270 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



to welcome any " Bhut " who might be pleased to 

 put in an appearance, however objectionable that 

 might be. In this connection it is curious to notice 

 how much resemblance there is between old and now 

 almost relinquished ideas of Northern Europe and 

 those which still exist in Kathiawar. The Bhut is 

 the spirit of a deceased human being which, for sins 

 committed in the body, or neglect of its relatives in 

 performing the due ceremonies after death, wanders 

 about in an uncomfortable fashion, entering into 

 other persons' living bodies, assuming curious shapes, 

 and doing sometimes good, but, for the most part, 

 mischief. It is to be noted also, that the spirit of a 

 man who does not die easily being held to this life 

 by regard for his wife or children, or worldly pos- 

 sessions, is liable to become a Bhut. These unclean 

 beings, as they are regarded, are fond of dwelling in 

 trees near their former homes or beside where their 

 bodies have been buried, in desert places, and where 

 four roads meet. Their food is of such a character 

 as to suggest that a good many of their exploits may 

 be set down to the credit of the Aghoras and other 

 repulsive devotees who shun daylight and the face 

 of mankind a class of unfortunate wretches which 

 (though no religious character is here assigned to it) 

 has some slight counterpart in the wretched creatures 

 who are only to be seen after midnight in our own 

 great cities. 



The Bhut is known, by some name or other, all 



