Note 30 — Chapter IV · WORSHIP OF ANCESTORS AND SAINTS.
Reading edition
The people of Chauk in the Kolába District believe that the main function of a Bhut is to frighten people, to beat them, and to make them perform unpleasant tasks and thereby to obtain food from them.30 At Poládpur it is believed that if a person is able to bring a Bhut under his control he can make it do every kind of work for himself.31 The people of Akshi believe that kindling fire without any reason and throwing stones at certain houses are the main functions of Bhuts.32 At Vávashi in the Pen taluka, it is believed that Bhuts, while walking, never touch the earth but always move through the air, and that they have no shadow.33 The old men of Shirgaum in the Máhim taluka advise young children not to respond to the call of anybody at night unless the person calling is an acquaintance. For such calls are sometimes those of an evil spirit.34