R?s m?l?: Hindu annals of Western India with particular reference to Gujarat

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1878 Excerpt: ... "fiercest activity, so it calls out the endeavour to counterwork the truth through "men who have been made direct organs of the devilish will." ' These possessions," says, however, another authority,' "are not restricted to "professed heathens. I have met with several cases amongst persons who had "recently placed themselves under Christian instruction, and a few amongst na'ive "Christians of longer standing, in which all the ordinary symptoms of possession, "as recognised by Shanars, were developed. This corresponds, I believe, with the "experience of most of the missionaries in Tinnevelly. The relatives in such cases "do not think themselves at liberty to attempt to exorcise the demon in the usual way. Accordingly, the missionaries have sometimes been sent for to try the "effect of European remedies, and when they have interfered have generally suc"ceeded, to the people's satisfaction as well as their own. Some of the posses"sions yield by degrees to moral influences and alternatives; but in the majority "of cases the most effectual exorcism is--tartar-emetic. ' I do not contend that real demoniacal possessions never occur in heathen "countries. Where Satan rules without opposition, and where belief in the reality "and frequency in the possessions is so general, it is natural to suppose that "there must be some foundation for the belief. Popular delusions generally in"elude a fact. My mind is open"to receive evidence on the subject; and consider"ing the number of astonishing cases that almost every native says he has been "told of by those who have seen them, I had hoped some day to witness something "of the kind myself. But I have not yet had an opportunity of being present "where preternatural symptons were exhibited, though I have sought for such an ...