Spread apart from others; he who is mourning (for a death) should sit on a single mat[1].
2. 3. When heavy rains have fallen, one should not present fish or tortoises (to a superior)[2]. 4. He who is presenting a bird should turn its head on one side; if it be a tame bird, this need not be done. 5. He who is presenting a carriage and horses should carry in his hand (to the hall) the whip, and strap for mounting by[3]. 6. He who is presenting a suit of mail should carry the helmet (to the hall). He who is presenting a staff should hold it by its end[4]. 7. He who is presenting a captive should hold him by the right sleeve[5]. 8. He who is presenting grain unhulled should carry with him the left side of the account (of the quantity); if the hull be off, he should carry with him a measure-drum[6]. 9. He who is presenting cooked food, should carry with him the sauce and pickles for it. 10. He who is presenting fields and tenements should carry with him the writings about them, and give them up (to the superior). 11. In every case of giving a bow to another, if it be bent, the (string of) sinew
should be kept upwards; but if unbent, the horn.
- ↑ Grief is solitary. A mourner afflicts himself.
- ↑ Because the fish in such a case are so numerous as not to be valuable, or because the fish at the time of the rains are not clean. Other reasons for the rule have been assigned.
- ↑ The whip and strap, carried up to the hall, represented the carriage and horses, left in the courtyard.
- ↑ For convenience; and because the end, going into the mud, was not so honourable.
- ↑ So that he could not attempt any violence.
- ↑ The account was in duplicate, on the same tablet. The right was held to be the more honourable part. "Drum" was the name of the measure.
