206 CEREMONIAL INSTITUTIONS. 



which usages have not yet taken the shape of laws. They 

 go along with the subordination of the young to the old, 

 and of females to males. Among the Tasmanians, &quot; the old 

 men get the best food; &quot; and Sturt says, &quot; only the old men 

 of the natives of Australia have the privilege of eating the 

 emu. For a young man to eat it is a crime.&quot; The Khond 

 women, Macpherson tells us, &quot; for some unknown cause, 

 are never, I am informed, permitted to eat the flesh of the 

 hog.&quot; In Tahiti &quot; the men were allowed to eat the flesh of 

 the pig, and of fowls, and a variety of fish, cocoa-nuts, and 

 plantains, and whatever was presented as an offering to the 

 gods, which the females, on pain of death, were forbidden 

 to touch.&quot; After stating that the Fijian women are never 

 permitted to enter the temple, the United States explorers 

 add &quot; nor, as we have seen, to eat human flesh, at least in 

 public.&quot; 



Of food-restrictions other than those referring to age 

 and sex, may first be named one from Fiji one which also 

 refers to the consumption of human flesh. Seeman says 

 &quot; the common people throughout the group, as well as 

 women of all classes, were by custom debarred from it. 

 Cannibalism was thus restricted to the chiefs and gentry.&quot; 

 Of other class-restrictions on food, ancient America fur 

 nishes examples. Among the Chibchas, &quot; venison could 

 not be eaten unless the privilege had been granted by the 

 cazique.&quot; In San Salvador, &quot; none formerly drank choco 

 late but the prime men and notable soldiers; &quot; and in Peru 

 &quot; the kings (Yncas) had the coca as a royal possession 

 and privilege.&quot; 



Of course there might be added to these certain of the 

 sumptuary laws respecting food which prevailed during 

 past times throughout Europe. 



421. Of the various class-distinctions which imply su 

 perior rank by implying greater wealth, the most curious re 

 main. I refer to certain inconvenient, and sometimes pain- 



