A DEER-DRIVE. 63 



animal. He then slowly passes the muzzle of the 

 gun over the deer from the head over the neck, along 

 the back, and down to the extremity of the hind-legs. 

 When he gets to the end he carries the gun smartly 

 off from the body, with the action of one sweeping 

 something away. Going through this performance 

 three times, he repeats the following words 



"O bahdi! 



I know whence ye got your powers. 

 With the fall of Adam your powers began. 

 I have the means to destroy your powers. 



O Malik Zabaniah ! 



Keeper of the gate of the end of the world, 

 Open a secret door for me ; 

 I wish to throw away all the powers of bahdi. 

 Open a place from which there is no return ; 

 I wish to throw away all the powers of genaling. 



Let no claim be made against me, 

 Against my house and family, 

 Against my friends and companions, 

 Or against my hounds. If claim is made, 

 Thou shalt be doomed to Hell by Allah." 



He then, in the low muttering tone he has used 

 throughout, counts one two three up to ten, 

 and then shouts " Lepas ! " " Be free ! " Every one 

 echoes the cry, and the deer is now freed from 

 evil influences. 



This performance is called sapu bahdi, or sweeping 

 away the evil influences, which are supposed to follow 

 the direction of the gun, and be thus expelled from 

 the body of the deer. Until this is done every one 

 takes great care to avoid standing behind the deer, 



