THE USE OF AMULETS IN THE PREVENTION OP DISEASE. 235 



amulet to have an effect on any person, so that he may be favourably disposed towards 

 the wearer, it must be worn in a conspicuous place, in order that it may catch his eye. 

 Amulets are sometimes hung round the necks of animals which it is desired to protect. 

 The following are some of the substances placed in amulets for specific objects: — 



Against the evil eye, leopard's tongue, peacock's feather, tiger's tail, leaves of 

 Coradaha?ia, 1 or Circira root {Achyranthus aspera) ; for headache, Adhkapali (a kind of 

 betelnut) ; against witchcraft, the bark of the Gua Babla {Acacia farusiensis), and Nag- 

 dona leaf {Artemisia vulgaris); for the conciliation of mahajans, red sandal-wood, cow's 

 bile and kesari flower {Eclipta alba); for love, a mantra and Lajauni {Mimosa pudica); 

 for asthma, the root of Kusa grass {Poa cynosttroides) or the larynx of an otter ; against 

 evil spirits, mantras and rotten wood from a tree struck by lightning ; for dropsy, khorai 

 root {Oxysklma esculantum) ; for lumbago, tigers' claws, crocodiles' teeth, or a kind of shell 

 called Navi Sankha; for leprosy, S'ani Kavac, or arka root {Callotropis gigantea) ; for lunacy, 

 Paldri root {Butea frondosa) ; for success, a jackal's ear, or a twig gathered from the eastern 

 part of a black falsi plant. Further details will be given later, when specific diseases are 

 dealt with. It is first necessary, however, to make a brief reference to the different 

 kinds of evil spirits, and the methods of exorcism which play so large a part in the cure 

 of disease. 



Persons who die a violent or unnatural death or without initiation become evil 

 spirits or Bhut. A Brahman who has died a violent death, or before he has been 



invested with the sacred thread, becomes a specially powerful spirit 

 known as Brahma Daitya. Women who have died in childbirth 

 become S'urail. Until the S'raddha or Sapindi Karan ceremony has been per- 

 formed, the spirits of the deceased roam about as Pret. Other types exist, but those 

 enumerated above are the most usual forms. The term Bhut is generic, and includes the 

 others. The spirits usually live in trees, especially banyan, pipal and tal {Borassus flabelli- 

 formis) trees. They wander about seeking to do evil to mankind. They are most danger- 

 ous at early dawn, midday and dusk. Persons leading impure lives and children are 

 particularly liable to their attacks. Male spirits have a special tendency to possess 

 women, who are most exposed to this danger between the ages of 12 and 20. 



Exorcists are known as Ojha in Bihar, Roja in Bengal, and Gum" in Orissa. In for- 

 mer times Brahmans performed this function, and many still bear the title Ojha, but at 

 the present day the exorcists are usually men of low caste and sometimes Muhammadans. 

 Among the Sauria Paharias the exorcists are known as Demno; among the tribes of 

 Chota Nagpur as Sokha. Exorcists frequently pretend to own spirits or Pisac, which 

 assist them in the performance of their duties. Sometimes the ceremony is exorcism 

 pure and simple. The spirit is adjured to leave its victim. To hasten its departure, 

 the patient is brushed with kusa grass or a nim [Azadirachta indica) branch, or is rubbed 

 with consecrated ghl or mustard-oil ; holy water is given him to drink, and he is, in many 

 cases, severely beaten with a shoe, mantras being recited all the time. The spirit may 

 depart after such treatment. If obstinate, pujas must be performed and a Pisac called in 



1 A sweet-scented leaf held sacred because it was stolen by the god Jaganniith. 



