WITCHCRAFT.
Dakans are of two kinds, human and of the order of ghosts. [1527]
Girls born in the Ashlesha nakshatra on the bij or second day of
a month, in the Kritika nakshatra on the seventh day of a month
and in the Shatabhigha nakshatra on the twelfth day of a month, are
believed to be human dakans. They cause the death of their husbands,
and their evil eye injures all things and individuals that come under
its influence. [1528]
Women who die in child-bed, meet an untimely death or commit suicide,
become Dakans or Chudels after death.
Some people believe that women of such low castes as Kolis, Vaghris
and Charans become Dakans. High caste Dakans are rare. [1529]
A ghostly Dakan dresses in fine clothes and decks her person with
ornaments. But she does not cover her back, which is horrible to
look at. It is so frightful that any one happening to see it dies of
horror. [1530]
Ghostly Dakans trouble only women. When possessed by them, the
latter have convulsive fits, loose their hair, and cry out without
any reason. [1531]
A ghostly Dakan lives with a man as his wife, brings him dainties
and turns the refuse of food into flesh and bones. The man gradually
becomes emaciated and ultimately dies. [1532]
It is believed that generally a Dakan kills a man within six
months. [1533]
The Dakans do not allow calves to suck, cattle to give milk, and
healthy persons to enjoy sound health. Sometimes they cause cattle
to yield blood instead of milk. [1534]
A Dakan by virtue of her powers, can ascend to the sky. She lives
upon the flesh of corpses. [1535]
A Dakan can assume any form she likes. She appears as a cat, a
buffalo, a goat or any other animal. She can swell and shrink her
body at will. Her feet are reversed. [1536]
Dakans haunt trees, cemeteries, deserted tanks, mines or other desolate
places. [1537]
They also haunt ruins and places where four roads meet. [1538]