306 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [Sept., 1915. 
immunity from the virus of snakes and scorpions, has to jump 
into a fire and tread it out, at the same time exclaiming: 
** Dam Madar! Dam Madar !’’ (‘* By the breath of Madar! 
mony is held, every year, in honour of Budee-ud-Din Shah 
Madar who, according to the Mirat-i-Madareea, was a con- 
verted Jew. It is said that he was born at Aleppo in 4.D. 
1050 and came to India in the reign of Sultan Ibrahim Sharqi. 
He took up his abode between Cawnpur and Farakkabad and 
expelled therefrom an evil spirit named Mukun Deo which 
haunted that place and, to commemorate this event, gave the 
name of Mukunpur to his place of residence. He was buried 
there in a.D. 1433 at the ripe old age of 400 years! A hand- 
some mausoleum was erected by Sultan ibrahim over his grave. 
It is believed that he is still alive ; and hence he is known by 
the name of Zinda Shah Madar. The Prophet Mahammad 
endowed him with the power of hubs-i-dam, or retention of 
breath, to which was ascribed his longevity, as the number of 
his respirations could be diminished at his sweet will and 
pleasure. The ceremony of Dhummul Khelna takes place on 
the 17th of the month of Jamadi-ul-Awwal.! 
There grows all over India a small shrub about 3 to 4 
feet high. Its name in Sanskrit is q@gat + (Apaméarga), 
Bengali Apang, and in Hindi fafaet or see (Chirchira). Its 
botanical appellation is Achyranthes aspera or the Rough Chaff 
Tree. There are two varieties of this plant, one being white 
18 In Scorpio, is not said.’’?* Competent authorities on Indian 
drugs have said that ‘‘the seeds and leaves (of this shrub) 
are considered emetic, and are useful in hydrophobia and 
snake-bites,’’ 3 
__ That certain persons enjoy a wonderful immunity from the : 
virus of scorpion-stings is admitted by eminent scientists. 
This fact has been strikingly verified by the well-known cas? 
the Yogi from the Mirzapur District, U.P., who was brought to 
like Olearius, particularly affected ever after, whenever the Sun 
mijn iat oleae 
1 Supplement to the Glossary of Indian Terms. By H. M. Elliot, Esq.» 
Agra: 1845. Pp. 253-54. 
' re cit., p. 140. fer 
1888, “Pare OF Indian Products, By T. N. Mukher) 
