BEWITCHED BOY

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 April 1932, Page 9

BEWITCHED BOY

WAYS OF INDIAN SORCERERS.

BOMBAY, March 3. There wero astonishing scenes in Mysore the other day, when more than 3000 people gathered to witness a dis□lay of “witchcraft.” . Jangli Shah Peer, of the Punjab, claiming to bo a great and unrivalled exponent of sorcery, challenged ai y body to undo the spells that he would cast The challenge was accepted by Oomer Khan, of Nanjangud, and the contest was arranged. Then followed the sorcers. The Punjabi marked out a piece of ground about twenty yards square and sprinkled the area with ashes. The corner points wero marked with the stems of c. plantain with green cocoanuts attached, while witihn the enclosed area was a display of tumeric and red powders. In the middle was: A cucumber haiL-buried, a bottle with a lime, a goat’s head, an egg placed upright, a bunch of plantains, a cocoanut. The man from Punjab sat at one end of this square area muttering to himself and gesticulating. He challenged die other party to enter from their positions. ■ Oomer Khan selected as his medium boy of about ten years of age, who, he said, under his orders would be able io enter the- marked area and remove the things under spell. Oomer Khan after much incantation and writhing of his limbs, ordered the boy to enter the area.

The boy. who by now was apparently rot. himself, danced in front of the arena, and at first it looked as if he was unable to enter the forbidden ground. Ho fell flat and wriggled out, but could not roll into the area, but after more incantations by Oomer Khan was able to get into the area, but apparently could not see any of the objects, as he began to grope for I hem.

However much the boy tried to enter the area for the second time he was not successful, and in his struggle to get an entry the boy rubbed his body on the ground helplessly, causing blood to flow.

Oomer Khan himself then tried Io pick up the objects, but for a time h i, too. was paralysed. At last he succeeded after several vain attempts. When he picked up the lime and crushed it in his triumph yet a mo;-.? interesting sight awaited the spectators. Synchronising with this crushing of the fruit, the man from the Punjab, who was conducting operacions from tho other end, rolled out of i?.is position, and it is said that the recoil of his own spell was so great that lie was later seen helplessly rubbing his face on the ground till blood began to flow.