The pale Sankchinni beside the tank as the Brahman’s wife passes, Warwick Goble, 1912
The pale, shrouded figure stands by the tree beside the tank as the wife passes carrying her water vessel. This is Goble’s 1912 treatment of the tale’s first encounter; the later extended limbs and burning foot are not shown.
Overview
A Sankchinni seizes a Brahman’s wife after the woman brushes against her beside a tank. She imprisons the woman in a hollow tree, dresses in her clothes and takes her place at home. Her unnaturally rapid housework arouses suspicion: she reaches several yards with an extended arm and uses her own burning foot as cooking fuel.
An exorcist exposes her, and she reveals where the living wife is confined. After the wife is recovered, the ghost promises not to harm the family again and is sent away. Day’s note gives Sankhachurni as another form of the name and describes pale female ghosts resembling sheets of white cloth beneath trees at night. His tale’s nasal speech and intolerance of burning turmeric are attributed narrative claims, not tests for judging real people or instructions for exorcism.
Origins & earliest records
Bengali oral storytelling translated by Lal Behari Day
Records & interpretation
Complete relevant tale, attached notes,1883 preface and1912 edition credits directly read.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Folk-Tales of Bengal
XIV, A Ghostly Wife, pp.188–191, notes1–2; first edition1883, illustrationsWarwickGoble
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
Primary records and illustrations
Lal Behari Day, Folk-Tales of Bengal (Macmillan,1912; first edition1883)
XIV. XIV, A Ghostly Wife, pp.188–191, notes1–2
Complete tale and footnotes read, pluspreface andeditionhistory. Bengali oral informants described collectively, individual teller of this tale not identified. Original paraphrase; no source-image verification claimed.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Historical translated oral narrative and collector notesLal Behari Day, Folk-Tales of Bengal (1912), XIV, A Ghostly Wife, pp.188–191, notes1–2Research access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
Historical illustrationThe pale Sankchinni beside the tank as the Brahman’s wife passes, Warwick Goble, 1912
The pale, shrouded figure stands by the tree beside the tank as the wife passes carrying her water vessel. This is Goble’s 1912 treatment of the tale’s first encounter; the later extended limbs and burning foot are not shown.
