DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70300#0281
3ELE-T0RTURE IN THE EAST INDIES. 247
rade the neighbourhood with dancing, odd dresses, and
^gesticulations, begging money for the ceremonies that are to
follow, preparing articles, &c. But the four days first men-
tioned are the time that is employed in various forms of wor-
ship and self-torment. The first of the last three days of
their year, or of the month Chytre, is the day called Joi
Sunyas, on which dead bodies of men, if they can be pro-
cured, which is seldom a difficult matter, or if they are not
to be had, dead men’s skulls, and pieces of the wood which
was employed in burning the dead, are brought near to a
house of Seeb and Kallee, where they are placed in the form
of an offering. After a little time, a number of the Bhok-
tars appear, dressed some as women, others with a kind of
horrid vizors, like digitated crowns, put over their faces;
others disfigured with paint; some with artificial hair, or
hemp, or a bunch of ropes, like a mop, on their heads.
Some have artificial tongues, made of sackcloth, reaching to
their feet; and others go with their tongues put out of their
mouths as far as possible. Some of these men have swords;
others khorgos, a kind of crooked weapon of war ; others
take up a piece of wood before-mentioned; others a skull;
and others have earthen pots in their bare hands, containing
a small quantity of wood, which is oiled and kindled. Tak-
ing oil into their mouths, they spirt it at intervals into these
pots of fire, which makes a horrid blaze, and is thus kept up
for some hours. It is accounted to be a wonderful interpo-
sition of Seeb, that their bands are not burnt, nor even the
wood in the pot; but the oil preserves the wood and hands
too, I suppose, as they are well oiled all the time. After thus
dancing and parading about with these bones, &c. the dead
bodies, bones, wood, &c. are carried to a river, or other
water, where they are thrown in. The people bathe, and
all go home ; but towards the close of the night, they meet
again, make a large fire, and dance upon the coals.
“ The second day is called Neel, on which day they fast
more severely than on any of the other days ; for on all these
rade the neighbourhood with dancing, odd dresses, and
^gesticulations, begging money for the ceremonies that are to
follow, preparing articles, &c. But the four days first men-
tioned are the time that is employed in various forms of wor-
ship and self-torment. The first of the last three days of
their year, or of the month Chytre, is the day called Joi
Sunyas, on which dead bodies of men, if they can be pro-
cured, which is seldom a difficult matter, or if they are not
to be had, dead men’s skulls, and pieces of the wood which
was employed in burning the dead, are brought near to a
house of Seeb and Kallee, where they are placed in the form
of an offering. After a little time, a number of the Bhok-
tars appear, dressed some as women, others with a kind of
horrid vizors, like digitated crowns, put over their faces;
others disfigured with paint; some with artificial hair, or
hemp, or a bunch of ropes, like a mop, on their heads.
Some have artificial tongues, made of sackcloth, reaching to
their feet; and others go with their tongues put out of their
mouths as far as possible. Some of these men have swords;
others khorgos, a kind of crooked weapon of war ; others
take up a piece of wood before-mentioned; others a skull;
and others have earthen pots in their bare hands, containing
a small quantity of wood, which is oiled and kindled. Tak-
ing oil into their mouths, they spirt it at intervals into these
pots of fire, which makes a horrid blaze, and is thus kept up
for some hours. It is accounted to be a wonderful interpo-
sition of Seeb, that their bands are not burnt, nor even the
wood in the pot; but the oil preserves the wood and hands
too, I suppose, as they are well oiled all the time. After thus
dancing and parading about with these bones, &c. the dead
bodies, bones, wood, &c. are carried to a river, or other
water, where they are thrown in. The people bathe, and
all go home ; but towards the close of the night, they meet
again, make a large fire, and dance upon the coals.
“ The second day is called Neel, on which day they fast
more severely than on any of the other days ; for on all these