________________
436
APPENDIX.
up three, within which are the [three) holes that are apart, (which are for water, and] beyond (those within, which are for bull's urine]”.
29. `Thou shalt carry three loads of stones on to those spaces of nine feet, as an approach to the holes; (30) or potsherds, or knotty and massive blocks, or a clod of the earth of Vistâsp, or [a pot or something of] any hard earth whatever.
31. ‘Afterwards, he who has been by the dead shall come to that approach, which is the approach to the holes. 32. Thereupon thou, o Zaratast ! hast to stand up more aside, by the furrows.
1 The arrangement, here described, is that of six holes in a row, one step apart; then an interval of three steps, followed by three more holes, one step apart, in the same line. This row of nine holes, from north to south (see $ 132, ), is surrounded by three furrows, the first six holes and the last three are both surrounded by a second series of three furrows, and the first three holes are surrounded by a third series of three furrows. And these furrows are not less than three steps from the holes in any place, except where they separate the three series of holes from each other. The object of the furrows, which are scored during the recitation of certain formulas (see $ 132,f, :), is to prevent the fiend of corruption from forcing its way from the unclean person within the furrows to any other person outside them. And, as the fiend is supposed to be strongest at first, and to become gradually weakened by the progress of the purification (see $ 119), the first three holes are surrounded by the strongest barrier of nine furrows.
* There were three such spaces, one between the furrows and the first hole, one between the sixth and seventh holes, and one between the last hole and the furrows (see the plan). It is not distinctly stated that these stones were to be distributed, as ablution seats, to each of the nine stations, as at present; but this was probably intended. At the present time an additional group of stones is placed outside the furrows, at the entrance to the north, as a station for the preliminary washing.
* That is, the priest is to stand outside, to the right (see § 132, ), but close to the furrows.
8.
Digitized by Google
