102 



DEMON POSSESSION. 



ing at the same time, or seeming to mutter, something quite inau- 

 dible. In this state she continues for about a quarter of an hour, 

 and then falls into a sleep, which continues for nearly another 

 quarter of an hour. 



In the removal of this influence from a woman, mere incantations 

 are supposed to be effectual no further, than in obtaining a momen- 

 tary cure only; but when such incantations do not succeed even so 

 far as this, a certain ceremony called Pralaye Kireema is performed. 

 This consists in repeating certain charms over the woman, or more 

 generally over a small quantity of water which is afterwards sprink- 

 led over her; the immediate effect of this is to increase her frenzy 

 to such a degree, that she pants and foams at the mouth, throwing 

 her arms here and there in a most excited manner. The Cattadiya 

 then speaks to her thus — " If it be true that demons must obey 

 king Wissamonny, if it be true that Wissamonny's power is great; 

 if it be true that the authority of Wissamonny, of the gods, and of 

 Buddha still prevails in the world, then I command thee, demon, 

 in the name of Buddha, his priests, and his doctrines, to declare, 

 who thou art, and why thou afflictest this human creature in this 

 manner." Upon this, the woman becomes, if possible, still more 

 frantic and " mad," and mentions the name of some demon, such as 

 Calu Yakseya or Reeri Yakseya, and adds, " I want an offering of 

 a human sacrifice; I will not leave her without having one." The 

 offering is then promised by the recitation of a charm, and the 

 Cattadiya having taken a little water in the palm of his hand, and 

 having pronounced a charm over it, throws it over her face, on 

 which she recovers in 5 or 6 minutes more. The promised offer- 

 ing — a cock being substituted for the human sacrific — is also given 

 by the performance of a certain appropriate demon ceremony in 3 

 or 4 weeks' time or sometimes sooner. If, after this the woman 

 again shews symptoms of demon possession, the demon is " bound 

 and nailed " to a tree. This business is performed thus — a nail 

 made of Pas lo, having been submitted to the necessary Jeewama, 

 is driven into the trunk of a large living tree. A Kan-ya Nool 

 thread, also charmed and subjected to the same Jeewama, coloured 



