Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 423

BELIEF IN THE MAGICAL ART
383
some wicked enchanter hired
by an enemy. Should a Hindu, at the time he is visited
by any calamity, happen to be at variance with any one
of his neighbours, the latter is immediately suspected and
accused of having had recourse to magic to harm him.
The accused, of course, never puts up patiently with an
imputation so invidious. Anger is engendered, and the
flame of discord grows hotter and hotter, until some serious
consequences result from this new development.
If the immense progress in enlightenment made by the
most civilized nations of Europe has not yet been able to
diabolical machinations of
completely eradicate these absurd prejudices, if the rural
parts of Europe are still full of people who believe in
sorcerers and in their magical charms, and if in the public
places of our towns one still sees crowds of impostors in
wretched garb professing to furnish those around them
with the favours of fortune, is it to be wondered at that
in a country like India, plunged as it is in the darkness of
gross ignorance and superstition, the belief in magic is
Thus it is that at every
carried to the very last point ?
step one meets with batches of these soothsayers and
sorcerers distributing good luck to all comers, and for
a consideration unfolding to the view of the rich and of
the poor the secrets of their destinies.
But these sorcerers of the lowest rank, whose whole
stock-in-trade consists of a large fund of impudence, are
not held in much dread. Others there are whose diabolical
art knows no bounds, and who are initiated into the most
profound secrets of magic. To inspire love or hatred to
introduce a devil into the body of any one, or to expel it
to cause the sudden death of an enemy, or to bring on him
an incurable disease to produce contagious diseases among
cattle, or to preserve them against such contagion
to lay
bare the closest secrets
to restore stolen or lost articles,
all these are mere bagatelles to such men.
The very
&c.
sight of a person who is reputed to be gifted with such
;
;
;
;
;
:
enormous power inspires terror.
These professors of magic are often consulted by persons
who wish to avenge themselves on some enemy by means
of witchcraft.
Their help is also sought by sick folk who
are persuaded that their disease has been caused
by the