| caption: |
counter magic used during sickness |
| text: |
Metlo told me in detail about the counter magic he had performed during his sickness. (39) I see that Medzou was wrong and that the magic was not done in the way described by him. Apparently he had heard that Metlo had performed a magic ceremony and then he had described one of the common versions of the counter magic (compare p. 34). In fact the human figure was killed symbolically in Metlo's house. This was done by the oldest man in Metlo's clan who also killed three chickens. The figure was not beheaded but was speared with a panji in throat, chest, eyes, mouth, head and armpits. While killing the chickens the clan elder said "The magic words may go away, may he get better. I give a chicken for him. The words of the Chi-ang, may they go away. The words of the Mon-ang, may they go away. The words of the Leangha-ang, may they go away. Go away this morning". (text notebook 6 p. 110). |
