occurrences. The suicides were at last so frequent, that I was under the necessity of issuing an order, to be affixed at the market-place and city gates, that the body of any female found in a well or tank within the Dhuboy districts, should be exposed naked for twenty-four hours before it was taken to the funeral pile. This had so far the desired effect, that after the proclamation of the edict, either no more suicides were committed, or they were carefully concealed from my knowledge, as I never had occasion to make an exposure. Suicide is not only sanctioned among the Hindoos, but on certain occasions is deemed meritorious. Major Moor mentions, that among the five most eligible modes, is that of going into the sea near the mouth of the Ganges, and there praying and confessing sin, until the alligator or some other monster devours the penitent.

While writing on this subject, I shall insert a singular petition presented to me when acting judge in the court of Adawlet at Baroche; which, however ludicrous or trifling it may appear to an European, strongly characterizes the superstition of the Indians, and the difficulty of accommodating English laws to a people under such extraordinary prejudices, and who believe in a race of beings whose existence we do not admit of. I shall only premise that the heroine of the story was the wife of a rich and eminent merchant at Baroche, of a very respectable family among the Parsees; and that all the persons necessarily convened to investigate this mysterious affair, were astonished at my entertaining any doubts about it.

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SINGULAR PETITION.

"To JAMES FORBES, Esa.

Presiding in the Court of Adawlet, at Baroche.

The humble petition of Ruttonjee-Monackjee, a Parsee merchant, inhabitant of Baroche,

MOST HUMBLY SHEWETH,

That your petitioner, with all respect and submission, begs leave to represent to your worship, that Framjee Nanabhy's wife and your petitioner's daughter were for many years intimate friends, and lived near each other in this city.

Some time ago the said Framjee's wife had two devils entered into her body, which devils were sisters. One day your petitioner's daughter went to her friend's house, when she found her burning frankincense on a fire, and performing some magical ceremonies; soon afterwards the devils began to speak, and angrily asked why they were called up; telling her at the same time that their sacrifices had been neglected and their daily offerings of flowers, cocoanuts, and fruit, discontinued. The devils then vehemently cried out, "for this we will destroy, we will kill, we will eat." On which Framjee's wife immediately made the proper offerings at the altar of the devils, and promised no more to offend. The devils then declared they were satisfied, and shewed your petitioner's daughter much amusement; and the said Framjee's wife, by means of the devils within her body, performed many conjuring tricks, and curious exploits, with which your petitioner's daughter was greatly delighted.

SINGULAR PETITION.

9

It is however well known to your petitioner, and all who enter into these mysteries, that Framjee's wife committed a great fault in performing these ceremonies before a stranger, who had not been initiated, and which she had been enjoined to keep secret. For this reason, and because your petitioner's daughter had been present at those magical rites, one of the devils left Framjee's wife, and entered into your petitioner's daughter; who, on coming home from that visit, fell down upon the bed, without sense or motion, and continued in that state for some hours. On coming to herself, her parents inquired the cause of her illness: she answered she could not tell; and sunk again into silence and stupidity.

In this melancholy situation your petitioner's daughter continued for two months; at the expiration of which time she told her friends that a devil from Framjee's wife had entered her body, and tormented her for food and sacrifices; saying she would destroy her if she did not furnish every thing necessary, as Framjee's wife had supplied both her and her sister; that if she would treat her in all respects as her sister was treated, she never would hurt her, because the devils were sisters, and there must be no difference in their treatment. From that day the devil in your petitioner's daughter was supplied with necessaries and sacrifices to her liking, and all remained in peace and quietness.

Some time afterwards, as Framjee and his wife were sitting at home together, the latter burnt incense, and performed the usual ceremonies to call up her devil: she accordingly made her appearance; when

10

SINGULAR PETITION.

Framjee desired her to cause the devil, which had so long been in your petitioner's daughter, to come and dwell again in the body of his wife. On which the devil replied that her sister could not leave your petitioner's daughter, who now treated her with good things, and performed her daily sacrifices.

Your petitioner has likewise a female relation, named Jobye, who is skilled in these mysteries, and understands all the conjuring business; she was a great friend to Framjee's wife, but because she would not assist her in getting the devil to leave your petitioner's daughter, and return into her own body, she quarrelled with the said Johye, and accused her falsely before your worship, in the Court of Adawlet, of having performed certain magical ceremonies, by which she almost conjured her only son to death. On Framjee's son being carried on his bed to your garden house, and shown to you in those dreadful fits, which left him without any appearance of life, you was pleased to hear all the stories and accusations of Framjee and his wife against the said Johye, and to order her to be confined in the chowkey of the adawlet until the next court day, when she is to be tried upon this false ac

cusation.

But your petitioner begs leave to say, that this is all a false story against the said Johye; for it is God who has been pleased to afflict Framjee's son with a sickness almost unto death; and it is not in the power of Johye to cure him, although Framjee has assured you that she can; and you have, in consequence of his assertion, ordered her to take off the spell, and to effect his cure. And further, as your petitioner knows that his daughter will die whenever the devil leaves

her body, he begs leave to inform you, that the said Johye cannot assist Framjee's wife in calling her out, and sending her again into her own body.

This being the case with respect to the said Johye, your petitioner requests that you will be pleased to release her from confinement, as she will be bound for her appearance next court day in the Adawlet; together with her son Hormuz, whom Framjee has also accused of being an accomplice in this conjuring business.

And your petitioner will ever pray for your long life and happiness.

RUTTONJEE MONACKJEE.

Baroche, 8th January, 1782.

As the spirits in the original petition are called devils, and I did not choose to alter any part of this singular production, so I have inserted that term, and copied it in all other respects from the petition which was presented to me as judge in the public court; but I believe the original word means those genii, or spirits, who form a class of middle beings in the creed of most Indians, whether Hindoos, Mahomedans, or Parsees. Every Persian and Arabian tale is embellished with their adventures. The Mahomedans firmly believe in their agency; and the Hindoos are taught that two of these genii attend upon every mortal, from the moment of his existence until his death; that to the one is committed the record of his good actions; to the other the report of his transgressions, at the tribunal appointed for judgment.

All history, ancient and modern, presents grounds for these phænomena: the Scriptures of the Old and