332 



MAGIC EITES. 



The most ordinary mode of divination is by counters of seeds or 

 , , , pebbles in sets of 15 or 21, which may be used with 

 or without a dice-board. If a dice-board be used, it 

 consists of small squares drawn on paper to the number of 15 or of 21, 

 and each square has got a number within a circle corresponding to a 

 number in the mo-fe or divination book. The counters are white and 

 black pebbles or seeds, only one black one to each series. And after the 

 invocation to the special deity and shaking up and mixing all the seeds 

 in the closed palm they are then told out between the forefinger and 

 thumb of the still closed palm on to the squares in the numerical order 

 of the latter, and the number on which the black seed comes out deter- 

 mines by means of the mu-])e book the divination result of the particular 

 fortune sought for. 



The set of fifteen squares is called " Gya-nak-sman-chhu," or "The 

 ^ „.„ Chinese medicinal water." 



In Fifteen. Ti. • l :• x • i 



It consists of a tri^jle series 

 of five squares, with the numbers arranged as 

 in the above sketch. But properly, as its name 

 implies, the seeds should be dropped into a vessel 

 of water and no dice-board is thus needed. 

 This divination is used especially in sickness, 

 hence it is called " medicinal." But the manual 

 most commonly consulted for the prognosis and treatment of sickness 

 is the " Hlamo-5rgyaf?-rtsis," or " The Account of the Eight Goddesses." 

 This book gives a fixed prognosis and prescri2:)tion of remedial worship 

 for each of the 30 days of the month in series of fours. Thus for its 

 reference only the day of the month is needed and no dice or seeds 

 are necessary. Another manual named dus-tshod-rtsis gives similar 

 information in regard to the particular time of the day of the occur- 

 rence in question. These two manuals are, however, considered only 

 *• Astrological" books and not "wo" or divination manuals. 



The sot of twenty-one squares is called "The Twenty-one Dolmas," 



_ „ , after the twenty-one forms 



In Twenty-one. r xv a \a- • ji 



oi that obliging goddess. 



Above the centre of the diagram is a figure 

 of the goddess, who is specially invoked in this 

 divination. The numbers run as in the dia- 

 gram here given. As a sample of the oracles I 

 give here a few of the divination-results from 

 Dolma's series. If the black seed falls on 

 1, 2, 8 or 9, the divination is as follows: — 



No. 1. The Jewel. — \i you do not go to 

 sea then you will get the jewel. For mer- 

 chants' and thieves' adventures it is good. 

 For your own house and soul it is excellent, 



