The evil eye. An account of this ancient and wide spread superstition

VII THE OPEN HAND 249
holds in His left hand, while the right is raised,
showing only the two first fingers and the thumb. On
either side of the medallion are the typical symbol-
figures representing the four Evangelists, each of
whom seems to be presenting a book to the central
fiofure.
St. Mark, the companion figure to St. Luke (Fig.
114), is shown with his right hand raised high, palm
open and thumb extended. It is not of course sug-
gested here that all these persons are making ges-
tures against the evil eye, but they are singular
pieces of evidence as to the importance of the hand
itself, and of the position in which it is held both in
acts of devotion and of benediction. ^'^^
Considering the open hand as a distinctly used
amulet of both ancient and modern times, we would
call attention to its frequency at Tunis, where it may
be seen displayed in a variety of ways over doors, or
drawn upon walls in connection with the remarkable
works of pictorial art by which the Haji announces
his right to wear the green turban. These paintings
upon the walls of the houses of returned pilgrims,
although meant to portray animals and trees, are
of such an exceedingly crude and rough sort that
they can hardly be held to transgress the law that
no Moslem shall make any object in the likeness of
anything in heaven above or the earth beneath. In
Tunis also may be seen many shallow drums, mere
hoops of about two inches broad, having parchment
393 The frequent reference in Scripture to the lifting up of the hands fully
confirms the importance of this attitude of prayer : " Lift up your hands in
the sanctuary " (Psalm cxxxiv. 2). " The lifting up of my hands as the
evening sacrifice" (Psalm cxli. 2). " I stretch forth my hands unto thee"
(Psalm cxliii. 6). " He lifted up his hands, and blessed them" (St. Luke
xxiv. 50). See also Psalm xxviii. 2, Ixiii. 4, cxix. 48, and many other
passages.