Page:The kingdom and people of Siam - with a narrative of the mission to that country in 1855 (IA b29352447 0001).pdf/213

 179 soul be found beyond the pale of their mercy. Wherever I go, may I be encompassed by dangers and not escape from them, whether arising from mur- derers, robbers, spirits of the ground, of the forest, of the water, or of the air, or from all the T'hewatda [or divinities who adore Buddha], or from the gods of the four elements, and all other spirits. May blood flow out of every pore of my body, that my crime may be made manifest to the world. May all or any of these evils overtake me three days hence. Or may I never stir from the place on which I now stand; or may the Hatsanee ["lash of the sky”—viz., lightning] cut me in twain, so that I may be exposed to the derision of the people; or if I should be walking abroad, may I be torn in pieces by either of the four preternaturally-endowed lions, or destroyed by poisonous herbs or venomous snakes. If when in the water of the rivers or ocean, may chárákhe [or alligators], hera [the fabulous horned alligator], mang kan [a fabulous animal, which in Siamese astronomy represents Capricorn], maché [or large fishes], devour me; or may the winds or waves overwhelm me: or may the dread of such evils keep me during my life a prisoner at home, estranged from every pleasure; or may I be afflicted by the in- tolerable oppressions of my superiors; or may cholera morbus cause my death: after which, may I be pre- cipitated into hell, there to go through innumerable stages of torture; amongst which, may I be condemned to carry water over the flaming regions in open wicker- baskets, to assuage the heat felt by Y-haan Wetsoo- wan, when he enters the infernal hall of justice, [he N 2 THE SIAMESE OATII.