TRANSFORMATION 179 



towards the land of Yamato. The coffin was opened, 

 and nothing but empty clothing was found remaining 

 within. Messengers were sent to follow the bird, 

 which rested in two places, where tumuli were subse- 

 quently erected in memory of the event, and it then 

 soared aloft to heaven. 1 Another tradition preserved 

 in the same work relates to a noble named Tamichi, 

 who being sent to quell a rebellion was worsted by the 

 rebels and slain. He was buried, but the rebels after- 

 wards dug up his tomb, whereupon "a great serpent 

 started up with glaring eyes and came out of the tomb." 

 It bit the rebels who had violated the tomb so that 

 nearly all of them died. " Therefore the men of -that 

 time said : * Although dead, Tamichi at last had his 

 revenge. How can it be said that the dead have no 

 knowledge?"' 2 



The Gilyaks of the island of Sakhalin hold that a man 

 has two souls, the one diffused throughout his entire 

 body, the other small like an egg which during life goes 

 forth in dreams but after death becomes the double of 

 the deceased. For awhile it inhabits his favourite dog, 

 which is tied to his former sleeping-place and treated 

 with the best of food. After some months the dog is 

 sold, for the double is believed to have quitted it on his 

 journey to the other world. In the other world the 

 soul lives much as here, save that conditions are 

 altered so that the rich become poor and the poor rich. 



1 Aston, Nihongi, i. 210. It is interesting to note that although 

 this account gives the occurrence beyond doubt as a bodily change, 

 his son (who became Emperor) is represented under a later date in 

 the annals as saying of his father : " His divine spirit became 

 changed into a white bird and ascended to Heaven." Ibid. 217. 

 But see Mr. Aston's observations, quoted infra, p. 248. 



2 Ibid. 296. 



