There were things that I already knew, such as an extraordinary Asian invention of writing, which began in China and in Mesopotamian regions between the 3rd and 2nd millennia B.C., and gunpowder, cultivating the silk-worm, cartography,
hepatoscopy, navigational interests, and interest in astrology, astronomy, etc.
While no
hepatoscopy was ever practiced, some animals have been reported to be omen-bearers, e.g., the long-tailed macaque (kara) in certain directions away from oneself, (53) and the crocodile (buayo) in a certain direction, (54) not to mention a certain threatening posture of that reptile.