230 THE SUPERINTENDENT OF ETHNOGBAPHY, BENGAL, ON 



is crescent shaped, and is worn by persons who are affected by the conjunction of the 

 moon with certain stars. 



Rings of various substances are worn on the wrists (Bala or Kara), fingers and toes 

 (Anguti), arms or legs (Taga), and are sometimes tied round the neck or waist or in the 

 hair. An iron ring, consecrated by contact with an image of Kali, and worn on the 

 wrist, is a protection against lunacy or enlargement of the liver. An arm ring of iron or 

 copper is worn against rheumatism. Closely fitting Taga of astadhatu cure leg diseases 

 if fastened round the ankle. A brass Taga is worn on the arm as a cure for acidity. 1 

 The idea seems to be to check the flow of impure blood past the amulet. Thus a con- 

 secrated cowry is sometimes tied round a limb with human hair to prevent the spread 

 of a disease which has attacked the extremities. The Taga. may merely consist of 

 metallic wire or a piece of consecrated thread. A silver ring worn on the toe is regarded 

 as a protection against tumours and snake-bite, and an iron ring on the thumb or toe 

 as a cure for hydrocele. A ring containing mercury is worn on the finger to avert disease 

 and to maintain the general vitality of the system A ring made of the scales of the 

 Pangolin, and known as Bajra Kapta, is worn on a finger of the left hand, as a protec- 

 tion against witchcraft and the evil eye, and for the cure of piles. Earrings are used in 

 cases of headache, brain or eye diseases or toothache. 



Pice and other coins are often tied to the person as charms. For protection on a 

 journey or for the cure of an illness, Muhammadans sometimes wear a silver or copper 

 coin attached to the right arm by a piece of cloth, which is usually red. This form of 

 charm is known as Imam Zamin. When the object has been attained the coin is remov- 

 ed and given to a beggar. As the name indicates, the coin is really pledged to a 

 charitable purpose, and is devoted to that purpose when the Deity has redeemed it by 

 the performance of what is desired of him. 



There remains the very large and miscellaneous class of amulets which contain sub- 

 stances other than sacred words or symbols. These are usually 

 contained, for convenience sake, in cylindrical or drum-shaped cases 

 which give to these charms the generic names of Maduli (Bengal), Damuria or Daunria 

 (Orissa), and, occasionally, Dholua (Bihar). All these terms either mean, or are derived 

 from words which mean, "Drum." 2 These amulets may be given by anyone; caste 

 restrictions do not affect them ; and a Brahman may wear a Maduli prescribed by a man of 

 the lowest caste. They form the stock-in-trade of a large number of Sannyasis, Yogis, 

 Pandas, exorcists, mendicants, and quacks. Sometimes a person suffering from a disease 

 dreams of a drug by which he may be cured, and, if he should recover, people similarly 

 afflicted have recourse to him or his descendants for the remedy. The way in which some 

 of these drugs are brought into use may be illustrated by the following examples reported 

 from Faridpur : — 



A child was suffering from asthma and other complaints. He awoke from sleep one 

 afternoon with a piece of the root of some plant in his hand and showed it, as children 



1 Persons wearing brass Taga must use brass utensils only. 



2 It has been suggested that Daunria is derived from Dora, " a thread," but on the analogy of the corresponding terms used 

 elsewhere, there seems little doubt that it is derived from the word Damru, " a small drum." 



