ed when a deputation visited him to inquire into the cause
of a prolonged illness, a cattle murrain, a sudden death or other
misfortune. A woman might often be called a Dakun or witch in spite,
and when once this word had been used, the husband or nearest male
relative would be regularly bullied into consulting the Janta. Or
if some woman had been ill for a week, an avaricious [211] husband
or brother would begin to whisper foul play. Witchcraft would be
mentioned, and the wise man called in. He would give the sufferer a
quid of betel, muttering an incantation, but this rarely effected a
cure, as it was against the interest of all parties that it should
do so. The sufferer's relatives would then go to their Naik, tell him
that the sick person was bewitched, and ask him to send a deputation
to the Janta or witch-doctor. This would be at once despatched,
consisting of one male adult from each house in the hamlet, with
one of the sufferer's relatives. On the road the party would bury
a bone or other article to test the wisdom of the witch-doctor. But
he was not to be caught out, and on their arrival he would bid the
deputation rest, and come to him for consultation on the following
day. Meanwhile during the night the Janta would be thoroughly coached
by some accomplice in the party. Next morning, meeting the deputation,
he would tell every man all particulars of his name and family; name
the invalid, and tell the party to bring materials for consulting the
spirits, such as oil, vermilion, sugar, dates, cocoanut, _chironji_,
[212] and sesamum. In the evening, holding a lamp, the Janta would
be possessed by Mariai, the goddess of cholera; he would mention
all particulars of the sick man's illness, and indignantly inquire
why they had buried the bone on the road, naming it and describing
the place. If this did not satisfy the deputation, a goat would be
brought, and he would name its sex with any distinguishing marks on the
body. The sick person's representative would then produce his _nazar_
or fee, formerly Rs. 25, but lately the double of this or more. The
Janta would now begin a sort of chant, introducing the names of the
families of the _kuri_ other than that containing her who was to be
proclaimed a witch, and heap on them all kinds of abuse. Finally, he
would assume an ironic tone, extol the virtues of a certain family,
become facetious, and praise its representative then present. This
man would then question the Janta