according to the letter they bear in the Cycle of Eight.^228
Most of these systems of divination involve the construction of a sort of
calendar, and require some degree of astronomical knowledge; but of astronomy
properly so-called the Malays have scarcely even a smattering, its place being
taken by the, to them, far more important science of astrology. “Their meagre
ideas regarding the motions of the heavenly bodies are derived, through the
Arabs, from the Ptolemaic system.”^229
The seven Heavenly Bodies (Bintang Tujoh), mentioned above, whose motions
they believe to be produced by the agency of angels,^230 retain their Arabic
names,^231 and are believed to rule the “seven ominous moments” (Katika
Tujoh), which are supposed to depend on the influences of these several sidereal
bodies.^232
The signs of the Zodiac similarly bear Arabic appellations, the form of
divination in which they bear the principal part being called the Twelve
Constellations (Bintang Dua-b’las).^233
This form of divination is not quite so common as are those of the Five Ominous
Times (5-square) and the Seven Heavenly Bodies (7-square), and I have not
been able to find out much about the methods of working it, but a copy of one of
the diagrams used for the purpose will be found on another page.
According to one view, which is perhaps the prevalent one, every man’s luck is
determined by one or other of the zodiacal constellations, and in order to find out
which one it is, the following direction is given:—
“Reckon the numerical equivalent of the person’s name and of the name of his
mother by the values of the letters according to the system of the Abjad; add the
two numerical equivalents together, and divide the total by twelve; if the
remainder is 1, his sign is the Ram, if 2, the Bull, and so on.”
Each constellation has a series of characteristics which are supposed to influence
the whole life of the person who is subject to it.^234
Besides the above, a few of the other constellations are known to possess Malay
names, and wherever this is the case, the name given appears usually to be quite