from its extremities into the safety of the inaccessible trunk. The shadow of the tree is said to feel the touch of the man’s feet.”(267) (M57) Conversely, if the shadow is a vital part of a man or an animal, it may under certain circumstances be as hazardous to be touched by it as it would be to come into contact with the person or animal. Thus in the North-West Provinces of India people believe that if the shadow of the goat-sucker bird falls on an ox or a cow, but especially on a cow buffalo, the beast will soon die. The remedy is for some one to kill the bird, rub his hands or a stick in the blood, and then wave the stick over the animal. There are certain men who are noted for their powers in this respect all over the district.(268) The Kaitish of central Australia hold that if the shadow of a brown hawk falls on the breast of a woman who is suckling a child, the breast will swell up and burst. Hence if a woman sees one of these birds in these circumstances, she runs away in fear.(269) In the Central Provinces of India a pregnant woman avoids the shadow of a man, believing that if it fell on her, the child would take after him in features, though not in character.(270) In Shoa any obstinate disorder, for which no remedy is known, such as insanity, epilepsy, delirium, hysteria, and St. Vitus’s dance, is traced either to possession by a demon or to the shadow of an enemy which has fallen on the sufferer.(271) The Bushman is most careful not to let his shadow fall on the dead game, as he thinks this would bring bad luck.(272) Amongst the Caffres to overshadow the king by standing in his presence was an offence worthy of instant death.(273) And it is a Caffre superstition that if the shadow of a man who is protected by a certain charm falls on the shadow of a man who is not so protected, the unprotected person will fall down, overcome by the power of the charm which is transmitted through the shadow.(274) In the Punjaub some people believe that if the shadow of a pregnant woman fell on a snake, it would blind the creature instantly.(275)