Research source

Thus, the ordeal of walking over hot coals and on heated ploughshares was a common method of testing a witch…

Date of account: Second edition published 1896
Source: The Popular Religion and Folk-Lore of Northern India, Vol. 2 (of 2)
Reference: The Popular Religion and Folk-Lore of Northern India, Vol. 2 (of 2) · selected passage 156
Rights: public_domain
Language: English
Record updated: 2026-08-25

Record summary

Thus, the ordeal of walking over hot coals and on heated ploughshares was a common method of testing a witch both in India and in Europe

Published source text

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Source passage

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Thus, the ordeal of walking over hot coals and on heated ploughshares was a common method of testing a witch both in India and in Europe. [739] Zâlim Sinh, however, generally used the water ordeal, a test which is known all over the world. [740] Even Pliny knew that Indian witches could not sink in water. [741] Manu prescribes water as a form of oath, and to this day it is a common form of oath ordeal for a man to stand in water when he is challenged to swear. Zâlim Sinh used to say that handling balls of hot iron was too slight a punishment for such sinners as witches, for it was well known that they possessed substances which enabled them to do this with impunity; so he used to throw them into a pool of water; if they sank, they were innocent; if they, unhappily, came to the surface, their league with the powers of darkness was apparent.

Historical context

Contextual commentary · mention only

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Modern context

Contextual commentary · mention only

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