96 



JEEWANG, BANDENA 



has a demon under his control in this manner, is therefore supposed 

 to be a dangerous neighbour, for his power is considered to be such, 

 that, even when he speaks to or looks at another angrily, the latter 

 is supposed to fall sick. Such a man is supposed to have a very 

 disagreeable exterior, seldom combing his hair or washing his per- 

 son, and looking generally sulky and stern; ungracious in his man- 

 ner, soon put out of temper, and avoiding pork and other things 

 considered to be unclean. He is also scrupulous in avoiding houses 

 or other places contaminated by any Uncleanness. 



This sort of close connection with a demon is however considered 

 to be very dangerous,in as much as the demon, though paying an 

 unwilling and forced obedience to the man, is yet always watching 

 for an opportunity of destroying him, and of obtaining his own 

 release. Such opportunities, it is said ; he will easily meet with, 

 unless the man be always on his guard, by fortifying himself with 

 those means of defence which other charms afford, and by living 

 agreeably to certain rules laid down for those who retain demons 

 in their service. Hence these charms are never tried in these days, 

 although many men in bye-gone times are said to have used them 

 successfully. If you challenge a Singhalese to prove any of the 

 absurd things he so confidently relates, and which, if true, must 

 from their very nature be susceptible of proof, he will always ap- 

 peal to the experience of the past ages, and declare that, 30 or 40 

 years ago, there were many men well skilled in these difficult and 

 important classes of charms. 



In the second class of charms, namely those intended to cure 

 diseases, or to secure one from falling sick from the influence of 

 demons and charms, there is a great variety, of which the principal 

 are Bandena and Dehena. Bandena is a term, which simply 

 means "binding" or a "bond," and although many of the Hooniyan 

 and other charms are also sometimes called by the same name, yet 

 it properly belongs only to those, by which diseases brought on by 

 demons are cured. The number of these charms is very great, 

 and we give below the names of a few:— 



