´SAKUNA

or augury,* is the extraordinary art of predicting events from the motions of birds. Their song, their silence, their movements and repose, and indications of pleasure and sadness, and similar signs, discover the present and the future. There are many in this country who are skilled in this important science. One day, in a royal preserve, two mainás* sat perched side by side chirping low together. His Majesty deigned to inquire the subject of their converse from an expert in this divination, who replied that were he to reveal their confidence to his Majesty, he would not be believed. The male desired to pair while the female excused herself. It was not improbable that if the nest were searched stains of blood would be found. On examination being made, his words were found to be true. The sooth-sayers of Hindustan foretell future events chiefly by means of five methods, the stars, breathing from the nostrils, augury, incantations, and kevala*, which is divination by the throwing of dice, and it comprises various other kinds of prognostication.