824 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1806. 



iiii extensive literature. There are several different methods, in all of 

 Avliich the dice are used iis implements of magic to determine number, 

 reference then being liad to the pages of a book numbered to correspond.' 

 They agree in general with the Chinese methods of divination with 

 arrow-staves. (tSee Nos. 05, 09.) 



Fig. 143. 

 RAMALA PASA. 



Length, IJ inches. 



Lucknow, India. 



From Proceedings Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Philadelphia, 1891. 



Cat. Nn. 9046, Museum of Archjeology, University of Pennsyl\;uii:i. 



12. Eamala PasI. Dice for fortune-telling.^ Lucknow, India. 



Two sets each of four cubical ivory dice, marked on four sides with 

 two, three, and four dots (fig. 143). A rod upon which they revolve 

 passes through the center of the unmarked sides and binds them 

 together. 



A similar die in the writer's possession, obtained by Professor Hil- 

 precht, through the courtesy of liev. Albert S.Long, in Constantinople, 

 is represented in lig. 144. The dice are strung upon an iron rod, with 



brass knobs at the ends. 

 Thej^ are of alloy, resem- 

 bling copper, and are 

 marked in the same man- 

 ner as the Hindu set. 



There are two sets, each 

 of two pairs of four each, 

 of similar metal dice from 

 Persia in the Sommerville 

 collection (Cat. ISTos. 283, 278) in the University Museum. The dice Cat. 

 No. 283 are entirely of brass, while Cat. No. 278, which are smaller, com- 

 prise two brass dice with deep holes, set with small pieces of turquoise, 

 placed in the middle, and two dice, with incised spots, one next to each 

 knob. Cat. No. 283 is accompanied by an inscribed brass placque (lig. 

 145), 31 inches in diameter, with the twelve signs of the Zodiac in the 

 outer circles and the seven stars (sun, moon, and live planets) in the inner. 



Fig. 144. 

 DICE FOR FORTUNE-TELLING. 



Length, S/g inches. 

 Constantinople, Turkey. 



lu tlie writer's possessioD. 



future events. It is in great credit in the East, many elaborate treatises having' 

 beftu written on the subjeot. Rammal, a conjurer in the Jirt of Georaancy. .lobn 

 iiichardson. IVrsiau, Arabic, and English Dictionary, London, 1806, art. rami. The 

 invention of the science is commonly attributed to Edris (the prophet Jhioch), and 

 also to Daniel. 



' An account of /toma?a was given by the writer, East Indian Fortune-telling with 

 Dice (Proc. Num. and Ant. Soc. of Phila., 1890-91, p. 65). 



^ Cat. No. 9046, Mus. Arch., Univ. Penn. 



