Meer Hassan Ali, B.: Observations on the Mussulmauns of India: descriptive of their manners, customs, habits, and religious opinions ; made during a twelve years residence in their immediate Society (Band 2) (London, 1832)

348 SUPERSTITION Of THE NATIVES.

LETTER XXVI.

Superstition of the Natives.—Fair annually kept by Hin-
doos.—Supposed practice of witchcraft by an old wo-
man.—Assaulted by an infuriated populace.—Rescued
by a Native gentleman.—He inquires their reasons for
persecuting her.—Is instrumental in appeasing their
malignity. —Endeavours to remove their prejudice.—
Proneness of Asiatics to superstition. — Opinion of a
Mussulmaun on the influence of evil spirits.—-Account
of a woman possessed by an evil spirit.—Dialogue with
her during the paroxysms of her affliction.—Means used
for her recovery. — Further allusions to the false
notions of the Natives respecting supernatural agency.

All the Natives of Hindoostaun appear to me
to be, more or less, tinctured with superstitious
notions, which, in many instances, are so
grafted in their nature as to resist every attempt
made to root out by arguments the folly of
this great weakness.