630 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



also turn their backs. The concept of peace is close to that of 

 surrender, and the Indian sign described is often used simply 

 for "friend." The members of the Wonkomarra tribe salute 

 one another on meeting by throwing their hands up to their 

 heads. The etiquette of the Todas is in point to show that 

 prostration and groveling are voluntarily performed in cere- 

 mony. One party falls at the other's feet, crouching, and the 

 other places first the right and next the left foot on the pros- 

 trate head. But all this is done with high good humor as 

 being the correct etiquette, and by no means cruel in the one 

 party or shameful to the other. In southern India the inferior 

 prostrates himself with extended arms to show entire helpless- 

 ness. In Japan the host and hostess fall on their knees and 

 lower their faces to the floor, the nose and chin resting on the 

 back of the right hand, to which the visitor responds in the 

 same manner. Sometimes both parties distinctly and repeat- 

 edly strike the floor with their heads. 



It must also be admitted that the principle of the superior 

 preserving an easy posture and the inferior assuming one of 

 physical inconvenience is obvious in many ceremonials. In 

 the court of France the right of sitting in the presence of the 

 monarch, though on a low, armless, and backless stool called a 

 tabouret, was jealously guarded, the exceptions even in favor 

 of age and sex being made by special edict ; and, although pros- 

 tration is Mr. Spencer's great original of all respectful forms, 

 recumbency in the court mentioned was not to be imagined. 

 A quaint illustration of this is in the device by which alone 

 it was considered possible for Louis XIII to pay a necessary 

 visit to Cardinal Richelieu when confined to his bed. The 

 king had another bed prepared, and on his arrival at once 

 lay down on it himself, so that his subject had at least no 

 advantage over him. The same concept rules the customs of 

 many lands. In Monbutto no servant is permitted to address 

 his superior except in a stooping posture with his hands upon 

 his knees. The Hindoo in the presence of a Brahman raises his 

 folded hands to his forehead, touching it with the balls of his 

 thumbs, uttering at the same time a word meaning " prostra- 

 tion," which clearly explains the gesture. But notwithstand- 

 ing this array of examples in favor of the origin of the bow 

 from physical fear, there is reason to believe it had a separate 

 and independent course of evolution, and that the subject is 

 much more complex than as hitherto presented. 



Mr. Spencer's theory about the origin of the bow must refer 

 exclusively to the actions of the inferior toward the superior, in 

 the same manner that his theory of the derivation of the hand- 

 shake, really hand-grasp, depends upon the conduct of equals. 



