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PILLI CHARMS, 



at present the science is on the decline, that now there are few or 

 none skilful enough to be able to perform those charms without 

 danger to themselves, and that therefore instances of Pilli charms 

 .successful! j performed in these degenerate days, are not so general 

 as those of Hooniyan charms, but that the science itself is as true, 

 as that Buddha was the greatest being that ever was born in the 

 world. He will confirm this statement by regaling you with a 

 hundred anecdotes, how such and such a Pilli had succeeded at 

 such and such a place, with all the interesting particulars connected 

 with them. If you shew any symptoms of scepticism about the 

 accuracy of his marvellous accounts, he will endeavour to remove 

 all your doubts and scruples, by giving you the benefit of his own 

 experience of a certain Pilli charm, which actually killed, or was 

 very nearly killing, an acquaintance or relative of his. 



The following is an anecdote of this kind, which we give in the 

 words of the narrator : — 



" Well, Sir," said he, " you must freely pardon me, when I tell 

 you that young men — I beg your pardon again and again, Sir, for 

 saying so— know very little about these matters. You think — 

 pray, don't be angry with me for saying so — that all that is great 

 and wonderful is peculiar to the European. You have been taught 

 to read English books and to imbibe from them notions, which 

 militate both against the faith of our forefathers, and against the 

 illustrious sciences they cultivated. This unnatural conduct has 

 in some instances been pursued so far, as even to make some of 

 our young men cut their hair and put on trowsers. Long hair and 

 the Condet/,* which have so long been the pride and honourable 

 badges of our nation, are now despised by some of these young 

 men, as if they were marks of degradation. Instead of combs, they 

 now wear English Piriwehi'] on their heads. But alas! there is 



* Condey is the hair tied up into a knot behind the head. 



f Piriwehi is a basket made of cocoanut leaflets for some temporary purpose, 

 and it is sometimes used derisively as a contemptuous nickname for a cap or 

 hat. 



