The Bengal Renaissance - pg. 12

Herbal medicine had a long tradition in India. But in
eighteenth century Bengal such medicine was often
mixed up with and oftener still replaced by black
magic, occultism and witch-craft. It is true, illiterate
women folks were the greatest victims of the practitioners
of such arts. But the male population too liberally invited
witch-doctors, spirit-rappers (ojhas) and mesmerists.

May it be noted that slavery was an institution in
vogue at that time in Bengal. While the poor in their
desperation during critical days would sell their women
and children, the rich kept a good number of slaves as
a mark of their social status.