New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-07-03
WARE OF EVIL EYE
i SUPERSTITION TIL 1T
IS CENTURIES OLD.
Hitch, Hoodoo, "Kahuna" and
Ghost Shooter" Still ViU1d
Perils to Many.


Of human beliefs. one which has been ad-
hered to by some of the earths most
learned and pious. as well her lowliest.
IS thar of the influence of the EVIL eye
upon human beings. animals. and even
plants. A person with an evil eye was.
and is still in some quarters, supposed 10
be gifted with the power of exerring an
evil influence or fascination on any one by
Z glance from the eyes. BY the ancient
Romans * was called fascinurn. and by
the Greeks baskania. and TO both it was
an integral part Of the popular belief.
Even in these modern days the 'evil
eye fallacy is 10 be found in every coun-
Try on the face of the globe Here il is
especially prevalent among the immigrants
who flock to our shores in such countless
numbers Many Of them have certain per-
sons among their friends whom they sus-
E,4ct Of having an evil eye. II the child
OF an Italian or Polish mother begins TO
cry suddenly she will at once attribute it
to the evil eye Of some one who has looked
at the yOungster-
l. is not children alone that the evil eye
threatens. Il affects grown up people, AMI
mails. and even the crops in the field.
But il is to lovers or newly married cou-
rles that the evil eye is most dangerous
a. evil eye viii make the sweetheart faith
Il brings discord into the homes where love
and harmony reigned That is what the
supersIitioUs ones believe.
Many and varied are the means adopted
70 counterast the effects of the evil eye
Anlulets of various forms-the most COM
mon those shaped like horns. like a frog
or ike a hard-are worn. and such devices
adopted ny way Of safeguard as expectorat-
irg on the ground or on the breast. showing
something ridiculous TO the fascinator. dis
Stimulating good fortune or doing some
dining unpleasant by way Of counter pen
auce
The Italians. who are inveterate belIeV-
ers IL this foolish superstition, are partial
u a charm in the shape of a tiny hand, the
index and little fingers being pointed
out and the third and fourth fingers being
held down by the thumb. This little charm
Is made Of various materials. coral, tor
toi-e shell silver and gold being the ones
n highest favor.
The following are 2 few OF the many
charms against the evil eye: The kernel
OF the fruit Of the palm tree. q sprig Of
rue sweeping a chiId's face with the
branch OF . pine tree, hanging around a
chilG's neck fennel seed or bread and cheese
IN The Gentlemen's Magazine" of Eng
land January. 1131D, appears the follow
ing account CT curious trial Of certain
persons charged with bewitching cattle be-
longing TO neighbors, which throws an in
teresting light upon The superstitions pre-
vaiiing among our own ancestors in the
early DAYS OF the existence of the American
colonies:
Jersey was doubtless meant. It's advised
that the owners of al cattle, believing
them 20 be De8ltCh@d. caused some SuS-
pected men and women 10 he taken UP
and trials to he made for detecting EN-.
About three hundred people assembled near
the Governor house and. pair OF scales
being erected. the suspected persons were
eel weighed AGAINST a large Bible: but all
&c +i7a-1 vastly 9Jfvefcfed II. The accused
were then to be tied head and feet to-
EeTher and put into river line Della
Harel on supposition that If they swan
not they must be guilty. This they offered
10 undergo in case their accuses should
he served in like manner, which being
done they all swan very buoyantly and
cleared the accused
\ most extraordinary belief. and Yet one
which has had a worldwide currency. Is
that Of the ability Of certain persons TO &C
con1llish the Death OF others by various
magical processes. In Europe and America
tie persons 50 gifted were commonly known
as witches. and in the early DAYS, when
-hev were caught AT their nefarious prac-
- tics death was their portion The march
Of civilization has urrooted this supersti-
rIes. hut il is still in vogue among the ig-
,lorsrt while IN the islands Of the Pacific
and in Asia il Eoulishes il many queer
forms.
Even to this DAY the oder Hawaiian's
blood VIII run cold and h viii taka TO his
he'd in very horror as soon as the thought
sIsIk-s him that some one is attempting 70
prey" him 10 death. This is an ancient
superstition in the islands and i is only
within recent years that implicit faith in
tie ability Of the '-kahuua.' or priest, to
accomplish his nefarioUs purpose in this
manner. has been broken.
Formerly ,,ersCn who felt that he had
heen injured bs- another would 20 to GER
tam .rkahuna." and by giving him presents
procure his aid III praying his enemy 70
d-ath. The inhabitants of the South Pa
ciac islands. who are cffshoots Of the Ma
lay race. are very superstiJio9s. and many
authentic instances are repnrted by the
missionaries Of Hawaiians taking to their
beds as soon IS they heard that they were
being '-anaaraed.' as il WAS termed, and
diving IN a very few days
II the stirring times OF the revolution
.fkahLnas'' VINO were, II course. friendly
TO ex-Cueen Liuokalani. We're employed To
r3-av President Dole to death, and PIGS were
sacrificed % bring this about, but the head
OF the new Teplb-lc Was iyo psattlcdI d
man 70 be scared. although he was fully
aware OF what Was going on. As pigs are
valuable IN the islands the game was soon
found 70 be rather expensive, and as IL
also proved bootless il was soon abandoned
for more violent and less costly means
\ reraa az hIc engine OF mischief among
n ssperstilioJs natives Of the Banks Isl
an6s. in the South Seas, is called "tama-
tet.qa" = ghost shooter" \ bit Of BAN
Doc is stuffed with leaves = dead mans
bone and other magical ingredients. while
tho proper mana song l. cllantei over II
lasting in most cases adds power TO this
oLarn. The man who has made or bought
oro OF thesa holds il IN his hand. with the
open end Y Tho har11oo covered with aiS
cAu.nh. tilI ne SECS his enemy, Thcn he lets
out the magic influence and shoots his
-,&1.
vv:ser. rhe Malay wishes 10 destroy his
.--.- without the discomfort 81 actually
Anime, ai77 he takes wax from 2 deserted
cr.na. raou..s Il into an image Of his foe
cscsrares i with The eyebrows OF the Lair
q -hc zoe. and thea slowly scorches the
vax :s--re oter a lamp Tor seven nights
-ect.rg Ia IS I.ot the W., 1 ara sco-oIislg.
= j. -..e liver Re heart and the spleen Of
---- rl7a: ! scorcl.. naming his enemy.
q course. after this taere * nothing for