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As a contribution towards solving the question of the origin of the inhabitants of the North - Western Frontier of British India, i.e., of Gilgit, Chitral, and Kāfiristān, I would draw attention to the fact that several legends as to the early customs of these tribes point to cannibalism having once prevailed there. The interpretation of the word Piśāca as meaning ‘an eater of raw flesh,’ ’Ωμοφ⋯γος, is well known. Some of the legends have been printed, and of these I do not propose to give more than a brief sketch, with references to the authorities. Others, hitherto unpublished, I shall give at greater length.
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- Copyright © The Royal Asiatic Society 1905
References
page 285 note 1 Biddulph, Tribes of the Hindoo Koosh, pp. 101 and 109.
page 285 note 2 Leitner, Dardistan in 1866–1886 and 1893, pp. 9 ff.
page 286 note 1 L.c.
page 286 note 2 The story of Shiribadatt has striking points of resemblance with the Mahā-sutasōma Jātaka, for a version of which I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. Francis. In this the hero Brahma Datta (the ‘Datta’ is a curious coincidence) had been a Yakṣa in a former birth. By an accident of the cook-room he also reacquired the taste for human flesh and became a cannibal. He first ate up the prisoners in the jail. When that supply was exhausted he ate his subjects. He was then expelled from his kingdom. I have to thank Professor Rhys Davids for first drawing my attention to this Jātaka.
page 286 note 3 p. 112.
page 287 note 1 Robinson, Kāfirs of the Hindu Kusk, p. 388.
page 287 note 2 Dr. Hoernle has suggested to me a connexion between ‘Pashai’ and ‘Piśāca.’ The connexion is phonetically quite possible.
page 288 note 1 Cf. Frazer, Golden Bough, i, 355.