.MTA1Mg.NzA1Mjg
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
12 230
The stone used by civil priests was a size smaller than that used in war. This was used for deciding whether any fatal sickness was soon to visit a town, a family, or an individual. A sacrifice being first offered, the stone was set so as to catch the early rays of the morning sun, sometimes resting on seven deer skins folded, sometimes on a red post covered with a fawn skin and sometimes in the crack of a house. Now if the answer was favorable, and the disease they feared was not to affect them, a bright blare, without smoke would appear in the stone, but if the sickness was not to be kept away, a blue, smoky appearance would be observed in the stone, and just as many as were to die, appeared lying in the right side of it. The meat of the sacrifice also previously offered popped as many times as there were to be deaths (see page 13 of this sheet) (see the feast of New moons, - that when the Yowa was sung out that for keeping away the small pox). ____ All the priests who used the above mentioned stone were such as had been trained up from infancy or childhood, as has been previously mentioned, yet as they boiled the drink used for keeping off sickness, they were called Physic boilers: Nu wo ti a ka ski. (see next page towards the bottom.) The stone used for finding things lost, or stolen, was a size less than either of the forementioned, and was used, like them, only by such as had been devoted and trained up for the second office. These were called Diviners or Yi? te ni ski. They set the stone in the sun, and prayed for instruction by means of it, respecting the article in question. Then the thing lost would be seen in the place where it was to be found. Or if stolen, would be seen together with the person who stole it. The stone used in hunting was a size less than the above. sentence crossed out There were priests who officiated at the hunters feast, and offered the sacrifices connected with hunting, who alone used this divining stone. After an appropriate prayer, the stone was set advantageously for catching the morning rays of the sun. Now if the person who enquired, or for whom the enquiry was made, was to kill a buck that day, it would appear in the stone, if a doe, a little blood would be seen in the stone, but if he was to kill nothing, the stone would retain its usual appearance. In sacrifices connected with hunting, not only the end of the deer but also the melt? was offered. (This more particularly hereafter) The stone used for deciding whether a person was to live to old age, the smallest of all, but could not be used only by such priests as had been devoted in infancy, or childhood. In case the person was to live long (if a man) old man with white hair and a long white beard would be seen. sentences crossed out The Divining stone i.e. neither of the five words cut off but by a priest devoted in infancy or childhood before unclear image of 5 stones, larger to smaller, with unclear writing on each