For centuries, a jumping ritual known as the zaar has been used to drive away djinn, or evil spirits, by Egyptian witch doctors. At a typical zaar, affluent customers are ordered to bring such items as sheep and goats for sacrifices; humbler offerings of fish and fowl may be demanded of the poor, but the witch doctors always come out ahead. After the djinn-soaked customer is isolated for a week, the witch doctor bursts into his room with a band composed of drum-beaters and female vocalists whose job is to shriek. The zaar...
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