Page:Siamese ghostlore - Irwin - 1907.pdf/5

 to have been seen by many people, that appears at night in the Chinese graveyard on the Windmill Road. "Pi tai hong" (ผีตายโหง) are the ghosts of those who have died sudden and violent deaths, such as deaths caused by weapons, by falling from a tree or building, or in child birth. The distinction between "pi tai hong" and "pi tai ha" (ผีตายห่า) does not seem to be very well marked. Some say they are the same. The ghosts of persons who have died suddenly of disease, such as cholera, may be perhaps described more correctly as "tai ha" than "tai hong." Both kinds are distinctly malevolent, and go about terrifying and deceiving people. Thus their presence in any place becomes quite well known. This knowledge is most useful to those sorcerers, or witches, who are interested in "pi prai" (ผีพราย) or " pi put," (ผีพูตภูต [sic]), for the " pi prai" seems to be a sort of essence of a "pi tai hong." The sorcerer goes at night to the spot haunted by the "pi tai hong," and by incantations he causes it to appear. He then takes a torch or candle and places it under the chin of the "pi," from whom the melted fat presently drops and is caught in a plate or other convenient vessel by the sorcerer. This fat he mixes with sweet smelling oils, and repeats incantations over it, so that it becomes a powerful charm which can be used in various ways, such as to drive men mad, or to attract the love of women. This removing of its fat, or essence, does not seem to inconvenience the "pi tai hong," who apparently will come up to be roasted whenever any one arrives with sufficient power to summon it. Another somewhat different description, given in the pamphlet "Concerning the power of ghosts," states that the "pi prai" is obtained from the skull, or hair, or oil drained off as aforesaid, from persons who have died suddenly, and who may be supposed to be authors of a "pi tai hong." With anny of the above mentioned materials in his possession the sorcerer can raise a "pi prai," which he keeps, and nourishes by offerings of food. This "pi prai" he can send forth to harm his enemies, or to possess them. Sometimes the "pi prai" is sent forth to possess a person merely that its master, the sorcerer, may be called in to exorcise it. It is specially mentioned that those