GEOMANCY 
369 
other financial necessities of the Work by Geomantic 
divination" 
Now, then , he thought , in and about Johannesburg we 
have both gold and diamonds; that is exactly the chance for 
these tricky earth spirits to take advantage of the ambiguity . 
I will therefore frame the question so as to cover both 
sources of riches. I will not specify gold or diamonds. I will 
say simply "mineral wealth." 
The answers to his series of questions indicated that he was 
to go out of the city where he would find a deposit. 
The next questions in his series were directed to finding 
the direction in which he should start his exploration . That 
was easy. 
The next question was the distance involved, and he could 
think of no way of framing questions which would inform 
him on that very important point. He got at it indirectly , 
however, by asking as to his means of transport , and as to 
that the answer was quite clear and unmistakeable . He was to 
use a horse. 
Well, he had a Boer pony, and next morning he set forth 
with provisions for a day's journey . 
On and on he went and found no geological indication of 
any mineral wealth. Presently he began to get tired and 
thought it was a little late. He could see in every direction 
across the Veldt and there was nothing at all. A mile or so in 
front of him, however, was a row of small kopjes. He said, I 
may as well go on and get a view from the top . 
This he did; and there was still no geological pointer. It 
struck him, however, that he was getting short of water ; and 
just below on the far side of the kopje were a number of 
apparently shallow pools. 
"I will fill my skin and give my horse a drink and get home 
feeling like a fool." 
But, when he got to the water, his horse turned sharply 
aside and refused to drink. At that he dismounted and put his 
finger in the water to test it. He had struck one of the most