PRESENTS. 105 



controls; since it appears that from actions wliich the first 

 initiates, eventually result the funds by which the others 

 are maintained. 



When we ask what relations present-giving has to differ 

 ent social types, we note, in the first place, that there is little 

 of it in simple societies where chieftainship does not exist 

 or is unstable. Conversely, it prevails in compound and 

 doubly-compound societies; as throughout the semi-civil 

 ized states of Africa, those of Polynesia, those of ancient 

 America, where the presence of stable headships, primary 

 and secondary, gives both the opportunity and the motive. 

 Recognizing this truth, we are led to recognize the 

 deeper truth that present-making, while but indirectly re 

 lated to the social type as simple or compound, is directly 

 related to it as more or less militant in organization. 

 The desire to propitiate is great in proportion as the per 

 son to be propitiated is feared; and therefore the con 

 quering chief, and still more the king who has made him 

 self by force of arms ruler over many chiefs, is one whose 

 goodwill is most anxiously sought by acts which simultane 

 ously gratify his avarice and express submission. Hence, 

 then, the fact that the ceremony of making gifts to the 

 ruler prevails most in societies that are either actually 

 militant, or in which chronic militancy during past times 

 has evolved the despotic government appropriate to it. 

 Hence the fact that throughout the East where this social 

 type exists everywhere, the making of presents to those in 

 authority is everywhere imperative. Hence the fact that in 

 early European ages, while the social activities were mili 

 tant and the structures corresponded, loyal presents to 

 kings from individuals and corporate bodies were univer 

 sal; while donations from superiors to inferiors, also grow 

 ing out of that state of complete dependence which accom 

 panied militancy, were common. 



The like connexion holds with religious offerings. In 

 the extinct militant States of the Xew World, sacrifices 



