PRAYER FLAGS. 351 



colour, above a blue one towards the east, a red one towards the 

 south, a white one towards the west, and a black one towards the 

 north. The canopies are to be fixed in the ends of a perfect square 

 set in the four directions, around which are the twelve-year cycle, 

 the nine (/torma-cakes (Jshos) representing the nine Mewas, eight 

 lamps representing the eight parkha, eight planets, twenty-eight 

 constellations of stars, five^tormas, five gliid (small balls of wheatea 

 flour offered to demons as ransom), five arrows with silk streamers 

 (?;jdah-dar) of the five different colours, and many more mdah rgjang- 

 bu and hphang. The above must be arranged by a practical man, 

 and then the ceremony begins with the fingers in the proper attitude 

 of the twelve cycle of years, and recitation of the following in a 

 raised and melodious voice : — 



^^ Kye ! Kye! In the eastern horizon from where the sun rises, 

 " there is a region of tigers, hares, and trees. The enemy of the 

 " trees is tlie Iron which is to be found in the western horizon, and 

 "where the enem}^, the life-cutting Zidiid demon, is also to be 

 "found. In that place are the demons who injure the life, body, 

 " power and the ' Airy Horse.' The devil 5dud who commands them 

 " also lives in the occidental region : he is a white man with the heads 

 "of a bird and a monkey, and holds a white hawk on the right 

 " and a black demon-rod on the left. O ! Bird and monkey-headed 

 " demon! Accept this ransom and call back all the injuring demons. 



'■'■ Kye ! Kye ! In the southern horizon there is a region of horses, 

 ." snakes and fire. The enemy of the fire is the water, which is to 

 " be found in the northern horizon and where the enemy, the life- 

 " cutting Mud, is also to be found. In that place are the demons who 

 " injure the life, body, power and the airy horse. The idiid who 

 " commands them also lives in the northern region ; he is a blue man 

 " with the heads of a rat and a pig, holding water-snare on his right 

 "and a demon-king on his left. O! Rat and pig-headed demon! 

 " Accept this ransom and call back all the injuring demons. 



" Kye ! Kye ! In the occidental horizon there is a region of 

 "birds, monkeys and Iron. The enemy of the Iron is the fire which 

 " is to be found in the eastern horizon, where also is the enemy, the 

 " life-cutting Jdiid. In that place are the demons who injure the life, 

 "body, power and the airy horse. The Jdiid who commands them 

 * ' also lives in the occidental region ; he is a green man with the 

 "heads of a tiger and a vulture, holding a purse of disease on his 

 "right and left. ! Tiger and vulture-headed demon ! Accept this 

 "ransom and call back all the injuring demons. 



'■'■ Kye I Kye! In tlie northern horizon there is a region of 

 "pigs, rats and water. The enemy of the water is fire which is to be 



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