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NOVEMBER, 1886.]
ASIATIC SYMBOLISM.
321
DISCURSIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS THE COMPARATIVE STUDY
OF ASIATIC SYMBOLISM.
BY H. G. M. MURRAY-AYNSLEY. VIII.
able to learn nothing is positively known of The Evil Eye and Allied Notions.
their antecedents. Some have thought they NE of the old Hindu legends connected with might be a remnant of a Keltic population;
Ganesa, the elephant-headed god, the son others that they are of Spanish, or of Gipsy of Siva and his wife Pârvatî, is that as soon as he blood. In type, features and complexion they was born, his parents invited all the other gods are totally different to the other inhabitants of and goddesses to come and see him, but by an the island, having very dark hair and eyes, unlucky accident they omitted or forgot to and olive skins. They are called Pipet (plural invite Sani, who appeared on the scene in a Pipiaux). The Pipiaux are all small farmers, terrible rage, and with one glance of his eye and live chiefly in St. Saviour's parish, in caused the child's head to drop off. The other the district called The Forest, and near Lihon. gods rushed out in horror and in their despair Some of them occasionally go round to the cut off the head of an elephant, which they different gentlemen's houses to dispose of found sleeping close by with its head towards their farm produce, and such is the dread they the north. This they clapped on to the inspire in the mind of the true Guernsey infant's body before its mother had time to see servant, that should her mistress not purchase and prevent the transformation. This faith anything, she will herself give a small coin, in the efficacy of the Evil Eye is fully believed and throw a handful of salt after them on in India to the present day.
their departure. Till very recently, no true It is also strong in most parts of the world, Guernsey man or woman would marry a Pipet, And still lingers amongst the peasantry in some but a mixed marriage did take place a year or counties in England, where there is a belief two ago, and the couple are living, I believe, in Lacky Stones,' i.e. self-bored ones. A in St. Martin's parish. This union was, at the correspondent of the English Notes and Queries time, spoken of as tempting Providence, but conrelates, how, on entering a house in a Yorkshire trary to the general expectation it has turned village, he observed a ponderous necklace of out well. A. curious anecdote of these people them hanging against the wall. On inquiring was related to me by a lady who belongs about them, he found the good woman of to one of the oldest families in the Island. the house indisposed to give him any explana- Before she married she resided at her father's tion regarding them, but he presently elicited house, which is about two miles from the from her that such stones had the credit town, and at Christmas it was not anusual for of preserving the house and its inhabitants some of the poorer Pipiaux to come to the door from the Evil Eye.
and ask for & present, which was never "Why." said he, "surely you don't believe in refused them. But one Christmas day, a witches now-a-days ?"
family who lived near them would not give "No," she replied, “I don't say 'at I do, an alms to a Pipet who came, and ordered the bat certainly in former times there was wizards suppliant to go away, on which he said: “You and hizzards, and them sort o' things."
think you are going to have a very good “Well," the gentleman rejoined, “but surely dinner to-day, but you are much mistaken." you don't think there are any now P"
When the dinner hour came, though the roast "No," I don't say 'at there are, but I do beef and the roast turkey had been some believe in a Yevil Eye."
hours before the fire they could not be cooked, Again, a peculiar race of people exists on the and the family in despair sent over to the house Island of Guernsey, who are accounted witches of my informant's father to beg for a dinner. and are thought to have the power of casting The only rational solation of the mystery was, the Evil Eye. As far as I have been hitherto that their larder being in a cold situation,
I am doubtful whether this is the name of the olan, or of certain families only. It was a point on which I
could not obtain satisfactory information.
