KAFIR SUPERSTITIONS. 277 | 
truly reverent and religious. It gives a strong desire for, and 
belief in, continued existence after physical death. 
In the Kafirs this emotion runs riot. It impels them to 
perpetrate the most diabolical cruelties. 
They believe that the spirit of a dead Kafir has the power of 
influencing the survivors of his own family for good or evil. So 
far the belief is reasonable enough, but the Kafir family believes 
that if cattle, goats, fowls, etc., are sacrificed to this spirit relative, 
Meee + 
Fic. 111.— Applying the test to see if the snake is obsessed by the spirit of 
a beloved relative or a foe. (After J. G. Wood.) 
then their spirits go to him and help swell his herd of spirit cattle, 
etc., in the shades below. He does not mind his friends feasting 
upon the flesh of the sacrificed animal. All he covets is the 
spirit of the creature. If he considers that his friends on earth 
are neglecting him, he pays them a visit, and afflicts them 
or their domestic animals with disease. If the disease should 
be severe, then the relatives imagine that nothing short of the 
sacrifice of a cow or ox will appease the indignant deceased 
relative. If the sickness should be a minor one, then a goat is 
thought to be adequate. Sheep never seem to be used for these 
sacrifices. 
