THE THRESHOLD OF THE DESERT 481 
drums into the air and caught them with a bang. At every 
round, which lasted five minutes, the beating recurred in a 
certain order, which explained the fact that all three were 
able to keep time so well together. The full measure of 
rounds for putting evil .spirits to flight is nine ; and once 
the exercisers have begun, it is impossible to stop them 
until the “ full tale of bricks is told ! ” 
The peri-bakshis are called in mostly at births and by 
sick women ; for the women are much more superstitious 
than the men. The exercisers enter the sick-room, and 
gaze attentively into the flame of the oil-lamp, where 
they say they can see that the woman is possesseci of 
an evil spirit. Then the drums begin at once, while 
the invalid’s friends and acquaintances gather inside and 
outside the room. But the performance does not end 
there. When the last thundering roll of the drum has 
died away, the assembly withdraws, and the peri-bak.shi 
and the sick woman are left alone in the room together. 
In the middle of the floor the sorcerer drives a rod with 
great force, having a rope tied to the top of it, while 
its other end is fastened to the ceiling. The woman 
pulls and tugs at the rope until .she succeeds in getting 
it loose, while the peri-bakshi bangs at his drum. The 
moment the rope breaks loose from the roof, the spirit 
departs out of the woman. 
The hunting falcon too is credited with similar powers 
of exorcism, and is therefore called j^hush-baks/ii (the 
falcon exorciser). The peris or evil spirits are supposed 
to fear her greatly. During the pangs of childbirth, the 
woman sees evil spirits flitting about the room, though 
they are invisible to other people. The falcon, however, 
sees them, and is let loose in the room to chase them 
out. It is very evident that the falcon, the drums, and 
the rope and stick all tend to the same end — namely 
to distract the woman’s attention to a certain extent, and 
so make her forget herself. 
March 26th. Niaz Beg administered justice at his own 
house every day. His rusual seat was beside one of the 
columns which supported the roof of the verandah, and .so 
I--3I 
