The story of our books: sorcery and Dervish
Interpretations below were written by the Portico Library volunteers as part of Bookends and Beginnings: Stories from our collections by our volunteers exhibition.
Gypsy sorcery and fortune telling, 1891 by Charles Godfrey Leland
“Charles Godfrey Leland (1824-1903), was an eccentric gentleman with a fascination for witchcraft. Inside these gothic covers (which Leland illustrated himself), are a host of tales and spells Leland collected from traveller communities: witches making magic boats out of eggshells; spitting into a horse’s eyes to stop it seeing spirits; a snail-shell amulet whose markings bear a holy Romany word.”
“Although infamous for inventing evidence, Leland lived amongst travellers and believed their culture, however taboo, deserved preserving from destruction by industrial society. ‘Gypsy Sorcery’ is still in print today, as a neo-pagan manual.
I chose this book because of my interest in European Shamanism, and was surprised to find Leland longing for a more mysterious world – a feeling many people identify with today.”
James Brown
P.S. - We have sadly been unable to decipher the strange red rune on the back cover – is it C. G. L.’s seal, a decorative flourish, or an arcane symbol?
Persia as it is, 1886 by C. J. Wills
“Persia as It Is, is not short of offensive language, tendency to judge and colonial approach. Despite these issues, with the detailed observations and descriptions, the book is a page turner. The range of topics discussed in the book is impressive.
The author makes it possible to know the rate of exchange and the price of items and average wages for a few occupations 130 years ago. Beyond the outlook of a tourist who is interested in meticulous details of local customs, by chapter 20 we get to see a glimpse of C. J. Wills’ real mission in Persia (Iran):
“The country is the finest recruiting ground in Asia.” and
"The value of export of opium from Persia had increased … ultimately Indian opium will find a rival, and our revenue in India will be thus much reduced.”
Shahireh Sharif
The illustration shows a Dervish. The ordinary meaning of the word "Dervish" is religious mendicant.
In Persia Dervishes are certainly mendicants; but their religion doesn't go much beyond pious ejaculations and the cursing of the infidel. The panther or leopard skin hanging across his shoulder, is his effective mantle by day, his bed or coverlet by night. The calabash (gourd) - generally an elaborately carved vessel, made from a single Indian nut - will hold several pints.
It hangs from the Dervish's girdle by a brass chain: it is his wallet, drinking vessel, and alms-box all combined.