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SEPTEMBER, 1898.)
SPIRIT BASIS OF BELIEF AND CUSTOM.
237
of negligence had built the nest of pride - as an example to other corrupters of the State, should be placed on the point of spears and taken round the bázárs, and that the joyful news of this victory shonld be noised abroad through all parts of the kingdom, far and near. The servants of Her Highnebs did as she ordered ; and for the sake of the peace of mind of great and little, she herself in her most pure person ascended sun-like to the summit of one of the towers of the fortress.
(To be continued.)
NOTES ON THE SPIRIT BASIS OF BELIEF AND CUSTOM.
BY SIR J. M. CAMPBELL, K.C.I.E., IC.S.
(Continued from p. 223.) Exorcists. - Exorcists, or spirit-scarers, are known in the Dakhan and Konkan by various names as bhagats or devotees, déornsis or divine sages, jantris or conjurers, mantris or enchanters, and panchak sharis or men of (five) letters. They belong to all classes of Hindus and Musalmans, but they are generally recruited from the lower classes. They have two divisions - professional and non-professional. Non-professsional exorcists are generally persons who become possessed by a guardian spirit, or dév: a few of them learn the art of exorcism from & guru or teacher.37 Most professional exorcists have had a regular training from a guru or teacher. The first study is begun on a lunar or on a solar eclipse dits. On such a day the teacher after bathing and withont wiping his body or liis headhair, puts on dry clothes and goes to the village temple to Maruti. The candidate having done likewise also goes to the temple. The candidate then spreads a white cloth before the god, and on one side of the cloth makes a heap of rice and on another a heap of udid, 18 sprinkles red lead on the heaps, and breaks & cocoanut in front of the idol.
In the Dekhan as well as in the Konkan, there are many persons who are said to be naturally codowed with a power over spirits. The pensioned mámlatdar of Igatpuri, in Násik, is at present (1888: believed to have a power over
k at the top of Ojha's steps, is n monastery of Raghunathbirn, who about seventyfive years ago was famous for his power of curing diseases and controlling spirits and elemeuts. One of the Adil Shahi kings of Bijapur was supposed to have power over spirits and dins. At Bijapur he built a bouse with Atrong walls and a round stone roof. The house had no windows and no doors. He left a little bole, and by his power over then he drovo in all diseases - cholera, small-pox, and fovar - and shut the hole. After this the people were free from disease. When the English took Bij pur, an officer saw this building withont a window or a door. He asked the people what was the 2180 of this strong house with weither a door nor a window. The people said, cholera and small-pox and fever are shut in the honse, and no one should open it. The English officer thought that this showed there was money in the house, and that the king hal told the people this story, so that no man might touch his treasure. The officer broke down the wail, and the house inside Wam empty. Terrible cholera and small-pos aprad over the land, and, especinlly in Dharway, many holliers and many oficers diei (Iuformation from Abdul Rutler).
In the village of Mingaon, in Savant Ads, lives n Konkadasth Brahman whose con Wanderri to all the holy pinces in India. At Banaras. DattatraTA Appeared to the young Bruchmiin in a dream, and and he would come into hinn nt suy village in which he chose to live. The yonng Brahinay got an imase of the gol, went back to Mangor built n temple. anal set up the image. This happened in 1883. On bis ruturn it was found that the young Brâhnia. or the ed Dattatreya who lived in him had creat power to scare evil spirts. When person suffering fro:n 13 evil spirit is brought to tbe teraple, the patient generally goes in a distracted way, wandering rond the temple and coming before the young Brahman, who is about 25 years of age, tolle who he (that is, the spirit in him) is a Jakin, a Kair, or a Choda, The Brihmap, who eits at his ease and shows no sign of being POS Red by Dattatraya, asks the Mpirit if he will go. The lirit says: "I will if I get liquor or flesh." The Brahman xay: "No, take this plaintain and go. Te spirit says: "I will not go; I have hosts of spirits besides myself. What is a plautain to us all The Bråhnan grinddown lump of sugar and gives him it. The possessed rude some dintance from the temple. fulla in a swoon, comes back to the Brahman, and bathes. When spirit is very bed, and will not say who he is, .. Brahman says: "Go into that pillar" - big pillar in his temple. The Brahmap gets up, and puts his arm round the pillar, and the spirit in the sick man raya. "Oh! Dattatrays, I am wrong: let me go, let me go." The Brahman ents almoet nothing, and anks for nothing. Great numbers of women and sick go to him to be cured.
# Phaseolus radiatus.
