download - Sage's Lore Library

282 RELIGION OF THE NOETHMEN.
employed by the Germans, the near kinsmen of the
Northmen, we find the follovdng account by Taci-
tus': " They (the Germans) pay strict attention to
omens and the casting of lots (sortes). The usual
mode of casting lots (sortium consuetudo) is simple.
A bough cut from a fruit-tree is divided into small
slips (surculos), which are marked, each with its
sign, and cast out at random upon a white cloth.
Thereupon the State Priest, if the consultation be
public, or the master of the household himself, if it
be private, makes a prayer to the Gods, and, with
eyes uplifted toward heaven, takes up every twig
three times, and explains them according to the
marks set beforehand upon them."* Of the Alani
it is said by Ammianus Marcellinus, " They explore
the future by a remarkable method. They collect
osier twigs (virgas vimineas) which are tolerably
straight, scatter them about for a certain time, while
they sing mysterious incantations, and then they
know with certainty what they Bignify."f By this
is meant, no doubt, that after thus scattering the
twigs about, they foretold the future by the relative
positions in which they settled.
If we turn to these descriptions for explanation of
the old Norse expression, " at fella blotspann," it
will appear highly probable that this expression de-
notes a prophetic lot-casting precisely similar to
that employed by the Germans and Alani. Besides,
if we take into consideration the use which the hea-
then Northmen made of runes, as well as the nature
• Tacitus : Germ. e. 10.
f Ammion., lib. SI, o. 8.