[266] The meaning of this clause is doubtful. The object seems to be to provide a brush for brushing away (_harahi_) offences. Sir E. Satow says, with regard to a different ceremony: "The high priest waves before the company a sort of broom made of grass, to symbolize the sweeping away of their offences." [267] In later times it was thought, without sufficient reason, that the "ritual words" here spoken of were a special form of incantation distinct from the _norito_ itself. [268] See above, p. 261. [269] Yomi or Hades. [270] Swift-banishment-lady. [271] A horse was one of the expiatory offerings. It seems here to typify the attentive attitude of the audience, or perhaps of the deities concerned. [272] _Harahi-zare_. There is some confusion here between the offences and the expiatory offerings. The _harahi-tsu-mono_ were then taken away and thrown into some convenient river. I suspect, however, that most of them were not thrown away, but went to provide a fund for the expenses of the ceremony. It is not clear what became of the horse or of the slaves. The _harahi-tsu-mono_ were not gifts to any particular Gods, but rather, like the scape-goat of the Mosaic law, vehicles by which the transgressions of the people were conveyed away. But it is better not to put this too sweepingly. There is reason to think that by some they were thought to be offerings to Se-ori-tsu-hime and the other deities mentioned. At the present day they consist of a few pieces of cloth. [273] See 'Notes of some Minor Japanese Religious Practices,' by Mr. B. H. Chamberlain, in the _Journal_ of the Anthropological Institute, May, 1893, and Sir E. Satow's 'Visit to the Shrines of Ise,' _T. A. S. J._, 1874. [274] See above, p. 187. [275] That is, "did honour to." [276] These deities were worshipped at cross-roads, and were called the eight-cross-road deities. [277] The date of one Sahe no Kami festival. [278] Written on paper and thrown into the flames. [279] See above, p. 168. [280] See above, pp. 189, 190. [281] See above, p. 313. [282] That is, died. [283] What was the God of Fire in the previous sentence is here simply "Fire." [284] A branch of the Nakatomi, who claimed descent from Koyane, one of the four Gods worshipped. [285] From a modern collection entitled _Norito Bunrei_. [286] In the north of Japan. [287] A Buddhist title. CHAPTER XIII. MAGIC, DIVINATION, INSPIRATION. The reader will find few traces of normal religious development in the practices to be described in this chapter. The pathological element is decidedly predominant.