one should cry exactly at midday; if it should cry from the south or turning towards the sun, it foretells evil to the town or to the army. If one jackal should cry out towards the south in reply to another, it portends an execution by hanging; if it should so cry in reply to another, turning to the west, it bespeaks death by drowning. If a jackal should be crying out so loud as to deafen one's ears, but upon another beginning to cry out it should lessen its own cry, that would foretell wealth and prosperity, and also the safe return of friends and relatives who may have gone on a distant journey. SNEEZING REGARDED AS AN OMEN. It has already been mentioned, in the chapter on Marriages, that sneezing is considered as ominous, and that a sneeze at the important rite of a marriage ceremony is regarded as very unpropitious. Most people in India also know that should a good Hindu sneeze, he will snap his fingers and make some deprecatory exclamation like chiramjeeva (live a long life) or shatayussu (a hundred years-live for) in order to avert any evil. In the book on Shakunams, the omens of sneezing are explained very fully, and advice is given as to the best means of averting any threatened calamity, or rather to make the evil omen innoxious: : It is said that to sneeze many times denotes the accomplishment of one's desires; it is also a good sign to cough after sneezing. On the other hand it is a sign of evil to sneeze just once and then stop. One must not blow one nose immediately after sneezing, as that would be a sign of death. After a single sneeze, or if one were unwittingly to blow his nose immediately after sneezing, it were well to cease thinking about any business that might have been occupying the attention and immediately to lie down and be quiet for a time, having first expectorated; in this way the evil may be nullified. It is a good omen to hear sneezing when taking betel (tambulam), or when about to take food, or upon going to bed. If when thinking about some important business, one were to hear a fourfooted beast sneeze, or if such a thing were to occur when one happened to be contemplating a journey, it would be a sign of death, or some equally great calamity. It is a good thing to get up whilst sneezing; but it is an omen of delay in one's business to sit down whilst sneezing. It would be a sign that his object would be accomplished if one were to sneeze whilst holding in his hand bell-metal, copper, or gold; but it would be the very opposite, if the metal in the hand should be iron or silver. It is good to hear young children, or infants sneeze; or to hear prostitutes, pariahs, or the lame; but it is a sign that many troubles will happen to any one unfortunate enough to hear any of the following women sneeze :- -A married woman, or a widow ; one who is blind, or dumb, or maimed; a washerwoman, or one of the toddy drawer caste, or a Madiga (workers in leather) woman; a woman of the Yerukala caste (gypsies), or one carrying a burden. It is also a bad sign if on sneezing oneself, one should happen to see a woman. There is no importance to be attached to sneezes caused by snuff, or red pepper, or a cold; nor to sneezing heard in the bazar. The reason for the latter is, probably, because the small dust in the bazar is often charged with particles of pungent articles like chillies, and spices of various kinds; this is apt to cause sneezing which is seems to be, considered unnatural, and hence devoid of import. BIRD OMENS. THE INDIAN BLUE JAY.-The flight of this bird is consulted as an omen. C. P. Brown quotes the following from a treatise on omens : పాలవరుడ తప్ప సక్షీజాతుల కెల్ల యెడమనుంచి కుడికి యేగవలయు That is except the Jay and the Brahminy kite, the omen for all the birds is that they should pass from the left to the right. This means that it is an auspicious sign when birds fly from the left to the right, except in the case of the jay and the brahminy kite. In accordance with this, the book of Shakunams from which we are quoting says that it is a good omen when a jay flies from the right to the left of one, but bad when it flies from the left to the right. If it should sit in front of one, it is a good sign; if behind, it is a sign of evil. To see a jay to the east denotes evil to the beholder; to the south-east difficulties; to the south, or to the south-west, or the west it denotes wealth; to the north-west happiness; to the north, death; to the north-east, sorrow; if it should appear to one's right, it denotes health to the beholder. THE BRAHMINY KITE.-In accordance with the above quotation from the Telugu, it is stated that for a kite to fly from the right of one to the left, denotes wealth and an abundant harvest; but if it were to fly from the left to the right it would prognosticate evil. It is said to be exceedingly auspicious to behold a kite flying from the right to the left with anything in the shape of prey in its bill; indeed it bespeaks good to those of that quarter on whatever side it may so appear. The sight of a jay, or a kite, or a jackal, either together, or apart, is said to be always propitious. Its THE KING-CROW.-This is a black long tailed bird rather small in size, that is considered very clever by the Hindus. It is very swift in its flight, and may often be seen perched on the backs of cattle. Indian name is bharadvaja. It is said of this bird as follows in the book of omens :-If it is seen in front of one it bespeaks good. If the male bird passes one from the right to the left, it foretells difficulties; but if the female so pass, the omen is a happy one; if the pair should so pass it is considered as very auspicious. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF BREATHING. The Hindus have a most curious idea with reference to breathing through the nose. They distinguish between breathing through the right, and the left nostril. The right nostril is called Suryanadi, or that of the sun, and the breath that comes through this is supposed to be comparatively warm; whilst the left nostril is called the Chandranadi, or that of the moon, the breath coming through this being considered as comparatively cold. There is believed to be a preponderance of breath coming through one nostril for a period of two hours, after which this preponderance changes to the other nostril. Not only so, but actions performed, or things happening during one or other of these periods are thought to be influenced thereby. A list is given in the book on omens showing what it would be well should happen, or otherwise as the case may be, during the prevalence of either the Suryanadi, or the Chandranadi. There is said to be a book on this subject (Svara Shastram); but I am not able to procure a copy. These are persons said to be learned in this science! who are consulted on occasion. It is said that at six o'clock in the morning of the first day of a certain month in the year, the Suryanadi commences and from this, calculations can be made. Ordinarily when a man may desire to consult this oracle he will breathe hard down his nostrils on to the back of his hand, and having thus determined, to his own satisfaction, by the excess in volume of the flow of breath from either nostril, the auspiciousness or otherwise of the time, he will form a judgment thereupon and, if action is called for, he will act accordingly. It is propitious if it should be Suryanadi, when first marching forth for war, or when commencing any important commercial transaction. It should be at this period that the marriage bath should take place, (mangalasnanam) and also the ceremony at the coming together of a married pair when arrived at. a suitable age (garbhāthānam). It is said to be well if during Suryanadi one should take food, or be frightened, or be defeated in any way; also it is a propitious sign at the commencement of any affliction. It is also recommended that on starting out for any of the aforesaid enterprizes, one should start off first with the right foot. It is advised to fix upon the period of Chandranādi for setting forth on a journey, or for a marriage; for first putting on new jewels, or for commencing to plough the fields; for beginning to build a house, or to plant a garden. It furthermore expresses the necessity of putting the left foot first on starting out to do any of these things. THE TINGLING OR THROBBING OF LIMBS OR MEMBERS. The tingling or throbbing of the veins of any particular part of the body is also thought to be portentious; and there is a small chapter in the book omens devoted to this abstruse subject. There are no less than twenty-two parts of the body mentioned, a tingling in which is auspicious, or otherwise, as the case may be. It will suffice to mention nearly a few of these as specimens seeing that this chapter is not intended to teach the science of Shakunams! but to explain Hindu ideas on the subject: The throbbing of any part of the right hand side of the body is auspicious; whilst that of the left is only a little so-betwixt and between. A throbbing of the centre of the top of the head bespeaks good food; and that of the nose is also a good sign. A throbbing of the right cheek is ominous of evil coming to one from a ruler, whilst that of the left cheek bespeaks employment. It is a good thing, therefore, said a native friend, if on setting out to seek for employment one should have a tingling sensation in the left cheek. The list goes on downwards from the eyes to the lips and chin; and thence on to the shoulders, the chest and the arms, right down to the feet-the tingling of the calf of the leg foretelling the possession of jewels, and that of the sole of the foot happiness generally. YAWNING. Before concluding this chapter it may be well to allude to the prevalent notions with reference to |