Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 25, 1914.djvu/332

 302 0}i the Origin of the Egyptian '' Zar^

the Sheykha, who ascertains the name of the spirit and pre- scribes the treatment. Sometimes the familiar declares itself to be a near relative of another spirit haunting some other patient of the Sheykha. This naturally causes close friend- ship between the two hosts often to the great pecuniary advantage of the Sheykha and at least to one of the women. The spirits torment their hosts in various ways until a zdr is held to appease them. " But there are Zar and Zar, there are sumptuous ones, on Avhich large sums are expended. . . . There are also private zar held at home . . . and these which the sheykha and the goudias hold regularly once a week. . . . Before Ramadan these women solemnly celebrate their annual viotdid (fair or fete). For several days possessed women flock to them and presents stream in."^

The following account is condensed from a description of a private zdr in Harejns et Miisidnianes d' Egypte. A lop- sided table of acacia wood standing on a w^orn Persian carpet occupied the middle of the room. Beside it two candles guttered in a delapidated silver candlestick. The subject, for whose benefit the ceremony was held was a tall, stout woman with a clear healthy skin neither over excited nor depressed. The room was crowded with women and children. Soon the negresses gather in one corner of the room round the drums, an orchestra fit to madden a hyper- sensitive listener. The Goudia threw pinches of powder on a brazier, lights were lit and a group of women formed a circle round the table now loaded with sugar, honey, soap, pastry, sweets and a bunch of roses. The high-priestess chanted prayers, her companions muttering responses ; she made cabalistic signs over the objects in front of her and threw aromatic powders on the brazier. The sick woman and other negresses were censed ; the atmosphere became heavier and heavier and the noise of the drums more and more piercing. Some strange power seemed to be exerted


 * op. cit., p. 263.