The history of witchcraft in India, as in Europe, is one of the saddest pages in the annals of the people. Nowadays, the power of British law has almost entirely suppressed the horrible outrages which, under the native administration, were habitually practised. But particularly in the more remote and uncivilized parts of the country, this superstition still exists in the minds of the people, and occasional indications of it, which appear in our criminal records, are quite sufficient to show that any relaxation of the activity of our magistrates and police would undoubtedly lead to its revival in some of its more shocking forms.
[1] For the European witch, consult among other authorities Scott, “Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft,” passim; Chambers, “Book of Days,” i. 356 sq.; Gregor, “Folk-lore of North-East Scotland,” 69 sq.; Conway, “Demonology,” ii. 317, 327; Lubbock, “Origin of Civilization,” 245 sq.
[2] “Asiatic Studies,” 79 sqq., 89 sqq.
[3] “Etruscan Roman Remains,” 155.
[4] Chambers, “Popular Rhymes of Scotland,” 23.
[5] “North Indian Notes and Queries,” i. 14.
[6] Tawney, “Katha Sarit Sâgara,” i. 289.
[7] Tylor, “Primitive Culture,” ii. 176; Tawney, loc. cit., i. 375.
[8] Temple, “Wideawake Stories,” 395; Tawney, loc. cit., i. 157, 159, 289, 340; ii. 164, 240; Brand, “Observations,” 589; Rhys, “Lectures,” 199: Hunt. “Popular Romances,” 327.