202 CEREMONIAL INSTITUTIONS. 



&quot;When we thus find that among some uncivilized people 

 the abundance and fine quality of the fat used for protecting 

 the skin marks wealth, and consequently rank; when we 

 join with this a proof that the anointing with unguents 

 among the Egyptians was an act of propitiation, alike to 

 gods, kings, deceased persons, and ordinary guests; and 

 when we remember that the anointment with which Christ 

 was anointed was &quot; precious; &quot; we may reasonably infer 

 that this ceremony attending investiture with sovereign 

 ty was originally one indicating the wealth that implied 

 power. 



418. The idea of relative height and the idea of rela 

 tive wealth, appear to join in originating certain building 

 regulations expressive of class-distinctions. An elevated 

 abode implies at once display of riches and assumption of 

 a position overlooking others. Hence, in various places, 

 limitations of the heights to which different ranks may 

 build. In ancient Mexico, under Montezuma s laws, &quot; no 

 one was allowed to build a house with [several] stories, ex 

 cept the great lords and gallant captains, on pain of death.&quot; 

 A kindred regulation exists at the present time in Dahomey ; 

 where the king, wishing to honour some one, &quot; gave him a 

 formal leave to build a house two stories high; &quot; and where 

 &quot; the palace and the city gates are allowed five surish 

 | steps] ; chiefs have four tall or five short, and all others 

 three, or as the king directs.&quot; There are restrictions of like 

 kind in Japan. &quot; The height of the street-front, and even 

 the number of windows, are determined by sumptuary 

 laws.&quot; So, too, is it in Burmah. Yule says: &quot; The char 

 acter of house, and especially of roof, appropriate to each 

 rank, appears to be a matter of regulation, or inviolable pre 

 scription; &quot; and, according to Sangermano, &quot;nothing less 

 than death can expiate the crime, either of choosing a shape 

 [for a house] that does not belong to the dignity of the mas 

 ter, or of painting the house white; which colour is per- 



