.. THE.SAORIAS OF THE RAJMAHAL HILLS;" 83' 



Jdmpori. — Demnos, after death, as a rule become Jdmporis. This devil seeks 

 especially for pregnant women and kills them. The Jdmpori is very black, with 

 long hair and terrible and enormous eyes. He appears at midday and midnight and 

 lives in Banyan and other trees. He watches from the foot of the tree. (See also 

 Burial). 



Am Ndrrdh. — This is similar to Ndrrdh but is smaller. This devil lives in a 

 clear spring of water. It receives offerings l of pigs, the sattu of Indian corn, the 

 tulsi tree, sindur and incense. 



Umet Ndrrdh. — This devil lives under big rocks and in the hollows of rocks near 

 springs. His victims suffer from mirgi (epilepsy). 



Mahesh Naddu. 



A boy named Mahesha, if ill, should make a sacrifice to Mahesh Ndddi'i ; this is 

 decided by the Demno or Charri Beddu and the ceremony takes place when the child 

 becomes well. The day before the pujah, the family and guests sleep in the jungle 

 over night ; the site is selected by the Demno, rice, oil, sindur and a white he-goat 

 are offered at the spot indicated, and afterwards the boy's hair is cut. The Demno 

 does not remain present and the boy's father has to perform the ceremony. This is 

 done only in the case of a boy named Mahesha. 



XV. New Pujahs. 



Pujahs are offered on the village path to models of trains, umbrellas, elephants 

 with three constables and two mahauts armed with swords and guns, also to leopards 

 and tigers. When a pujah is necessary, models of these are made and the ceremony 

 takes place on the pathway leading to the village. In case of illness sometimes the 

 Demno fixes upon a train after consulting the oracles. He says, " Many devils have 

 come into the village by train, make offerings and cast them out." In the case of the 

 elephant, constables and mahauts, the same thing is done. Leopards and tigers are 

 propitiated, and pujahs are offered to prevent them from entering the village. Pujah 

 to the umbrella is also offered in the case of sickness. These ceremonies may take 

 place during the course of an illness, and they are performed immediately, except in 

 the case of the umbrella, as more elaborate arrangements are required, and the cere- 

 mony ends with a dance. 



Small-pox and cholera epidemics are often ascribed to the advent of many devils 

 by train. The elephant is also able to bring a number of devils, and it is said to be 

 wise to sacrifice to them. These devils are not described and the models of the train 

 and elephant are thrown in the place indicated by the Demno, or by one of the village 

 women who is in the habit of being possessed by Guryd Gosain. 



1 The Demur* should be present at all pujahs offered to these evil spirits. 



