628 Notes on the Kasia Hills, mid People. [No. 152. 



probably under the patronage of the Ex- Raj a, whose devotion to the 

 bloody goddess cost him his kingdom. 



The people are much addicted to consulting auspices of different 

 kinds, but especially by the breaking of eggs. Indeed this latter super- 

 stition is so prominent, and has got such a fast hold of the people's 

 minds, that it would seem to be the principal part of their religious 

 practice. On all occasions of doubt it is resorted to, and they will 

 spend whole days in dashing eggs upon a board, with much wild 

 chaunting and wilder gestures, in search of a decisive or a favourable 

 augury. They also constantly sacrifice goats, pigs and oxen to propi- 

 tiate the spirits. A Kasia from a distant western village, at whose house 

 I had once been a guest, having come on business to Cherra and paid 

 me a visit, he was regaled with a glass of brandy ; before drinking it, 

 he dipped his finger four times in the glass, filliping a drop successively 

 over each shoulder, and down by his right and left side ; on being 

 asked his meaning, he said it was " for the name of God." 



A very curious superstition regards the boa, or some other large 

 snake. It is believed, that, if he takes up his abode with any man, 

 great wealth will accrue to the household ; and that there are evil 

 minded men who go about in search of whom they may slay, and cut- 

 ting off the nose, lips, ears and hair of their victims, with these propi- 

 tiate the serpent, and prevail on him to be their guest. And it is difficult 

 to persuade a Kasia to go into the jungle alone, generally for fear of 

 meeting with one of those villains, who are supposed to hide in all soli- 

 tary spots looking out for prey. The way in which the serpent is 

 believed to bring wealth to his votary, is after the manner of the prophet's 

 blessing on the widow. Whatever he may sell from " basket or store, 

 kail or potatoes," his stock diminishes not. One would hope to find his 

 ill-gotten treasure turning to " slate stones," as wizard's gold was wont, 

 but we hear nothing of this. 



Their astronomical notions are the rudest of the rude. The changes 

 of the moon are thus accounted for. The moon (who is male, and the 

 sun female, as they were in England in Saxon times) every month falls 

 in love with his wife's mother, and she repelling his addresses, throws 

 ashes in his face. For the stars generally, in days of old there was a 

 great tree ; up this climbed a great multitude, and when they were 

 fairly among the branches, another multitude came and hewed the tree. 



