192 CEREMONIAL INSTITUTIONS. 



evolved into rigidity, continues after tlie life has ceased to 

 be militant, we find such decorations used to mark ranks of 

 another kind; as in China, with its differently-coloured 

 buttons distinguishing its different grades of mandarins. 



I must not, however, be supposed to imply that this 

 explanation covers all cases. Already 1 have admitted that 

 the rudimentary aesthetic sense which leads the savage to 

 paint his body, has doubtless a share in prompting the use 

 of attractive objects for ornaments; and two other origins 

 of ornaments must be added. Cook tells us that the Xew 

 Zealanders carry suspended to their ears the nails and teeth 

 of their deceased relations; and much more bulky relics, 

 which are carried about by widows and others among some 

 races, may also occasionally be modified into decorative ob 

 jects. Further, it seems that badges of slavery undergo a 

 kindred transformation. The ring through the nose, which 

 Assyrian sculptures show us was used for leading captives 

 taken in war, which marked those who, as priests, entered 

 the service of certain gods in ancient America, and which in 

 Astrachari is even now a sign of dedication, that is of sub 

 jection; seems elsewhere to have lost its meaning, and to 

 have survived as an ornament. And this is a change analo 

 gous to that which has occurred with marks on the skin. 

 ( 364) 



414. We cannot say that the wish to propitiate, which 

 caused the spread of present-giving, of obeisances, of com 

 plimentary addresses, and of titles, has also caused the 

 spread of badges, costumes, and decorations. In this case it 

 is rather that the lower grades have sought to raise them 

 selves into the grades above, by assuming their distinctive 

 marks; and that, where feared, they have been propitiated 

 by allowing them to do this. 



Already in passing we have noted how such badges of 

 rank as swords and as spurs, have descended even in spite 

 of interdicts; and here must be added proofs that the like 



