[142]. The cases in which a sneeze is interpreted under special conditions, as with reference to right and left, early morning, &c. (see Plutarch, De Genio Socratis, &c.), are not considered here, as they belong to ordinary omen-divination.
[143]. W. Scott, ‘Minstrelsy of Scottish Border;’ Forbes Leslie, ‘Early Races of Scotland,’ vol. i. pp. 194, 487; Grimm, ‘Deutsche Mythologie,’ pp. 972, 1095; Bastian, ‘Mensch,’ vol. ii. pp. 92, 407, vol. iii. pp. 105, 112; Bowring, ‘Servian Popular Poetry,’ p. 64. A review of the First Edition of the present work in ‘Nature,’ June 15, 1871, contains the following:—‘It is not, for example, many years since the present Lord Leigh was accused of having built an obnoxious person—one account, if we remember right, said eight obnoxious persons—into the foundation of a bridge at Stoneleigh. Of course so preposterous a charge carried on its face its own sufficient refutation; but the fact that it was brought at all is a singular instance of the almost incredible vitality of old traditions.’
[144]. Waitz, vol. ii. p. 197.
[145]. Ellis, ‘Polyn. Res.’ vol. i. p. 346; Tyerman and Bennet, vol. ii. p. 39.
[146]. St. John, ‘Far East,’ vol. i. p. 46; see Bastian, vol. ii. p. 407. I am indebted to Mr. R. K. Douglas for a perfect example of one meaning of the foundation-sacrifice, from the Chinese book, ‘Yūh hea ke’ (‘Jewelled Casket of Divination’): ‘Before beginning to build, the workmen should sacrifice to the gods of the neighbourhood, of the earth and wood. Should the carpenters be very apprehensive of the building falling, they, when fixing a post, should take something living and put it beneath, and lower the post on it, and to liberate [the evil influences] they should strike the post with an axe and repeat—
“It is well, it is well,
May those who live within
Be ever warm and well fed.”’
[147]. Caron, ‘Japan,’ in Pinkerton, vol. vii. p. 623.
[148]. F. Mason, ‘Burmah,’ p. 100; Bastian, ‘Oestl. Asien,’ vol. i. pp. 193, 214; vol. ii. pp. 91, 270; vol. iii. p. 16; Roberts, ‘Oriental Illustrations,’ p. 283.