118 CEREMONIAL INSTITUTIONS. 



while trying to propitiate a superior by expressing submis 

 sion to him, there is generally an endeavour further to pro 

 pitiate him by showing joy at his presence. Keeping in 

 view both these elements of the obeisance, let us now con 

 sider its varieties; with their political, religious, and social 

 uses. 



38-i. Though the loss of power to resist which prostra 

 tion on the face implies, does not reach the utter defenceless- 

 ness implied by prostration on the back, yet it is great 

 enough to make it a sign of profound homage; and hence 

 it occurs as an obeisance wherever despotism is unmitigated 

 and subordination slavish. In ancient America, before a 

 Chibcha cazique, &quot; people had to appear prostrate and with 

 their faces touching the ground.&quot; In Africa, &quot; when he 

 addresses the king, a Borghoo man stretches himself on the 

 earth as flat as a flounder.&quot; Asia furnishes many instances. 

 &quot; AY hen preferring a complaint, a Ivhond or Paiioo will 

 throw himself on his face with his hands joined; &quot; and 

 while, in Siam, &quot; before the nobles all subordinates are in a 

 state of reverent prostration, the nobles themselves, in the 

 presence of the sovereign, exhibit the same crawling obei 

 sance.&quot; Similarly in Polynesia. Falling on the face was a 

 mark of submission among the Sandwich Islanders: the 

 king did so to Cook when he first met him. And in the rec 

 ords of ancient historic peoples kindred illustrations are 

 given; as when Mephibosheth fell 011 his face and did rever 

 ence before David; or as when the king of Bithynia fell on 

 his face before the Koman senate. In some cases this atti 

 tude of the conquered before the conqueror, has its meaning 

 emphasized by repetition. Bootan supplies an instance: 

 &quot; They . . . made before the Ixaja nine prostrations, which 

 is the obeisance paid to him by his subjects whenever they 

 are permitted to approach.&quot; 



Every kind of ceremony is apt to have its primitive 

 character obscured by abridgment; and by abridgment 



