THE USE OF AMULETS IN THE PREVENTION OP DISEASE. 225 



Quran, sayings and prayers of the prophets and saints, or hieroglyphics consisting of the 

 letters with which chapters of the Quran commence or their numerical values (naqsk). These 

 last are more akin to the Hindu formulae, and are supposed to gain in efficacy if they are 

 written on particular dates — on a Friday (the last Friday in Ramazan is specially auspi- 

 cious), or in the bright fortnight of the lunar month. The charms are prescribed by .a 

 Mulla. or a Faqlr, who should prepare himself for the practice of exorcism by fasting from 

 sunrise to sunset for forty days, and should subsist only on bread, milk and fruit. He 

 must speak to no one during this period and sleep as little as possible. When sleep is 

 absolutely necessary he must lie on a clean mat spread on the floor. No animals and no 

 other person, not even one of his own family, may enter his room, which must be kept 

 scrupulously clean, and purified by burning sandal-wood and incense, and by scattering 

 perfumes. The strictest attention must be paid to personal cleanliness, and, besides per- 

 forming the prescribed ablutions, he must bathe two or three times a day. If he practices 

 exorcism without the observance of these rules, he is liable to incur the wrath of God. 



The texts are usually written with red ink mixed with saffron, musk, rose-water or 

 spring-water, or with Shlrtiki Siyahi, made of burnt rice, on paper, Bhurja Ptara (the bark 

 of Betula Bhurja) or palm leaves. Before he begins to write, the exorcist must perform 

 ablutions and sometimes offer preliminary prayers. When finished, the paper is consecra- 

 ted with Fatiha, the opening chapter of the Quran, Qui (the chapter in which the prophet 

 is ordered to say that there is one God), and Darud (the sentence used by Muhammadans 

 in blessing the prophet). Each of these must be read an odd number of times, not less 

 than three or more than eleven. The writing is then put in a metal case, which may be 

 of gold, 1 silver, copper, iron or a mixture of several metals, or is wrapped in seven fold 

 of cloth with an outer covering of wax-qoth. The whole is sometimes further protected 

 by a final case of black or red material. From the nature of its contents the case is usually 

 rectangular, though the exact shape is optional with the wearer. A text or a representa- 

 tion of a flower is sometimes engraved upon it. It is usually worn on the right arm or 

 suspended from the neck by a thread dyed in indigo. A particular form, known as 

 Jaushan, which is especially efficacious in the preservation of bodily health, and in avert- 

 ing the evil eye, must, however, be cylindrical in form and worn on the right arm. A 

 Haft haikal or Hama.il is a crescent-shaped amulet worn round the neck for the same 

 purpose. Texts, Hadis (sayings of the prophets), or the name of God, alone or combined 

 with those of the prophets (Adam, Noah, Abraham, etc.), may be engraved on jewels set 

 in gold, or on stone or metal, and are then known as Doa. 2 Such a jewel is often worn 

 on the finger, where it frequently catches the eye of the wearer, as it is believed that the 

 power of an amulet is greatly enhanced when he is looking at it. A text beginning with 

 the word "Nadall" gives this name to a particular kind of amulet much worn by the 

 Shekhs. The person who wears a Tawiz must observe the strictest cleanlinesss. No 

 actual restrictions are placed on diet, but no food may be taken until the wearer has bathed , 



1 The District Magistrate of Gaya reports that the Muhammadans regard gold as impure, and never use it as a case for TaViz. 

 This is not borne out by reports from other districts. 



2 Doa means a prayer for someone's good or ill. Besides denoting this particular kind of amulet the term is applied to texts 

 from the Quran written on paper and placed in cases. 



