900 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896. 



These instruments, taken in connection with a set of arrows worn by 

 a Chinese general, described on page 882, serve to make clear the refer- 

 ence in Ezekiel xxi, 21, where Nebuchadnezzar, at the parting of two 

 ways, uses divination with arrows to decide whether he shall proceed 

 against Jerusalem or Eabbah.' 



¥ig. 211. 

 BOW-LOTS (ts'im u) IN BOX (quiver). 

 Lengtli of sticks, 10 inches. 

 Canton, China. 



Cat. No. 9048, Museum of Archaeology, University of Peimsylv 



Analogous to the tsHm U was the Meisir game of the heathen Arabs, 



ascertain whether the time is propitious for divination with the tsHm U. In tossing 

 the blocks, if both fall with their curved sides uppermost the indication is a negative 

 one, neither good or evil; if both fall Avith the flat sides itppermost the indication 

 is unfavorable ; if one falls with the curved side uppermost and the other the reverse 

 the indication is good. It is customary to throw the blocks until they fall three 

 times alike iu succession. 



' "For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the ways, at the head of two 

 ways, to use divination. He shook the arrows to and fro, he consulted the teraphim, 

 he looked iu the liver" (R. V.). 



