IN GENERAL. 



59 



is then made on the grave, with Pas Pengiri dara or the wood of 

 five different kinds of trees, the fruit of which is sour to the 

 taste, such as orange trees, lime trees, citron trees, and others of 

 that kind. On this fire is placed an earthen pot containing an egg, 

 and a gentle fire is kept up, till the egg is completely boiled. 

 While this boiling is going on, the Cattadiya lies down on the grave 

 at full length on his back, and pronounces his charm in a low tone 

 a certain number of times, 3, 7, 9, 16, 48, 49, 108, 128, or 133 

 times, and in some cases so many as 1000 times, each time taking 

 care to throw a small quantity of powdered resin into a pot con- 

 taining some hot live cinders.* The resin produces a strong-scented 

 thick smoke, with which the Malbulat Tatuwa and the Pidayni 

 Tatuwa are performed. This is done generally as many times as 

 the charm is recited. He then sits up on the grave, and taking 

 into his hand a cock pronounces over it another charm. Next he 

 takes the Kan-ya Nool thread, and, pronouncing a charm over it, 

 makes a knot in it. The charm is recited several times over the 

 thread, and each time a knot is made in it, the firepot being kept 

 smoking, with resin under the thread. Sometimes all this has to 

 be repeated at two succeeding Yamas, after which the charm is 

 considered to be complete. The whole of this ceremony is called 

 Jeewama. The charmed thread is brought away, and used for the 

 purpose, and in the way, directed: for instance, if the object be to 

 cure sickness, the thread is tied round the arm, or the neck, or the 

 waist of the sick person; if the charmed substance be not a thread, 

 but something else, as a betel leaf, and if the object of the charm 

 be to gain the affections of a woman, the betel leaf is given to her 

 through some proper agent. 



The above is only a general description of a Jeewama ceremony. 

 For each charm has its own particular Jeewama, differing from all 



which is considered to be the best; yet in point of practice rice of any kind 

 is used. 



* The firepot or the Chafing dish is mentioned by Lane in his Modem Egyp- 

 tians > and seems to be as much in demand among the sorcerers of Egypt, as 

 among the Cattadiyas of Ceylon. 



