IN GENERAL. 



65 



The following is a charm for curing headache. It is to be pro- 

 nounced over a little oil, which must be stirred incessantly with a 

 piece of iron all the time that the charm is being pronounced . 



"Oh Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva! I make my adoration to you! 

 When Ginires dewatawi (she demon of fire), who resides in Ginires 

 Coville (temple of fire), in the country of Ginires Daysa (land of 

 fire), complained to Mangra Dewiyo of the fire which was burning 

 in her head, he (Mangra Dewiyo) sent for milk from the breasts 

 of the Seven Mothers of milk,* and with it put out the fire which 

 was burning in her head; for which he had received Wurrun from 

 sixty-four different persons. By the power he exercised that day, 

 I do this day command that the headache, which troubles this per- 

 son, do quit him instantly — do flee, flee this moment." 



Although by far the largest majority of charms are either for 

 inflicting or for curing diseases, yet there are many others for 

 various other purposes, and in fact there can hardly be a wish of 

 any kind, be it good or bad, which may not be gratified by charms. 

 Among others, the following is one for inducing demons to throw 

 stones into dwelling houses, so incessantly and so long, as to compel 

 the inmates to desert the house. 



"Oh Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva! Adoration be to you! The 

 she-demon Calu Cambanee, who influenced the bile, the she-demon 

 Narasingha, who influenced the wind, and the she-demon Sen 



in some cases when it is expressly mentioned, a composition of several kinds 

 of oil, called Pas Tel or the Five oils, is used. These five oils generally are 

 Cocoanut oil, Gingelli oil, Cohomba oil, Mee oil, and Castor oil. 



* There is a certain Dana or Almsgiving ceremony called Kiri Ammawa- 

 runnay Dana or the Alms of the Mothers of Milk, generally observed three 

 months after the birth of a child. Besides other people, who are invited to the 

 house to partake of food or Dana on the occasion, seven women, sometimes 

 seven unmarried girls, named for the time Kiri ammala or Mothers of Milk, 

 are made to sit apart from the others, and are treated to a breakfast of boiled 

 rice,^ plantains, and a sort of jelly called " Milk," made of rice flour, jaggery 

 or country sugar, and the juice of the cocoanut. The dishes of the others, 

 who are treated on the same occasion, are different from these. 



K 



