Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 7, 1896.djvu/233

 Rh that which a Sikh had touched with his toe; now this part of the rite seems to be dying or dead. Or: the candidate and the initiator wash feet in the same water, which they then drink, after adding sugar and stirring it with a dagger. Other examples given by Editor of this kind of communion, which he is puzzled to explain; and of the many virtues of sweat, saliva, and other secretions. Charm-stones and coins.

22. A Primitive Game, played upon a board having seventy-two squares. Two players; nine cowries used as dice. The squares have curious designations: such as the three heavens, truthfulness, virtue, villainy, &C., and a player getting in one of these goes up to heaven or down very far back, as the case may be. A diagram of the board is given. [It seems to be a most excellent game.]

24. A Cattle-disease Charm.—Across the entrance of the village a rope was spread, hung with seven charms; grain, woodchips, and rag.

26. Name Taboo.—No husband or wife names the other for fear of shortening their lives. The taboo is broken in presence of water-deities, who are disposed rather to lengthen than to shorten the life of the husband of a woman who worships them.

27. Saharanpur.—Last sheaf. Corner of standing crop left to be gathered by the local beggars.

65. Taboos on the husband during wife's pregnancy.

67. Rules for dressing of idols and priests during worship.

68. Marriage to a tree, or to an inanimate object.—The former, when a girl's horoscope predicts she will become a child widow. For the same purpose, to prevent this misfortune, she may be wedded secretly to a jar, or an image of Vishnu. These three are believed to be immortal, hence she can never be left a widow. Of course she marries her man afterwards, but he escapes the evil influence, which only acts on the first husband.

129, 131. Household rules, of marriage, &C.

136. Unlucky to visit the sick at night, lest some prowling demon go with you and then attach himself to the sick man. But if you have a piece of iron with you, the demons think you can cut off their hair and make them your slave, so keep clear.

137. Gorakhpur.—The Maghras. Worship and fear ghosts. The pipal is a sacred tree. Iron not to be used for certain purposes, e.g. burglary. Oaths: iron and pipal leaves used; oath