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CHAPTER VI.
THE EVIL EYE AND THE SCARING OF GHOSTS. Hindus generally believe in the effects of
alum powder. The mixture is the evil eye. If an accident befall any thing
waved round the patient three of value, or it undergoes any sudden change,
times and then thrown into fire. it is said to be due to the effects of an evil
Meanwhile the sorcerer repeats the eye. In order to escape from the influence
names of all persons, things and of an evil eye, people begin the use of
evil spirits suspected by him. After incantations and charms on a Sunday,
this performance has been repeated Wednesday, or Thursday and finish them
three times, the fire is deposited in on the third or the fifth day. Small children
a public place where three roads domestic animals, and beautiful objects are
meet. generally liable to be affected by an evil 4th.-If the evil eye is believed to be that eye.
of a ghost, the sorcerer mutters The following are some of the methods
some words to himself waves of evading the effects of an evil eye.
ashes round the affected child, and
blows them in the air. 18.-Dry chillies are waved round the body of the affected person and
5th.-The evil eye of a tiger is removed
from an affected animal in the thrown into the fire, and if they do
following manner. An oil lamp is not thereupon make a loud noise,
burnt in the eye of a dead tiger it is said that the effects of an
and the lamp is waved round the evil eye are averted,
animal by a Mahár. The Mahár 2nd.-Mustard seed and salt are waved
is given a loaf prepared from eight round the face of a child and then
kinds of grain. thrown into the fire.
6th.-Copper amulets and black catton 3rd.-Alum is waved round the child and
strings charmed by a sorcerer are then thrown into fire. The piece
also tied round the neck or arms of of alum thus thrown is sometimes
the patient, 1 believed to be changed into the form When a child is to be removed from one of a man or a woman. From this, village to another, rice is scattered at the conjectures are made as to the sex of boundary of the village, at the bridges, rivers, the person by whose evil eye the creeks, etc, that are crossed during the patient is affected. The form or the journey. Cocoanuts are waved round the child figure is then broken by a toe of the and thrown away at the boundary of the village left foot of the patient, and dry and at places supposed to be haunted by chillios, garlic, hair, rubbish from ghosts. Before entering a house in a new the house and salt are mixed in the village, a small quantity of boiled rice, bread
1 School Master, Ubhádánda, Ratnagiri,
