SAYYID SAID. 



305 



(medicine-man), nor cut down a c devil's tree.' 

 He sent for a Shaykh whose characts were 

 famous, and with a silver nail he attached the 



transformation is fearfully frequent ; and illiterate Shiahs be- 

 lieve the good Caliph Abubekr, whom they call Pir i Kaftar 

 (old hyena), to be trotting about the deserts of Oman in the 

 semblance of a she-hyena, pursued by many amorous males. 

 At Bushire the strange tale of Haji Ismail, popularly called 

 ' Shuturi,' the ' Camel'd,' is believed by every one, and was 

 attested with oaths by his friends and relations: this respect- 

 able merchant whilst engaged in pilgrimage was transformed 

 by an Arab into a she-camel, and became the mother of several 

 foals, till restored to human shape by another enchanter. 

 Even in Europe, after an age of scepticism, the old natural 

 superstition is returning, despite the pitch-fork, under another 

 shape. The learned authoress of the Night-side of Nature 

 objects to 'illusionists,' argues lycanthropy to be the effect of 

 magico-magnetic influence, and instances certain hysterical and 

 nervous phenomena of eyes paralyzed by their own weakness. 



Eor many years I have carefully sifted every case reported 

 to me in Asia and Africa, and I have come to the conclusion 

 with which most men commence. No amount of evidence can 

 justify belief in impossibilities, in bona fide miracles. More- 

 over, such evidence mostly comes from the duperandthe dupe. 

 Finally, all objective marvels diminish in inverse ratio to the 

 increase of knowledge, whilst preternaturalisms and super- 

 naturalisms gradually dwindle down to the natural badly un- 

 derstood. 



Of course this disclaimer of belief in the vulgar miracle 



does not imply that human nature has no mysterious powers 



which, if highly developed and displayed in a dark age, would 



be treated as a miracle or as an act of magic. It has lately 



been proved that the will exercises positive and measurable 



force upon inert matter ; such ' glimpses of natural actions, 



not yet reduced to law,' — as Mr Earaday said — open up a 



wonderful vista in the days to come. 

 vol. i. 20 



