*75. Chap. II. Chieh-ch`u [OMITTED] (On Exorcism).
By exorcism malignant spirits are expelled after having been
feasted. Exorcism and conjurations are of no use, for either would
the ghosts not yield to the force employed against them, and resent
the affront, or, if they are like mist and clouds, their expulsion
would be useless. In ancient times, sickness was expelled in this
way. The propitiation of the Spirit of Earth, after having dug up
the ground, is also useless, for Earth does not hear man nor
understand his speech. All depends upon man, not on ghosts.
