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CHAPTER VI. THE EVIL EYE AND THE SCARING OF GHOSTS.
The superstitious dread of an evil eye is to or near their necks with a black pigment or be seen mostly among ignorant people, especollyrium, as it is believed that the dark colour cially among women. If a boy were to fall is an antidote against the influence of the ill, they say, "Chhotio (the name of the boy) evil eye. was playing in the house wearing a fine dress (2) Some efficacious inscription is engraved and was prattling sweetly, when that wretch on a copper plate, which is suspended round came to the house and her evil eye fell on him" the child's neck. or "The boy was eating a dainty dish when (3) A bead of kachakada is also worn round that devilish woman came up and her evil eye the neck. influenced the boy."2
(4) A tiger's nail or tooth is worn round Persons born on a Sunday or Tuesday are the neck. generally believed to have an evil eye.
(5) An iron ring is worn on the finger. The evil eye causes its victim to vomit wlat (6) A lime is worn in the turban or he has eaten in its presence."
headdress. If a child weeps all day long, or a person (7) An incantation in the praise of Hanufinds his appetite very weak, the evil is attri- man is written on a piece of paper and put in buted to an evil eye.
an anklet which is worn. If milch cattle do not give milk, or if seva ($) A piece of thrond of five kinds of silk (vermicelli) pupad (wafer biscuitst pickles, or cotton spun by a virgin is given seven knots dudhapak (rice cooked in milk and sweetened on the fourteenth day of the dark half of with sugar) or such other eatables are spoilt, A slavin and worn on the person. it is believed that the evil eye is at tle root (9) In order that sweet meats and other of the trouble.
eatables such as på pad (wafer biscuits), It is believed that the following objects are pickles, etc., may not be spoilt by an evil eye, a Jiable to be influenced by an evil eye:
lime, an iron nail or a knife is put into them. (1) Persons having fine glossy hair, fiery (10) In order that a cot or cradle may not eyes, exquisite form, refined gait, fine speech be broken by the influence of an evil eye, a or good handwriting, (2) good sportsmen, (3) black woollen thread is tied round it. pickles, (+) på pad (wafer biscuits), (5) Seva (11) To prevent dudhbàk (rice cooked in (vermicelli), (6) all attractive objects. milk and sweetened with sugar) from being
If a person falls ill after lie is praised, he spoilt, a piece of charcoal is put into the pot is said to have been a victim of an evil eye.7 l in which it is prepared.8
The precautions taken to evade the influence W hile taking one's meal one should avoid of the evil eye are as follows:
the company of an evil-eyed person, but if (1) When children are dressed and decked perchance one happen to be present, a morsel with ornaments, a spot is made on their cheeks of the food should be thrown behind him or
· The School Master of Dhank. 3 The School Master of Kolki 5 The School Master of Jetpur. 7 The School Master of Sàyala.
* Mr. K. D. Dashi. 4 The School Master of Chhatrasa. 6 The School Master of Devalia. $ The School Master of Ganod,
