something else is the matter, and to ascertain what it is other charms and
ceremonies are had recourse to.
An universal remedy for enchantment is the following:--
A jar is filled with water from a stream, and it must be taken with, not
against, the current as it runs. In it are placed seven coals, seven handfuls of
meal, and seven cloves of garlic, all of which is put on the fire. When the
water begins to boil it is stirred with a three-forked twig, while the wise
woman repeats:--
"Miseç' yakhá tut dikhen,
Te yon káthe mudáren
Te átunci eftá coká
Te çaven miseçe yakhá;
Miseç' yakhá tut dikhen,
Te yon káthe mudáren
But práhestár e yakhá
Atunci kores th'ávená;
Miseç' yakhá tut dikhen
Te yon káthe mudáren
Pçábuvená pçábuvená
Andre develeskero yakhá!""Evil eyes look on thee,
May they here extinguished be
And then seven ravens
Pluck out the evil eyes p. 52
Evil eyes (now) look on thee.
May they soon extinguished be!
Much dust in the eyes,
Thence may they become blind,
Evil eyes now look on thee;
May they soon extinguished be!
May they burn, may they burn
In the fire of God!"If it appears that the child is overlooked, or "berufen," many means are
resorted to, "one good if another fails," but we have here to do only with
those which are connected with incantations. A favourite one is the
following: Three twigs are cut, each one from a different tree, and put into a
pipkin which has been filled with water dipped or drawn with, not against,
the current of a stream. Three handfuls of meal are then put in and boiled
down to a Brei, or pudding. A horse hair is then wound round a needle,
which is stuck not by the point but by the head into the inner bottom of a
tube, which is filled with water, and placed upon this is the pipkin with the