OHAEMS AND AMULETS 



41 



Harken to the tale of thy birth ! 



Child of the Darkness thou ! I of the Sunshine f 



Sprung art thou from unsubstantial sand, 



I of sturdier clay and older far than thou ! 



Hail ! aO ye Spirits of these mountains, 



Of this forest and district ! 



Mark well my words, else are ye accursed of the gods of old, 

 Whom eye cannot see or tongue describe. 



It is of peculiar advantage to a timber contractor to 

 get a honior to secure rich profit to him by reciting this 

 charm just before he cominences felling, especially if he 

 intends to set up a shed for coolies in thick jungle. 

 It is recited seven times over a piece of benzoin ; after 

 the recitation the benzoin is bumtj and its sweet scent 

 charged with the message of the hoimr, is considered a 

 fitting sacrifice for the distm-bance made by felling. 

 Another lengthy charm deals with gliosts in the form 

 of black jin. It is intended to cure a man of small-pox 

 and is recited by the homor over a draught of water, 

 which is afterwards given to the sick man to drink. 



Crood folk ! I know your beginning. 



Ye did dwell formless in the depths of liell» 



And issuing from the depths of hell did visit the children of 



Adam and take on visible form. 

 Seven brothers were ye in all ; 



Bom of black exudings, of black pores, of black skin, 

 Of black flesh, blood, veLn.s, and sinews, of black bones. 

 Not mine this charm but that of the Dewa Sang Samba, 

 Not mine this charm bnt that of the Dewa BStara Narada, 

 Not mine this charm but that of the very dregs of hell. 

 Well versed am I in all poisons. 

 And can quench fiery pains : 

 Poison do I charm away, fiery pains I quench, 

 Efficacious am I, yea aucceaaful by ray teacher's help. 



The demons of early Chiistianity also* like those of 

 the Mesopotamian system, were often grouped in 

 sevens* t 



Other illnesses attributed to evil spirits are mentioned 

 by different authors, especially Skeat and Blagden. 



