morning, of his shadow in the sun, which ought, he says, on that day to be of
such and such a length; and should his shadow be of the proper length for that
day he completes his purchase; if it be not, he will on no account do so, but waits
till his shadow reaches the prescribed measurement. For there is a certain length
fixed for every day in the week; and the merchant will not complete any business
unless he finds his shadow of the length set down for that particular day. Also to
each day in the week they assign one hour as unlucky, which they term Choiach.
For example, on Monday the hour of Half-tierce (7 to 8 a.m.), on Tuesday that of
Tierce, (9 to 10 a.m.), on Wednesday Nones (12 to 1 p.m.), and so on.
Again, if one of them be in the house, and, while meditating a purchase, should
see a tarantula (such as is very common in that country) on the wall, provided
that it advance from a quarter which he deems lucky, he will complete his
purchase at once; but if it come from a quarter which he considers unlucky, he
will not do so on any inducement. Moreover, if, on going forth, he hear any one
sneeze, he will proceed if he consider it a good omen; but, if the reverse, he will
straightway sit down in his place for as long as he thinks it well to tarry. Or if, in
travelling along the road, he see a swallow fly past, should its direction be lucky
he will proceed, but, if not, he will turn back again: in fact, they are worse, in
these vagaries, than so many Patarins! (i.e. heretics.)
These Abraiaman are very long-lived, owing to their extreme abstinence in
eating. And they never allow themselves to let blood in any part of the body.
They have capital teeth, which is due to a certain herb they chew; it greatly
improves their appearance, and is also very good for the health.
There is another class of people called Chugi [Jogi], who are indeed properly
Abraiaman, but they form a religious order devoted to the Idols. They are
extremely long-lived, every man of them living to 150 or 200 years. They eat
very little, but what they do eat is good; rice and milk chiefly. And these people
make use of a very strange beverage; for they brew a potion of mixed sulphur
and quicksilver, and drink it twice every month. This, they say, gives them long
life; and they are used to take it from their childhood.
Certain members of this Order lead the most ascetic life imaginable, going
completely naked; they worship the Ox. Most of them wear a small image of an
ox, in brass, pewter, or gold, tied over the forehead. Moreover, they take cow-
dung, and burn it, and make a powder of it; and then they make it into an
ointment, with which they daub themselves as devoutly as Christians use holy
water. Further, if they meet any person who treats them well, they daub a little of