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SUPERSTITIONS AND CUSTOMS IN SALSETTE.
Fruit. - Along with the presents of a sári, a choli, etc., given by the bridegroom on their wedding-day, are also carried some fruits dry dates, almonds, walnuts, etc., of each, some of which are taken by the people at the bride's house, and some returned with the box in which the presents were brought.
MAY, 1899.]
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Garlic. To prevent indigestion, when a person complains of feeling puffiness of the stomach, garlic, black pepper and salt are given to eat, over which a small quantity of country liquor is drunk hot. When cholera is raging, garlic, black pepper and leaves of the tree of the custard apple are tied to the ends of handkerchiefs, and carried by persons going about, to prevent being attacked by cholera. Glass. Women wearing glass bangles must not approach near to a person who has been bitten . by a snake, because the poison will work with all the greater force. A gird cannot come close to a person wearing glass bangles, as he fears their tinkling. On the death of a man the glass bangles on the hands of his wife are broken. The gold necklace-pôt presented to the wife by her husband on the wedding-day, is interspersed with black glass beads. It is not good to show little children their faces in the looking-glass.
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Grain.
When a woman dies in child-birth, particularly so if the child be living, some grain (? rálá) are strewn on the road to the burying-ground, The object is to prevent the spirit of the woman from coming back home to take away the child. The prevention is effected thus: the spirit. as she comes, sees the grain which she waits to count, so that by the time she has counted all, it is near dawn of day, and the spirit must go back. On the evening previous to the wedding-day, the barber, who comes to shave, gets a present of two sers of rice, a cocoanut and a bottle of country liquor, from the head of the house, while the guests wave coins (copper or silver) round the head of the bride or bridegroom, and give them also to the barber. The payment for the services of a native midwife at the time of the confinement and for twelve days later, is also a certain quantity of rice and a rupee or two.
to the bride
five or seven
Honey. Honey possesses healing properties. Given internally with hot water or tea with or without the addition of a little brandy, honey cures cough.
Horns. A sámbar shing, the born of a deer, is rubbed in water and applied as a cure for headache. Horns are used as bleeding cups.
Incense. After bleeding, the arm or leg which has been bled is fumed with incense, and then bandaged. Incense is thrown on a fire over which the godmother, returning with the baptised child, has to step.
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Kiss.-Kissing the hand of a Bishop is practised by all; some extend this practice to the kissing of the hand of the priests, while a few even kiss that of laymen. One should not kiss a sleeping childit is not good to do so, say the old folk. After the ordination ceremony, all present kiss the right hand of the newly-ordained priest. When a child is hurt, the mother, or any close connection, who is by, kisses that part of the body which is hurt, and says: -- "Now it will be well."
Knots. The tying of the thread round the arm to cure fever is done by a certain number of knots. A person, who is somewhat forgetful, is told to tie a knot in his handkerchief to remind him of any work that he may have been asked to do.
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Leather. When fruit-trees do not bear fruit, people tie up an old van, sandal, of the left foot, to prevent the Evil Eye. If a blister be caused by wearing tight boots or shoes, to cure it, burn a piece of old leather and apply the ashes to the spot with a little oil.
Lifting. When the bridegroom is bathed, his maternal uncle lifts him and carries from the mandap into the house. So also the bride is bathed on Tuesday, that is, the second day of the wedding, in the mandap, and lifted by the bridegroom, over the threshold.
Liquor. Liquor is a bringer of joy, and it also benefits health. Among the presents given to the barber on the evening previous to the wedding is a bottle of country liquor. Liquor is drunk at all festivals, christenings, weddings, and even on occasions of death. Persons under the influence of
