Royal soothsayers predict good crops

From correspondents in Bangkok

May 11, 2005

ROYAL Thai soothsayers today predicted an end to the drought that has scorched much of the country and forecast abundant harvests, in an ancient ceremony based on the eating habits of royal oxen.

The centuries-old ploughing ceremony, which originated in India and combines Brahmin and Buddhist rites, hopes to bring good harvests as Thailand prepares for the monsoon season.

In one rite, a fortune teller drew at random from three lengths of cloth to determine how much rain would fall.

Then the soothsayers offered royal oxen a meal of maize, sesame, beans, grass, whiskey and water. Based on what the oxen chose to eat, the fortune tellers predicted an abundant harvest in most of the country.

"The holy oxen chose to eat maize, beans, sesame and grass, which means an abundance of grain, fruit and meats for this harvest," Bancha Sattasathuchana, deputy permanent secretary of the agriculture ministry, said.

The soothsayers predicted good rains and fertile rice paddies in higher grounds, but warned that lower-lying areas could experience some flooding.

At least 71 out of Thailand's 76 provinces are suffering from the worst drought in several years in the world's top rice exporter. Authorities have ordered cloud-seeding projects for the last three months to ease the water shortage

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/commo...55E1702,00.html

I wonder if these Royal soothsayers have any windows in their premises?

As I am looking out of mine and its throwing it down, same as it has done all week.

I wonder if these Royal soothsayers have any windows in their premises?...

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Nah - they use Macs.