54 FOREST LIFE AND SPORT IN INDIA 
from Kashmir to Burma, the reputation in itself is 
not convincing. It is true that all these simple 
people themselves live in fear of the evil powers, 
and propitiate them by offerings on many occasions 
during the year, but I have seen no proof that they 
can, a8 they assert, transfer the ill-will of the de- 
mons from themselves to others. Often, indeed, the 
attempt is made in India to pass on plague and 
pestilence to birds and animals by exposing food on 
public highways, and copper coins are sometimes 
added, which can be no good save to needy men; 
but I never tested the efficacy of these somewhat 
selfish attempts, as the sum offered never covered 
even the smallest risk of their success. 
