28S 
MEDK’AL rilACTTCES AND Sri’EUST ITIONS OF KORDOFAN 
X'arious forms 
of charms 
Roots and 
plants 
Hence the more irreproachable the author the more potent his charm, and repeated 
failures redound against his credit ; whilst some well-worn charms of saintly men gather 
power with years, and become as comprehensive in their effects as many of our quack 
remedies themselves. 
Written charms can be compiled, therefore, against every conceivable form of disease 
and disorders of mind, body and soul, no matter what the cause, as well as for the 
gratification of every wish, good or bad, and as protection against every evil. There are 
many books written by the educated Pikis of Kgypt and elsewhere giving, I believe, in 
detail, all particulars relative to the subject, and forming the ground-work on which tlie 
provincial holy man bases his procedure. 
Other varieties of charms. 
The roots of various trees and plants which possess supernatural powers against evil 
spirits, evil eyes, and the attacks of reptiles are worn simply suspended in a loop of 
leather, or in a small leather case, or packed into the hollowed extremity of a gazelle 
horn (then called Kadug, Plate XLII., fig. 7). They are often hung in company with 
written charms against the same evil, and act, not only as a protection, Init in case of 
necessity as a remedy. 
They are ;— 
1. Gahujil .Vgainst the sting of scorpions. When worn, a scorpion will not 
approach, and can be picked up and handled with impunity. As a cure the root is charred 
and used as a cautery, when it is supposed to “ suck out the venom.” 
2. Fjlhrah is another root possessing similar qualities—it is carried in company 
with a piece of TJshar bush root, to which it bears a male relation, the IGhar taking no 
active part in tlie cure. 
3. Kasir Asicit (?). Against snake bite. Snakes dare not approach the possessor 
and on sight of the root they are said to rear up, hiss loudly, and then fall to the ground 
as though dead. For a remedy, it is charred, used as a cautery, and small fragments are 
also swallowed. In conjunction with this root is often carried a circular fragment of skin 
from the large lizard ( Warana^), called locally El Waral or El Ziihluf, the rough surface 
of which is used to refresh the site of injury before cauterisation (Plate XLI., fig. 11). 
1. Damiu Ashara (guarantee of 10). 
5. Jhimin. Khiims'.i (guarantee of /5). Have a similar use and action to 3. 
6. El Alula. (?). .‘\gainst evil spirits, the evil eye and reptiles, being worn as a 
protection and used for remedy as a fumigant of persons and places ; or applied in a spittle 
paste to the interior of the nostrils. 
7. Fiki liila. Ihnra.i/a —found in Central Kordofan. 
8. Salah Mawjooil —growing in the Gel)el district of Southern Kordofan. Have 
tlie same properties as El Alala, but to a lesser degree. 
9. El Shari (?). Against giddiness, the evil eye, and impotence ; the root being 
powdered and used as snuff. 
10. El llaiue Magiiie (?). Also against the evil eye. 
11. Ahn Tamara. The root of a variety of palm tree, a safeguard against impotence, 
and a general charm for success in love. Small quantities are eaten as an aphrodisiac and 
to fortify the owner in hardship and danger. 
12. Sharab El Shamsein. (The drinker of the two Suns.) Also named El Shams 
El iharoof. (The favoured of the Sun.) 
A tree so called because its branches and roots are said to always point towards the 
Probably I'lirmuis nitotinis. — A.]!. 
