“Tamil:
நான் இட்ட மருந்தும் போக ஒட்டாது நன்னாரி வேரும் சாக ஒட்டாது.”
“English Translation:
The medicine I gave, as a charm, will not allow him to go; the sarasparilia, an ingredient, will not suffer him to die.The proverb relates to charms, in which, as in magical arts generally, the Hindus in every part of India and Ceylon, have great faith. Servants have recourse to this device, and lovers also, for the purpose of influencing the affections and will of those whose favour or compliance they desiderate.The usual method, as indicated in the proverb, is to administer in the food of the party the ingredients that are fitted for the purpose contemplated; of course the preparation is surreptitiously added to the food of which it is known the individual is about to partake.A gentleman of my acquaintance recently dismissed all his servants and took into his service a person in whom he appeared to place the greatest confidence. The neighbours and the discarded servants believe that the gentleman acted under a charm.Some of the things used for certain purposes as charms, may not be mentioned here. The brain of a male child &c., are considered very potent.Professional magicians are employed when stolen property or buried treasure is sought. The magician uses a black preparation, a small quantity of which is placed on a betel leaf and put into the hands of an attendent boy, who is directed to look steadily at it, aided by the light of a lamp, while the magician invokes the presence and aid of certain deities. When the boy announces a phenomenon, say a tree, a monkey or a dog or a goblin, he is told to do obeisance to it to encourage further discoveries. The earth may cleave asunder and reveal the thing wanted, or a scene, including a house and certain persons going and coming, water &c., may appear, when the boy proceeds to describe the objects before him, as an earthen pot, or bangle &c., &c.,.as the case may be.To discover a thief among suspected persons sometimes dry grain as rice may be given to be eaten. The person whose mouth secretes no moisture for mastication is supposed to be the thief.”,