358 ON SOME EXTRAORDINARY FACTS, CUSTOMS, 



calamities will befal himself, his parents, his children^ 

 and his property; in short, that death will sweep 

 away most of the members, or indeed the whole of 

 his family, within a short period after this unfortunate 

 spectacle. If the proprietor's servant happens to see 

 the flower, and immediately pulls it from the stalky 

 buries it in the earth, and never reveals the circum- 

 stance to his master ; in this case they believe that it 

 will not be productive of any evil consequence. 

 But should the matter reach the proprietor's know- 

 ledge, the calamities before stated must, according to 

 the prevailing ideas, infallibly happen. r 



In support of this belief, many of the most aged 

 zemindars and ryots in the province of Benares , re- 

 cited several instances of the above nature, which 

 they affirmed to have actually happened during then- 

 own time; and moreover, that they had been personal 

 witnesses to the evils and misfortunes which befel the 

 unhappy victims of the description alluded to. 



When we reflect how generally credit was given 

 to the power of witchcraft, long after the revival of 

 letters in Europe > and that names of great repute for 

 learning and abilities are found amongst its defenders, 

 we shall not be surprized that charms and amulets 

 are worn in this country by men of superior rank and 

 education; that astrologers are consulted to name the 

 fortunate hour for commencing a journey or ex* 

 pedition j and that the fascinating influence of an 

 evil eye upon the human constitution, as well as the 

 power of witchcraft, is admitted by the vulgar in ge- 

 neral. Fortunately, however, the practice is not sup- 

 posed 



