reflected in the water. She must not look behind her, but repeat to herself with faith the following,—"Woman is In. Man is Yō. Woman is unlucky. Man is lucky." She should then place the lid over the well and leave it there for three days, during which no water should be drawn. This divine method will certainly result in the birth of male children.[1]
How to know whether an unborn child is a boy or a girl. When the pregnant woman is walking towards the south, let some one call to her from behind. If she looks back from the left, the child will be a boy, if from the right, a girl. Or, add together the years of age of the father and mother. Divide by nine. If the remainder is an odd number it is a girl; if even, a boy.
To cure drunkenness. Mix with the food dew taken from the stump of a bamboo early in the morning. Do this for seven days, and the patient will then suddenly take a dislike to strong drink. This is an exceptionally profound secret.
To convert a drunkard into a teetotaller. Give him the milk of a white dog mixed with saké. This will cure the most confirmed funnel. The sweat of a horse mixed with saké will answer equally well.
To prevent seasickness. Before going on board ship, twist paper and stuff it into your nose. Then sneeze three times. Or, take some salt, apply it to the navel, and keep it in its place by pasting a strip of paper over it.
How to know a fox or a badger which has assumed human form. Look at him through your left sleeve.
How to see in the dark. Take a block of crystal of the best quality. Hollow it out on the top, and fill the cavity with quicksilver. Place this against your forehead and you will see wonderfully well in the dark.
To see in the dark. Calcine and reduce to powder the feathers of an owl's wing. Dissolve in the juice of ukigusa (a herb) and apply it to the eyes.
For toothache. Chew shavings of a tree that has been struck by lightning.
To cure cowardice. Swallow a powder made of the shavings of a tree that has been struck by lightning.
- ↑ The well is one of the domestic gods of Japan. [Surijin sama.—Ed.]
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