Memoirs of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. Studies in Santal Medicine and Connected Folklore Part I - The Santals and Disease

the manner of proceeding the invocation (bakher as it is called) the kind of sacrificial animal required and the name of the bonga and provided he dares to act. [...] In the case of the hunpriest (clihri) they make sureiv INTRODUCTOR Y. that he has the requisite knowledge and in the case of one of the village priests (the ato naeke the village priest but not in the case of the kudam naeke whose special work is to worship the spirits supposed to reside on the village borders and some others) the priest is formally ' chosen ' by the bongas themselves. [...] On the whole the ojha acts as one familiar with the bongas and as one able to enlist the use of the power of certain bongos. [...] It rather seems to be that the ojha stands in a particular relation to the bongas concerned and by the mantar and special means is able to enlist the assistance of these provided the inducement is sufficient. [...] In the meantime the people of the house will apply the household remedies sekao and iskir and if the nature of the complaint seems to call for such then tobak and solo.