away, and in case he have sinned against or injured you that ye would pardon his sin and restore to him his soul, his strength, and creation, 7.¢. perfect health.” (Should the patient be a barren woman desiring offspring, the sorceress says :—‘‘ And that ye would open her womb, restore the fruit of her belly, and loose her fetters.” For a female liable to miscarriage the petition runs thus :—* And that ye would quicken for her the lives of her sons and daughters.”’) The prayer continues thus “ And lo, here is honey” (or sugar) “ which is in order to sweeten your mouths and jaws; and corn or barley as food for your kine and _ lesser cattle; and the water and salt are to establish love, . brotherliness, peace and friendship as by an ever- lasting covenant of salt between us and you.” The woman then breaks the eggs into the latrines, etc., prostrates herself on the floor in the attitude of worship, and after kissing the pavement several times, continues the invocation as follows :— “Lo this shall be to you the sacrifice of a soul in substitution for a soul,[1] in order that ye may restore to us the soul of this sick person and grant his desire.” This invocation is several times re- peated, and during three successive nights. It may be done, should three nights not prove effectual for a cure, seven, or even nine nights in succession. We must remark that the latter part of these ceremonies is performed in latrines, wash-houses, subterranean chambers, cellars, and round about cisterns, etc.;
- ↑ As an egg contains the germ of a life, it is supposed to be a fit substitute for a human life.
