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journal, r. A. s. (ceylon). [Vol. VIII. 



the old device of the baffled wizard. I have no doubt that 

 as the Panikkans regain their skill, the Annavies will 

 regain their power. 



There are endless charms employed to bring bad luck to 

 the Panikkans. Most of these are common everywhere among 

 the natives, such as tying up a coin in a piece of rag and 

 placing it in the roof of the person whom it is desired to 

 injure, but it is believed that each of these charms works 

 in a different way ; the above charm, for instance, does not 

 prevent the Panikkan from seeing elephants, but from 

 catching them. But if one watches the path by which the 

 Panikkan goes to the jungle, and then carefally effaces his 

 foot-prints with a piece of pirandaih-kodl, the unfortunate 

 Panikkan will wander about the jungle without ever seeing 

 an elephant at all. Another more elaborate and particularly 

 spiteful charm is to invoke the aid of the aforesaid five devils, 

 Kali, Karuppan, &c, An offering is made to them of seven 

 arecanuts, seven betel leaves, camphor, benzoin, roasted paddy, 

 and unleavened bread made of grass seeds. The inevitable 

 cock, (in this case a black one,) is sacrificed, and 

 mantirams or charms are said over it near the path by 

 which the party went to the jungle. This charm does not 

 prevent the capture of an elephant, but after it is caught 

 it will inevitably die of a peculiar disease, bleeding at the 

 mouth and trunk. 



In order to avoid these hostile charms, the Panikkans 

 are careful to keep secret the time when they intend to start, 

 and when they do start they set out in the opposite direction 

 to that which they intend really to follow. I have known an 

 instance where the Panikkans packed all their ropes, &c, into 

 bags and set out with tavalams of bullocks, pretending that 

 they were carrying paddy; in this case they got safely into 

 the jungle, and captured two elephants in a very short time, 

 — no doubt the knowledge that no one had attempted to 

 interfere with them had much to do with their success ; but 

 any lingering doubts they may have had on the subject of 

 magic must have been for ever dispelled. 



After an elephant has been captured, further ceremonies 

 are necessary. The white cock, provided at starting, now 

 meets his fate, and goes into the chatty with the rest. But 



