of each string a small bell (ɛɽoɽo
[ ˥ ˥ ˥ ]) and some cowries are
fastened. The diviner (ɔb-ogwɛga
[ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ]) seizes one end of each
string and throws them with the
intention of turning them upside
down. The subsequent arrange-
ment of seeds is then analysed
(v. eria [ ˩ ˥ ]) according to a certain
code (itie [ ˩ ˥ ]), the criterion
being the “open” or “covered”
position of the seed-halves. The
analysis is said to proceed at first
from the right side to the left,
and, after that, in the opposite
direction, but as if the arrange-
ment were looked at from the
other end of the strings. The
different positions have names,
e.g. odĩ [ ˩ ˥ ] is a string with the
two outer seed-halves showing
their inside, and the two inner
halves showing their cover.
(Under the headings dealing
with these positions, o. will
mean “open”, and c. “covered”+,
as reckoned from the top of the
string.) The names of the
positions are: odĩ [ ˩ ˥ ], oɣoi [ ˩ ˩ ]
oɽuhu [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ], ɔɣae [ ˩ ˥ ], ogbi [ ˥ ˩ ]
ako [ ˩ ˥ ], ose [ ˩ ˥ ], ohũ [ ˩ ˥ ]
ɛrhoxwa [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ], ɛka [ ˩ ˥ ], ɔkã [ ˩ ˩ ]
ɔʋa [ ˩ ˩ ], etuɽɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ], ete [ ˩ ˩ ]
ɔha [ ˩ ˥ ] and eɣitã [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ]. As the
relations of two strings to one
another are always considered,
these names are usually com-
bined, e.g. ɔh-ɔɣae [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] (ɔha
＋ ɔɣae). If both positions are
the same, their name is followed
by n-abe [ \ ˩ ] “combined”, e.g.
ɔkã n-abe [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ]. The “code” of
this divination gives a fixed
sentence for each of these com-
binations, and the task of the
