Note 231 — Chapter I · THE EVIL EYE AND THE SCARING OF GHOSTS.
Reading edition
These sprites are to the Bengâli matron what Old Scratch and Red Nose and Bloody Bones are to English mothers,231 and when a Bengâli baby is particularly naughty its mother threatens to send for Warren Hastings. Akin to these is Ghoghar, who represents Ghuggu or the hooting of the owl.232 Nekî Bîbî, “the good lady;” Mâno or the cat; Bhâkur; Bhokaswa; and Dokarkaswa, “the old man with the bag,” who carries off naughty children, who is the Mr. Miacca of the English nursery.233