MAGIC IN EGYPT

Hokitika Guardian, 8 February 1924, Page 4

MAGIC IN EGYPT

FAITH IX MAGICIANS. I 10veil at tin; present day magicians j occupy a by no means unimportant j place in Egyptian social hie. and they | are to he found in the smaller Egyptian villages no less than in the larger towns. Tile people have exlranidiiiary faith in the powers of magicians, uhoiu they will often consult in premrciicc t„ docinrs. and to whom they always resort when medical science hr. ■. lioeu unahle to effect a cure. The people have a firm belief in the efficacy of inscribed charms, which are nsuallv composed and written h\ a magician: they aie used to counteract ihe effects of the ‘•evil-eye" '.the Soar or which is. oi course, wmld-widel. for J the cure of various aihruui-, and iol’ a | variety of other purposes. _ j For example, in or dor to regain or j ■H'oservo a husband’s or wipes love I or to ensure safety on a journey. j Inscribed charms are usually cnclos- 1 cd in small metal or leather case?. !

DJiIYIN'O HIM MAI). Tin- iiid of the magician may also In’ sought lor sinister purpose-;. !• or in- i stance, a man may fall in love 'villi a ; married woman, and obtain a written ; charm to he Used in sneli a vaiy that , it will drive the woman's husband ; mail. The .harms arc not always inscribed pieces of pa.per. A Mue h ad. lor insinls{■•<*. is u poworiul oni.i‘lt}ir j: (n;n l tho ‘•(■vii-oyr/* Sosllo ju*'■ ■>j)]*.* ;iro li'H!ro f:i i:? i: V villi ll»i- icrriiyptr.Yi-r ol t 1 .** * « vs! (>vc, ,J or “cyo of ciiry/* t’rnn !«ors. ' Should -.ticlt a one stare at a child it.; parents will immediately fake mea-aircs to counteract the conse-qm-nci . Thea- will mm,dimes mil off

a pi.ve of liter pan.uui of the one aho .fist tlm “.oil-eve" over tlm cjiild and hurn it in a lire m which arc mixed sail, alum, si *>* * mecii'e. It a man '.unit- to make his wife hale him so that he may easily divorce !-, r, lie calls in the aid ci a magician, who will I.ro-ccd as follows: !To lakes an c v-lr'-h, v, a laid .m n Wednesday, and -u |h - shell of ii he v.rii-’s certain magic Icih'rs. which a c a h." Th.-c are - opposed j., form the name of the ‘’l:in • ol the tombs. I!" then lakes the eye and huric-. il in a .einh, lair on no accniini mu-f an\-oi.c know which it.ud- ii I--. h-.r ( loistla.os ii Would he 11 a- tenth ol a Cl, is a-km.'for .\fosh-m; that of a Mm lem. When lie- maeicie.il returns from d”posit illy the egg in its hiding-place ihe charm has begun to Work. I'hc egg

i. alway- hit where he placed if. SimuM iiilViilii' cihf'OVOr i! a sOri’ot ; Itidiny-pl.i. c and remove it the charm [ lo es it , clfect and t lie w oman again j loves her Imsh,-mil. -ay.- Winifred S. j Pdrckmaii, in i lie "M:uu-lii’s|*'r Omir-| dial!." sm/inr e.v-'K. Within t he w riter's know i. .Joe is the case ol a mao who. with wife, liv- d in a email \ mage in I'ppcr : l/e y pi. j '1 he woman was very p;oi.id-kiokuie, n 11 si i.iu day a icrlaiii had! who was; visitine tile villa:;!- ia winch .- he lived I on ihe spot, de iivd her a i.i> v. lie. knowing that she was ah r.dy mari ici, hi - only plan wa- : I ml ot her liushaml. and -o lie ill -ermine,l i ■< dike the unfortniialc man mad. To :oeompli-li this la- had 1 coal n: »niton oil a pine,. ..! oajiei . which !-•• tied lo all inner ht*,ucli . t a palm , clii.imo la. a. ]:. ha 'oa.n! : I- lb idea til.:’ a - the 1-1 .niche- e a! ■ Mo i in . way and t hat m ( w y. iod I lie- mil u ::tai:i:si whom He. ■ ;■• II hi. el 1,0 I 0 i. p- ■- m; i in - w ai -i. and -::ak" par' !y in i u nnknow u t cllglle. Ik- i . idd al-.i c-u :!: r tvlota • Kti.al.i hi- l ife's c ' went lo Fa 1. K a male w. . ■ l " a- ain. l-'in.lin • iha. I- - ot no t r. Ids n he f -I hh:i. v. I. —. •pan, :1m Kadi a -ha. I for her in r uniage. and -i:i' accejii vi| j Hit, .Hean-r, hi! n the pom- hit- hand wander M t.'iidi.'-'ly ;d,nt:t. .-.p'.roe, t!;ai la' wa* Ring of ids native villa;:". IF- collected Inis -.dri-d dura. ■ tall, u cat It stall: oi w lii. !• Im thought wo. a pur:. With ihe-v 1,,• armed liinceli and the yoiim; lads of the village, and told them he v.a.s llwir him.;, and ihaf lliev must Pillow him to tighi uird. the' other villages. ATK M FAT I! AY,'. < In the day in the v. -eklv n ark. ! he would repair to the mr.rki-t phe seine huge picre-: ol meat Itrift I p He would also poti‘u " open the : -!, which tie’ li.-lu.Vnti'ii had caught in ilie

pond adjoining the village. At last the Omdahd, or head man, of tho village. finding that the poor fellow had become a disturbing element in the place, wrote to headquarters about him, and he was removed to an asyum. The events recorded still form a common topic of conversation in the madman's native village. it must not be supposed that the skill of the magician is always put to such sinister purposes. Jle is often oi a most benevolent character. One magician who lives in a small village in Upper Egypt is well known in purls of both Upper and Lower Egypt. The present writer came into persona! touch with him, and day aiter day he would vi-.il her and tell bed about the methods he employed to cure diseases and discover lost trea-

sure. \VU.\I VN MAGE lAN. A w.-t-mu magician whom the write:- • is,, h0.i11., ii.es in .Middle Egypt. Shi is ..hilled m calling no "mir brotherand. -i-ier-" fn.ni helical'll the earth Tho-e are the afarit or gir.o. who l,.iiii a tf finitely organised stihtorraneait sock-tv, with a king at their head. Ti'.ro’agh them thi- woman magician obtains information with regard to tiii ■ -.■ win) are dead, and she i~ also ion- o 1 t»sl In times oi illness. 1 -b raid state that while she is in I i a amuuiriiiiot! with th-- afarit she is 1 ,ovei-ed up with a thick blanket. This woman also make- eliarms. sometimes ef diaer'-nL colour'd "ends plaited in a pariieuk'V way. to he u-od as a.mi- • gainst tile -‘evil-eye. - w-11 pi mi: ni her own village, ! and tie- p -niile have gran! fait' 111 her. 1 ■ I i