EVOLUTION OF CEREMONIAL GOVERNMENT. 151 



ing by." In Samoa, " in passing through a room where a chief is sit- 

 ting, it is disrespectful to walk erect ; the person must pass along with 

 his body bent downward," Of the ancient Mexicans who, during an 

 assembly, crouched before their chief, we read that " when they re- 

 tired, it was done with the head lowered." And then, in the Chinese 

 ritual of ceremony above cited, we find that obeisance number two, 

 less humble than bending the knee, is bowing low with the hands 

 joined. Having such facts before us, and bearing in mind that there 

 are insensible transitions between the humble salaam of the Hindoo, 

 the profound bow which in Europe shows great respect, and the mod- 

 erate bend of the head expressive of consideration, we cannot doubt 

 that the familiar and sometimes scarcely perceptible nod is the last 

 trace of the aboriginal prostration. 



These several abridgments of the prostration which we see occur 

 in doing political homage and social homage occur also in doing reli- 

 gious homage. Of the Congoese, Bastian says that when they have to 

 speak to a superior 



" They kneel, turn the face half aside, and stretch out the hands toward the 

 person addressed, which they strike together at every address. They might 

 have sat as models to the Egyptian priests when making the representations on 

 the temple-walls, so striking is the resemblance between what is represented 

 there and what actually takes place here." 



And we may note kindred parallelisms in European religious observ- 

 ances. There is the going on both knees and the going on one knee ; 

 and there are the bowings and courtesyings on certain occasions at the 

 name of Christ. 



As already explained, along with the act expressing humility, the 

 complete obeisance includes some act expressing gratification. To pro- 

 pitiate the superior most effectually it is needful at once to imply, " I 

 am your slave," and " I love you." 



Certain of the instances cited above have exemplified the union of 

 these two factors. Along with the attitude of abject submission as- 

 sumed by the Batoka, we saw that there go rhythmic blows of the 

 hands against the thighs. In others of the cases named, clapping of 

 the hands, also indicating joy, was described as being in Africa an 

 accompaniment of movements showing submission ; and many others 

 may be added. Of the nobility who approach the King of Loango, 

 Astley says, " They clap their hands two or three times, and then cast 

 themselves at his majesty's feet into the sand, rolling over and over into 

 it in token of subjection ; " and Speke says of certain attendants of the 

 King of Uganda, that they " threw themselves in line upon their bellies, 

 and, wriggling like fish .... while they continued floundering, kick- 

 ing about their legs, rubbing their faces, and patting their hands upon 

 the ground." Going on their knees to superiors, the Balonda " continue 



