204 CEREMONIAL INSTITUTIONS. 



poles had been determined by the political laws of the em 

 pire, proportionable to every one s quality.&quot; . . . The 

 sedan &quot; is carried by two, four, eight, or more men, accord 

 ing to the quality of the person in it.&quot; The like happens in 

 China. &quot; The highest officers are carried by eight bearers, 

 others by four, and the lowest by two: this, and every other 

 particular, being regulated by laws.&quot; Then, elsewhere, the 

 character of appliances for locomotion on water is similarly 

 prescribed. In Turkey, &quot; the hierarchy of rank is main 

 tained and designated by the size of each Turkish function 

 ary s boat; &quot; and in Siam &quot; the height and ornaments of the 

 cabin [in barges] designate the rank or the functions of the 

 occupier.&quot; 



As the possession of chair-bearers, who in early stages 

 are slaves, implies alike the mastery and the wealth always 

 indicative of rank in societies of militant type ; so, too, does 

 possession of attendants to carry umbrellas or other protec 

 tions against the sun. Hence interdicts on the use of these 

 by inferiors. Such restrictions occur in comparatively 

 early stages. In Fiji (Somo-somo) only the king and the 

 two high priests in favour, can use the sun-shade. In Congo 

 only those of royal blood are allowed to use an umbrella, 

 or to be carried in a mat. The sculptured records of ex 

 tinct eastern peoples, imply the existence of this class-mark. 

 Among the Assyrians, 



&quot;the officers in close attendance upon the monarch varied accord 

 ing to his employment. In war he was accompanied by his chariot 

 eer, his shield-bearer or shield-bearers, his groom, his quiver-bearer, 

 his mace-bearer, and sometimes by his parasol-bearer. In peace the 

 parasol-bearer is always represented as in attendance, except in hunt 

 ing exp3ditions, or where he is replaced by a fan-bearer.&quot; 

 Adjacent parts of the world show us the same mark of dis 

 tinction in use down to the present time. &quot; From India to 

 Abyssinia,&quot; says Burton, &quot; the umbrella is the sign of roy 

 alty.&quot; Still further east this symbol of dignity is multiplied 

 to produce the idea of greater dignity. In Siam, at the 



