When ready to dig the holes and put in the posts a man
born on Sunday takes a digger and goes to the head of the
dragon, a man born on Wednesday goes to the tail, and a
man born on Thursday is ready to dig at the belly ; that is,
each man takes a position north, south, east or west, as the
case may be, but the man having the direction indicated by
the belly must begin first. When he has made two or three
digs with his tool, the others may begin. The earth taken
out of the hole must be thrown toward the tail. Riches,^
honour and blessing will follow if the instructions are
carried out. The posts may not be taken up and just thrown
into the holes ; they must be let down gently. Otherwise it
will be ill for the owner and his children.
It is evident that the positions of the dragon as indicated
above have some reference to the course of the sun during
the year. In the book of One Thousand Omens it is explained
that some teachers say that the dragon reclines on the
central mountain. Mount Meru ; that is, he lies with his back
to it. The majority of teachers, however, cannot accept this
explanation. The nature of animals is to lie hugging on their
left side. So the great bulk of teachers hold that the dragon
lies on his left side hugging Mount Meru, and therefore with
his back away from it. So that when he is lying with his
head west, he is taking shelter on the south side of Meru.
