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e and taken away from him； a portion of his life goes with the picture。 Unless the sovereign had been blessed with the years of a Methusaleh he could scarcely have permitted his life to be distributed in small pieces together with the coins of the realm。
Beliefs of the same sort still linger in various parts of Europe。 Not very many years ago some old women in the Greek island of Carpathus were very angry at having their likenesses drawn； thinking that in consequence they would pine and die。 There are persons in the West of Scotland who refuse to have their likenesses taken lest it prove unlucky； and give as instances the cases of several of their friends who never had a day's health after being photographed。
Chapter 19。 Tabooed Acts。
1。 Taboos on Intercourse with Strangers
SO much for the primitive conceptions of the soul and the dangers to which it is exposed。 These conceptions are not limited to one people or country； with variations of detail they are found all over the world； and survive； as we have seen； in modern Europe。 Beliefs so deep…seated and so widespread must necessarily have contributed to shape the mould in which the early kingship was cast。 For if every person was at such pains to save his own soul from the perils which threatened it on so many sides； how much more carefully must he have been guarded upon whose life hung the welfare and even the existence of the whole people； and whom therefore it was the common interest of all to preserve？ Therefore we should expect to find the king's life protected by a system of precautions or safeguards still more numerous and minute than those which in primitive society every man adopts for the safety of his own soul。 Now in point of fact the life of the early kings is regulated； as we have seen and shall see more fully presently； by a very exact code of rules。 May we not then conjecture that these rules are in fact the very safeguards which we should expect to find adopted for the protection of the king's life？ An examination of the rules themselves confirms this conjecture。 For from this it appears that some of the rules observed by the kings are identical with those observed by private persons out of regard for the safety of their souls； and even of those which seem peculiar to the king； many； if not all； are most readily explained on the hypothesis that they are nothing but safeguards or lifeguards of the king。 I will now enumerate some of these royal rules or taboos； offering on each of them such comments and explanations as may serve to set the original intention of the rule in its proper light。
As the object of the royal taboos is to isolate the king from all sources of danger； their general effect is to compel him to live in a state of seclusion； more or less complete； according to the number and stringency of the rules he observes。 Now of all sources of danger none are more dreaded by the savage than magic and witchcraft； and he suspects all strangers of practising these black arts。 To guard against the baneful influence exerted voluntarily or involuntarily by strangers is therefore an elementary dictate of savage prudence。 Hence before strangers are allowed to enter a district； or at least before they are permitted to mingle freely with the inhabitants； certain ceremonies are often performed by the natives of the country for the purpose of disarming the strangers of their magical powers； of counteracting the baneful influence which is believed to emanate from them； or of disinfecting； so to speak； the tainted atmosphere by which they are supposed to be surrounded。 Thus； when the ambassadors sent by Justin II。； Emperor of the East； to conclude a peace with the Turks had reached their destination； they were received by shamans； who subjected them to a ceremonial purification for the purpose of exorcising all harmful influence。 Having deposited the goods brought by the ambassadors in an open place； these wizards carried burning branches of incense round them； while they rang a bell and beat on a tambourine； snorting and falling into a state of frenzy in their efforts to dispel the powers of evil。 Afterwards they purified the ambassadors themselves by leading them through the flames。 In the island of Nanumea （South Pacific） strangers from ships or from other islands were not allowed to communicate with the people until they all； or a few as representatives of the rest； had been taken to each of the four temples in the island； and prayers offered that the god would avert any disease or treachery which these strangers might have brought with them。 Meat offerings were also laid upon the altars； accompanied by songs and dances in honour of the god。 While these ceremonies were going on； all the people except the priests and their attendants kept out of sight。 Amongst the Ot Danoms of Borneo it is the custom that strangers entering the territory should pay to the natives a certain sum； which is spent in the sacrifice of buffaloes or pigs to the spirits of the land and water； in order to reconcile them to the presence of the strangers； and to induce them not to withdraw their favour from the people of the country； but to bless the rice…harvest； and so forth。 The men of a certain district in Borneo； fearing to look upon a European traveller lest he should make them ill； warned their wives and children not to go near him。 Those who could not restrain their curiosity killed fowls to appease the evil spirits and smeared themselves with the blood。 More dreaded； says a traveller in Central Borneo； than the evil spirits of the neighbourhood are the evil spirits from a distance which accompany travellers。 When a company from the middle Mahakam River visited me among the Blu…u Kayans in the year 1897； no woman showed herself outside her house without a burning bundle of plehiding bark； the stinking smoke of which drives away evil spirits。
When Crevaux was travelling in South America he entered a village of the Apalai Indians。 A few moments after his arrival some of the Indians brought him a number of large black ants； of a species whose bite is painful； fastened on palm leaves。 Then all the people of the village； without distinction of age or sex； presented themselves to him； and he had to sting them all with the ants on their faces； thighs； and other parts of their bodies。 Sometimes； when he applied the ants too tenderly； they called out More！ more！ and were not satisfied till their skin was thickly studded with tiny swellings like what might have been produced by whipping them with nettles。 The object of this ceremony is made plain by the custom observed in Amboyna and Uliase of sprinkling sick people with pungent spices； such as ginger and cloves； chewed fine； in order by the prickling sensation to drive away the demon of disease which may be clinging to their persons。 In Java a popular cure for gout or rheumatism is to rub Spanish pepper into the nails of the fingers and toes of the sufferer； the pungency of the pepper is supposed to be too much for the gout or rheumatism； who accordingly departs in haste。 So on the Slave Coast the mother of a sick child sometimes believes that an evil spirit has taken possession of the child's body； and in order to drive him out； she makes small cuts in the body of the little sufferer and inserts green peppers or spices in the wounds； believing that she will thereby hurt the evil spirit and force him to be gone。 The poor child naturally screams with pain； but the mother hardens her heart in the belief that the demon is suffering equally。
It is probable that the same dread of strangers； rather than any desire to do them honour； is the motive of certain ceremonies which are sometimes observed at their reception； but of which the intention is not directly stated。 In the Ongtong Java Islands； which are inhabited by Polynesians； the priests or sorcerers seem to wield great influence。 Their main business is to summon or exorcise spirits for the purpose of averting or dispelling sickness； and of procuring favourable winds； a good catch of fish； and so on。 When strangers land on the islands； they are first of all received by the sorcerers； sprinkled with water； anointed with oil； and girt with dried pandanus leaves。 At the same time sand and water are freely thrown about in all directions； and the newcomer and his boat are wiped with green leaves。 After this ceremony the strangers are introduced by the sorcerers to the chief。 In Afghanistan and in some parts of Persia the traveller； before he enters a village； is frequently received with a sacrifice of animal life or food； or of fire and incense。 The Afghan Boundary Mission； in passing by villages in Afghanistan； was often met with fire and incense。 Sometimes a tray of lighted embers is thrown under the hoofs of the traveller's horse； with the words； You are welcome。 On entering a village in Central Africa Emin Pasha was received with the sacrifice of two goats； their blood was sprinkled on the path and the chief stepped over the blood to greet Emin。 Sometimes the dread of strangers and their magic is too great to allow of their reception on any terms。 Thus when Speke arrived at a certain village； the natives shut their doors against him； because they had never before seen a white man nor the