce his
burghers to go deeper into the forests, for
they feared to meet the Mulu Curumbers
who lived there. By dint OF threats and
brides he finally induced them to proceed
cautiously, and as they met no one their
fears were allayed and they grew polder,
when, suddenly coming upon the elephant
lying dead-oh, horror to them 1.-The beast
was surrounded by party of Mulu Curum-
bers, busily engaged in cutting out the
tusks, one of which they had already dis
engaged. The frightened burghers fell
back, and nothing would induce them to
approach the elephant, which the Curum-
bers declared was theirs. They had killed
it, they said.
But Mr.. x was not to give up the
game in this fashion. He approached the
Curumbers threateningly with his gun
and compelled them to retire, and called
to his burghers at the same time. The
Curumbers only said, "Just you dare to
touch that elephant" and retired.
Mr.. k thereupon cut out the remain
ing tusk himself, and singing both on
pole with no little trouble, made his men
carry them. de took all the blame on
himself, showed them they did not touch
the tusks, and finally declared he would
stay there all night rather than lose them.
The idea of night near the Mulu Curum-
bers was too much for the burghers, and
they finally took up the poles and tusks
and walked home.
From that day those men, all but one.
who probably carried the gun, sickened,
walked about like specters, doomed, pale
and CHASTITY, and before the month was
out all were dead. with the one exception.