And a similar passage in another charm says-- "Let those which are near, arrive the first, Let those which are far off be sent for, Cluck! cluck! souls of the children of forest doves, Come ye down and assemble together In the fold of God and King Solomon." If blandishments fail, however, there is to be no doubt about the punishments in store for their wilful Highnesses: thus, a little later, we find the alternative, a thoroughgoing imprecation calculated to "convince" the most headstrong of birds:-- "I call you, I fetch you down, If you come not down you shall be eaten by the Bear-cat, You shall be choked to death with your own feathers, You shall be choked to death with a bone in your throat. If you perch on a creeper you shall be entangled by it, If you settle on a leaf you shall be bitten by the 'leaf snake,' Come you down quickly to God's fold and King Solomon's." And an imprecation of similar import says-- "[If you do not come down, the Bear-cat shall eat you], If you perch on a bough, you shall slip off it, If you perch on a creeper, you shall slide off it, If you perch upon a leafless stump, the stump shall fall; If you settle on the ground, the ground-snake shall bite you, If you soar up to heaven, the eagle shall swoop upon you." (b) Earth 1. BUILDING CEREMONIES AND CHARMS The first operation in building is the selection of the site. This is determined by an elaborate code of rules which make the choice depend--firstly, upon the nature of the soil with respect to colour, taste, and smell; secondly, upon the formation of its surface; and, thirdly, upon its aspect:-- "The best soil, whether for a house, village, orchard, or town, is a greenish yellow, fragrant-scented, tart-tasting loam: such a soil will ensure abundance of gold and silver unto the third generation. [262] "The best site, whether for a house, village, orchard, or town, is level. [263] "The best aspect (of the surface) is that of land which is low upon the north side and high upon the south side: such a site will bring absolute peacefulness." [264] When you have found a site complying with more or less favourable conditions, in accordance with the code, you must next clear the ground of forest or undergrowth, lay down four sticks to form a rectangle in the centre thereof, and call upon the name of the lords of that spot (i.e. the presiding local deities or spirits). Now dig up the soil (enclosed by the four sticks), and taking a clod in your hand, call upon the lords of that spot as follows:-- "Ho, children of Mentri [265] Guru, Who dwell in the Four Corners of the World, I crave this plot as a boon." (Here mention the purpose to which you wish to put it.) "If it is good, show me a good omen, If it is bad, show me a bad omen." [266]