AETITES.	13
	a certain incantation, and, moulding the paste into balls as big as eggs, gives three to each, with a little drink. The guilty party either finds it impossible to swallow one mouthful, or is ready to choke in the attempt." By an odd coincidence the Hindoos still employ a similar ordeal, but substitute dry rice for the paste. No doubt, where all are believers, the mere effect of the guilty conscience on the nerves will suffice to hinder the culprit from getting down the enchanted morsel ; but De Boot affects a pious horror at the whole proceeding, and ascribes its efficacy to dia­bolical agency. He attributes all its medicinal virtues to its natural attrac­tive power; to which was due its effect as an antidote against poison, which it through this property extracted from the system. On this, too, depended its more special use ; for, if tied round the female's arm, it kept up the foetus until ma­turity, but, if transferred to her thigh, it attracted it down­wards, and thus ensured a speedy delivery. Such was its established reputation for this object, that, at the time he wrote, ladies used to pay from ten to twenty thalers for a genuine Eagle-stone.