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CHAPTER VI. 



Demon Possession. 



Where the belief in demoniac agency, even in matters of a trivial 

 character, is so intense and universal^ such a thing as demon pos- 

 session, which was believed in even in more civilized countries till 

 very lately, cannot be expected to be unknown. Hence, we believe, 

 no Englishman will be surprised, when we say that there is scarcely 

 a single village in the Island, in which there are not to be found 

 at least half a dozen women, who are subject, at different intervals 

 and during a considerable portion of their lives, to this influence, 

 which, if it once comes upon a woman, will, it is said, last through 

 the whole of her life, displaying itself now and then in active 

 operation according to circumstances, unless removed by suitable 

 means. These circumstances are generally the presence of the 

 woman at the performance of any demon ceremony, or in the im- 

 mediate neighbourhood of one, though performed at another's house; 

 or if she happens to roa^i; eggs, or meat, or to eat them roasted; or 

 if she passes by a grave, not more than a day old, on a Saturday or 

 "Wednesday; or if she is present at the ceremony of reciting certain 

 sermons of Buddha against demons called Pirit, especially of the 

 last portion of these called Aatanati Soottra. In the case of some 

 women, the demon influence is always ready to shew itself even on 

 less important occasions, as for instance when they make porri; or 

 when they go abroad on a Saturday or a Wednesday, especially 

 during a Yama; or when they smell the smoke of Dummala resin; 

 or when they hear the sound of a Yak berray (a drum used in de- 

 mon ceremonies) ; and on other occasions equally trifling. Men are 

 very seldom subject to this influence, and even of women it is ge- 

 nerally the younger portion, who seem to have an attraction for 

 the demons. This influence sometimes shews itself suddenly with- 

 out there being any perceptible immediate cause for it. 



The symptoms of demon possession vary at different times even 

 in the same woman. In some cases she begins by complaining of 



