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Chams

Indochinese people of Thailand and Kampuchea who are famous for their sorceresses. Their magical initiation rites involve cutting a cockerel in two halves and dancing around with them as they utter incantations. The sorceresses claim to be able to transform a dead bird into a live crow as proof that the initiation charms worked. They also claim to possess knowledge for propitiating evil spirits. They interpret omens foretelling the conditions of the coming rice harvest and other crops. A.G.H.