INDIAN CUSTOMS. 227 



with a broom tied round their waists, either near 

 the house of a sick person, or on the outside of 

 the village. 



To ascertain with a greater degree of certainty 

 the persons guilty of practising witch-craft, the 

 three following modes are adopted : 



First. Branches of the Saul tree, marked 

 with the names of all the females in the village, 

 whether married or unmarried, who have attained 

 the age of twelve years, are planted in the water 

 in the morning, for the space of four hours and a 

 half; and the withering of any of these branches 

 is proof of witch-craft against the person whose 

 name is annexed to it. 



Secondly. Small portions of rice enveloped 

 in cloths, marked as above, are placed in a nest 

 of white ants ; the consumption of the rice in 

 any of the bags, establishes sorcery against the 

 woman whose name it bears. 



Thirdly. Lamps are lighted at night ; water 

 is placed in cups made of leaves, and mustard- 

 seed and oil are poured, drop by drop, into the 

 water, whilst the name of each woman in the 

 Q2 



