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18.

[[table continued from previous page]]

34 | 2 | 1 | 1 |  6 |  6 |  6 |  6 |  3 | 3 
36 | 2 | 1 | 1 |  6 |  6 |  7 |  7 |  3 | 3
38 | 2 | 1 | 1 |  7 |  7 |  7 |  7 |  3 | 3  
40 | 2 | 1 | 1 |  7 |  7 |  7 |  7 |  4 | 4 
60 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 44 | 4 
62 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |  5 | 5 
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[[/10-column table]]

Each item of the above table is based on the observations of actual specimens on at least one part on the plastron; the rest calculated accordingly.  In the tale of Chuang-tzu referred to above,the tortoise captured by Yü-chieh was finally killed and used for divination.  The scorched signs shown on its plastron was so efficacious that in every case it was totally confirmed by subsequent result.  Thus the whole plastron was completely utilized that it was drilled 72 times.  It kept up its reputation to the last scorch! The moral from this tale is that althou the tortoise could tell thru the cracks so efficaciously about human event, it could hardly escape its own tragical ending.  This serves to throw some very interesting light on the frequently raised question as to whether it was to the tortoise that the question was addressed, or that, it merely served as a sort of medium thru which a higher spirit showed its manifestation.  Unless there should be evidence to the contrary, the bone of either the tortoise or the cattle served probably merely as a sort of medium.  In this connection, however, we are merely interested in the fact that seventy two queries could be addressed to one plastron.  The seventy two cavities in different parts of the plastron may be plotted according to the following distribution:

^[[Table 4.]]

[[10-column table]]
Total | Endo. | Epi. | Epi. | Hyp.| Hyo. | Hypo. | Hypo. | Xiphi. | Xiphi.
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72 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 5 | 5
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[[/10-column table]]