362 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



Tccosca Cdrmav? the characteristics of a good chief are set forth. In the very 

 first place of this long list comes rop so-geis, " let him be well furnished with 

 gessa: H? :- hedged round with a number of restrictions, designed to protect 

 his divinity from injury, and from injuring others. These restrictions, called 

 in the native literature gesso, it now becomes our duty briefly to study. 



Th> aislated (•'Ih. The translation is not strictly 



exact. A tabu, properly speaking, lias the implication of a reserved privili _ 

 which does not necessarily belong t-> a geis. A a s is a precept, positive or 

 negative; differing From an ordinary precept in that it applies, not 



to the community at large an individual group of individuals, 



different kinds _ nay take the following 



instances from life: — "Only members admitted"' is a ' 



against non-members, in favour of members. No smoking allowed here 

 a precept, in this case . . in that it is universal. As 



an example ol . cite the military regulation which requires 



i travt'. - _ id example of a negative; 



■e rule preventing members of the peerage, or clergymen, from hoi- 

 seats in the H-ni-e of « '• -mui [other 



pec; . at liber - ■ _ - No one but officers 



nom doing so] would 

 be a ' 



One of the m - - >ud perplexiu_ ieua in all Irish literature 



ied, wh. • *eem to have possessed of 



i tn I . _ - - t the ridge of druidry," 



_ _ m Diarmait to elope 

 wiii 1 l'iarii. . i imuchaga 'ill. 



It is heen imjiossible had the 



*>iaiiide must have done something 



- ian chronicler pi evented 



him ■ _ b instrument, 



i 

 The _ -a which 



i the king Though this document 



T..dd I . . 



drst sigh" Id appear indii rom a tabu, against peers and 



clergy, in favour of commoner*. The difference however is essential. In a tabu a 

 may nitj is ex ii a certain action or privilege i 



] -hus excluded. 

 . iraiiel in Melanesia, whereby A can compel B t 

 something which he is unwilling to do, by referring to the head of a third person who is 

 in certain defii- i to B : see Rivers, A Hutoiy of Altlai ■ 44 



