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Mar, 1899.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND CUSTOMS IN SALSETTE.
113
SUPERSTITIONS AND CUSTOMS IN SALSETTE.
BY GEO. F. D'PENHA.
Anoostor-Worship. ALL SOULS DAY, the 2nd of November, is a day specially set apart by the Catholic Church for
intercession for the souls in Purgatory, when prayers and Masses are offered for their release from the sufferings. Not many years ago, and I believe even now in certain obscure parts, the ignorant classes spread a mat on which were laid down tooth-brushes, snuff, liquor, food and átfálait for those of the family who have died. The notion is that, on Ali Souls Day, the dead are granted respite from their sufferings and are allowed to roam whither they will, and, as it is natural that they should visit their own houses, or those of their nearest connections, they are provided with a dinner, after partaking of which they feel gratified and go in peace.
There is a good story told in this connection. There lived an old woman by herself, Near her house was a brab-treet which was tapped for súr er tápí (toddy) by a Christian bhandári. On one All Souls Day, the old woman asked the bhandari for some súr. On being questioned why she wanted it, the old woman said that, as it was jáliás méliánchá dis (the day of the dead and gone), she must prepare something for them. The bhandári very kindly gave the old woman some toddy without charging her anything. The old woman took the toddy and made some pole, curry, attólavi, etc., and, laying it on a mat, went to Church to attend the Officium Defunctorum, which is held in every Church on the evening of that day, leaving the door partially open, for the jelin mélis to enter. A little while after, the bhandari who was waiting for an opportunity, quietly entered the old woman's house, ate well and emptied the liquor pot, and went away, unseen by any one. When the old woman returned from Church and saw that the dinner was partaken of, she, in her simplicity, was quite convinced that the jális mélia had come and had their fill. The following day, when the bhandari came, as usual, to draw toddy, be called out to the old woman and said: “A8, ka gé, jelin mélin diltii kasi nahin, Grandmother, well, had the dead and gone come or not?" To which the old woman proudly replied: "Ho ré pútá, kiltis ré Giltin, khalan pilani ani gelin, Yes, my son, they had come, they had come, they ate and drank and went away." The bhandarí laughed in his sleeve at the simplicity of the old woman, but kept the true story to himself, relating it to his friends only after the demise of the old woman,
Some people set down liquor, or anything of wbich a person was fond in his lifetime, on the nights of the funeral-day, second day and third day after death, in some place in the house most frequented by the deceased. I have been an eye-witness to a case of this kind, under the following circumstances. An old man died, whose funeral I had to attend. The funeral was over late in the evening, and, being related, I was asked to spend the night at the house, which I did. My bed was prepared on a cot which turned out to be one in which the deceased had usually slept. Late in the night, having occasion to strike a light, I saw beside me some country liquor in a cháun (a small cup used for drinking country liquor out of). In another case, an old woman had placed a spirit-glass with a little brandy, for her grandson, aged about fourteen years, in a place the boy frequented most, although I know he had a great aversion to all sorts of liquor.
On the night previous to the wedding-day, ôré, pôlé, etc., a little of everything prepared for the wedding, including some liquor, are taken to some distance out of the village, and there left, evidently for the spirits of ancestors, or of the deceased members of the family, in general.
The dead are believed to intercede with God for the living, and people pray to the departed in time of need. I have sometimes heard people say :-"Bar6 santansi ani dlmúnisisi mángtus hôtús, I have always been asking of (praying to all the saints and souls." And that the
1 This is a sort of gruel, prepared with now rioe with the addition of jaggri and some ingredients such as cardamoms to sweeten and lend favour to it. Almost every Bombay East Indian family makes atlash on All Souls Day.
1 A palm. See Yule, Hobson-Jobson, I. v.
