Strange is the madness of those into whom demon foxes enter. Sometimes
they run naked shouting through the streets. Sometimes they lie down
and froth at the mouth, and yelp as a fox yelps. And on some part of the
body of the possessed a moving lump appears under the skin, which
seems to have a life of its own. Prick it with a needle, and it glides
instantly to another place. By no grasp can it be so tightly compressed
by a strong hand that it will not slip from under the fingers. Possessed
folk are also said to speak and write languages of which they were
totally ignorant prior to possession. They eat only what foxes are
believed to like--tofu, aburage, [9] azukimeshi, [10] etc.--and they
eat a great deal, alleging that not they, but the possessing foxes, are
hungry.
It not infrequently happens that the victims of fox-possession are
cruelly treated by their relatives--being severely burned and beaten
in the hope that the fox may be thus driven away. Then the Hoin [11] or
Yamabushi is sent for--the exorciser. The exorciser argues with the fox,
who speaks through the mouth of the possessed. When the fox is reduced
to silence by religious argument upon the wickedness of possessing
people, he usually agrees to go away on condition of being supplied
with plenty of tofu or other food; and the food promised must be brought
immediately to that particular Inari temple of which the fox declares
himself a retainer. For the possessing fox, by whomsoever sent, usually
confesses himself the servant of a certain Inari though sometimes even
calling himself the god.
As soon as the possessed has been freed from the possessor, he falls
down senseless, and remains for a long time prostrate. And it is said,
also, that he who has once been possessed by a fox will never again
be able to eat tofu, aburage, azukimeshi, or any of those things which
foxes like.