_Lord of Death_.--_Maliku'l-maut_ is the Muhammadan form of
the name, _Kâl_ is the Hindu form. The belief is that every
living being has attached to him a 'Lord of Death.' He is represented
in the 'passion plays' so common at the Dasahra and other festivals by
a hunchbacked dwarf, quite black, with scarlet lips, fastened to a
'keeper' by a black chain and twirling about a black wand. The idea
is that until this chain is loosened or broken the life which he is to
kill is safe. The notion is probably of Hindu origin. For a note on
the subject see _Indian Antiquary_, vol. x. pp. 289, 290.