Once upon a time there lived in the city of Peshawar, not very long
ago, an old Priest who had obtained a reputation for the power he
possessed over malignant spirits. This Priest usually had under his
tuition two or three boys who were “Jinns,” and to whom as it pleased
him from time to time he communicated the knowledge he possessed of the
black art.
This old Priest came to dwell in the village of Haji Shah, and took up
his abode near to the Mahomedan mosque there. This mosque was in close
proximity to the quarters of the “Chuprassies,” who you know, are
employed by the Sirkar or Government in the suppression of salt
smuggling.
The Chief of these “Chuprassies” had in his household a man of the name
of Gopee, whose brother Shivedas was one of the “Chuprassies,” and
lived with the others in the quarters provided for them.
Shivedas was occasionally seized with violent fits, and when under
their influence would rave like a maniac. All kinds of medicine had
been tried to relieve him of the disorder, but it was all in vain; so
at last his friends left him to himself, and only sought to prevent his
doing any injury to himself when the fits came upon him.
One day when Shivedas was returning to his quarters he was again
attacked by his old malady, and so violent was he on this occasion that
it took four men to hold him down on his “charpai,” or bed. His brother
Gopee was at once sent for, and he found him in one of the severest
fits he had ever had. On reaching his bedside, Shivedas cried out,
“Save me, Gopee; save me!”
Those round the bed, and the four holding him, said, “Why do you not do
something for your brother?” He replied, “I have done all I can, but
there is no cure for his disease.” They said, “Then why do you not send
for the Priest here, who would soon expel this evil spirit, which comes
now and again to torment him?” Now Gopee did not believe in the power
of the Priest. At last one of the “Chuprassies” went to their European
Chief’s house, and begged him to come up to the quarters to see what
could be done. When he arrived there and saw the state that Shivedas
was in, and Gopee, his brother, in such great distress, he said, “What
can be done to relieve this man?” They all said, “Send for the Priest,
the old Peshawar man, and he will soon put him right.” The Chief said,
“Well, do so if you like.” They replied, “He will not come for us, for
he is a grumpy old man; but he will come for you.” So the Chief, to
relieve the sufferer, and perhaps to satisfy his own curiosity, sent to
ask the Priest to come.
In a short time he made his appearance, just when Shivedas was in one
of his worse struggles, and looking at him for some time, he all of a
sudden seemed to make up his mind, and drawing his “Qorân” from his
pocket went close to the bedside and called out, “Are you going to
leave this man, or not?” And a voice came from Shivedas, “No! I will
not.” Now, many present heard the voice, but it was not the voice of
Shivedas.
The Priest then asked for some rag, and many ran to get a piece of an
old “Chudder,” or cloth, but he said, “No! this will not do; it must be
blue rag.” And in very quick time someone ran and brought a piece from
the Bazaar.
When the Priest took it into his hand he called for a light, and then
proceeded to burn it in the flame. Then, again advancing to the
bedside, with the burning rag in one hand and the open Qorân in the
other, he called out in a louder tone than before, “Are you going to
leave this man, or are you not? If not I will burn you out and all your
generation.” The same voice then uttered the words, “I will not leave
him; and who are you?”
The old Priest then placed the smouldering rag to the nose of Shivedas,
and again threatened the evil spirit; and then, to the astonishment of
all, the voice said, “I will go away this time if you will not trouble
nor worry me.”
After this Shivedas became still and tranquil, and went off into a
profound sleep.
Some hours afterwards, when he awoke, and was questioned as to what had
occurred, he could call nothing to his remembrance.
The “Chuprassies” believed that the evil spirit had been exorcised by
the Priest, and it is certainly true that Shivedas had no return of his
fits; and I tell you this tale, for it is believed by many of us to
this day.
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