ABSTRACT
ThisdescriptionofthemodernHindooisin everywayapplicabletotheancientChaldees,and maygiveagoodideaofthestateofsuperstitious terrorinwhichtheywerekeptbythebeliefs whichhavebeenmentionedintheforegoingChapter. Wewillnowinquirewhatwastheaidofferedto thembytheartsofsacredmagicagainstthedemons andevilinfluencesofallkinds,bywhichthey believedthemselvescontinuallysurrounded.There werefirstofallincantationslikethosewehave alreadyquoted.Theseincantationsdatedfromthe mostremoteantiquity,andwereplacedincollections likethoseofwhichwepossesstheremains.The completeknowledgeofthemcouldonlybelongtothe priestsofmagic,whomadeofitaregularscience. Buteverymanhadtoknowafewrelatingtothe mostcommonoccurrencesoflife,andthemostfrequentdangers,inthesamewaythateveryHindoo learnsbyheartacertainnumberofprecatorymantras.
