| d | w | w | a | w | o | h | a | b | h |
| i | o | i | s | o | t | d | t | t | w |
| w | o | a | a | a | i | e | n | i | i |
| t | s | d | n | t | h | i | a | a | e |
| o | t | t | n | t | u | w | t | d | h |
| t | i | a | e | s | f | l | i | n | u |
| e | l | u | j | c | a | d | t | o | c |
| r | o | h | y | e | o | w | y | p | e |
| f | r | w | e | d | i | o | i | a | e |
| l | n | s | c | t | l | g | h | e | h |
| Fig. 40. | |||||||||
For example, suppose the finger to be placed on the letter s, second in the fourth line, we take from the table the letters:—
s—i—t—w—i—l—l—d—o—w—r—o—n—g—w—a—i—t—a—n, which forms the answer:—“Wait an(d) sit will do wrong,” an incentive to action quite clear.
The sentence always commences with the first of the letters taken from the uppermost line. It will be seen that the table gives only five answers, one of these with whatever letter of the alphabet we commence. The framer of the table, knowing that men very frequently wish to do wrong, and seldom to do what is right, and that it is generally safer for them to abstain when in doubt, has given but one affirmative answer, and four negative.
It was by this means that the dishonest Arab found out that Livingstone was dead and did not want the goods he was taking to him, which shows how reliable a forecast can be thus made. (See The Finding of Livingstone.)
A Chinese Puzzle.—A Chinaman died, leaving his property by will to his three sons, as follows: “To Fum-Hum, the eldest, one half thereof; to Nu-Pin, his second son, one-third thereof; and to Ding-Bat, his youngest, one-ninth thereof.” When the property was inventoried, it was found to consist of nothing more nor less than seventeen elephants, and it puzzled these three heirs how to divide the property according to the terms of the will without chopping up the seventeen elephants, and thus perhaps injuring their lives. Finally, they applied to a wise Neighbour, Y-sa-cur, for advice. Y-sa-cur had an elephant of his own. He drove it into the yard with the seventeen, and said, “Now, we will suppose that your father left these eighteen elephants. Fum-Hum, take your half, and depart.” So Fum-Hum took nine elephants and went his way. “Now, Nu-Pin,” said the wise man, “take your third, and remove!” So Nu-Pin took six elephants and travelled. “Now Ding-Bat,” said the wise man, “take your ninth, and begone.” So Ding-Bat took two elephants and absquatulated. Then Y-sa-cur took his own elephant and drove home again.
Query: Was the property divided according to the terms of the will?