observes mourning for a period of from eight to twenty days. During this period the relations are not allowed to drink, or eat meat and fish; nor are they allowed to touch hemp, weave, or sew. They also are not permitted to grind millet or rice, as it is believed that the sound of the pestle disturbs the dead, and strangers may not exchange seeds and fire with the family which is in the mourning.
In all matters omens from birds are consulted. The bird usually selected by the Taiyal is called Shi-ski Rekku, a kind of wagtail. This bird is believed to possess the power of regulating good and ill luck. It is held that, if its warning be neglected, it will purposely deceive next time. The bird is so highly respected that in case it is caught in a trap it is at once released. Children never attempt to catch it or throw stones at it. The following are recognised kinds of omen, one being lucky, the rest unlucky:
(1) Mi-shukku ("answer"). The enquirer proceeds in any direction. An omen-bird sings on one side of his path—it does not matter which,—and another bird is heard on the opposite side further on beyond the range of the cry of the first bird. This means good luck, and is called Mi-shukku. If, still further on, a third bird is heard on the same side as the first, this is also lucky, and is called Mimi-pussarru-mi-shukku. If a fourth is then heard on the side of the second, it is called Minu-chipru-mi-shukku, and is extremely lucky. (At this point, however, people sometimes grow confused, and have doubts about the genuineness of the omen.)
(2) Maga-ran or Mei-ran or Mine-ran. If two birds on opposite sides sing parallel to each other or diagonally so as to be within sound of one another, it is unlucky; with the single exception that it means luck in fishing with plant-poison (Toba).
(3) Tsunu-tsunu or Chin-ton ("repetition"). When two birds sing on the same side, if it happen on the left, it is
