196 MAGIC CUP. 



the cup, and on no account to raise his head. 

 After remaining some time in this attitude, he 

 was asked if he saw anything, the ink being 

 kept wet; he said, "Yes, I see a boy with a 

 red cloth over his head," such being of course 

 the reflection of himself. Both the Seyud and 

 his assistant then commenced reciting some- 

 thing, the former in a low, monotonous, sing- 

 song tone, and every now and then tapping the 

 boy's head and blowing on it, each time asking 

 if he saw anything, the latter reciting portions 

 of the Koran in a louder voice. This was ac- 

 companied by the burning of much frankin- 

 cense and cardamoms, which caused a smoke 

 very distressing to the eyes. Every one's pa- 

 tience being at length nearly exhausted, the 

 Seyud took out paper and wrote four charms ; 

 one of these he gave to his assistant, telling him 

 to press it hard ; a second he placed under the 

 boy ; a third he gave to the Moonshee, and 

 kept the fourth himself. More gums were then 

 burnedj and after a time the boy appeared 

 frightened, and said, ''I see a sweeper sweeping 

 the ground;" he then said, ''The sweeper has 

 disappeared." Presently after he declared that 

 he saw a bheesty Avatering the place, then a 



