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equality with him. Between the imitations prompted by 

 these unlike motives, no clear distinction can be drawn; 

 and hence results the possibility of a transition from those 

 reverential imitations going along with much subordina 

 tion, to those competitive imitations characterizing a state of 

 comparative independence. 



Setting out with this idea as our clue, let us observe how 

 the reverential imitations are initiated, and how there be 

 gins the transition from them to the competitive imitations. 



424. Given a society characterized by servile submis 

 sion, and in what cases will a superior be propitiated by the 

 imitations of an inferior? In respect of what traits will as 

 sumption of equality with him be complimentary? Only 

 in respect of his defects. 



From the usages of those tyrannically-ceremonious sav 

 ages the Fijians, may be given an instance well illustrating 

 the motive and the result. 



u A chief was one day going over a mountain- path, followed by a 

 long string of his people, when he happened to stumble and fall ; all 

 the rest of the people immediately did the same, except one man, who 

 was instantly set upon by the rest, to know whether he considered 

 himself better than his chief.&quot; 



And Williams, describing his attempt to cross a slip 

 pery bridge formed of a single cocoa-nut stem, writes: 



&quot;Just as I commenced the experiment, a heathen said, with much 

 animation, To-day, 1 shall have a musket ! . . . When I asked him 

 why he spoke of a musket, the man replied, I felt certain that you 

 would fall in attempting to go over, and I should have fallen after 

 you ; [that is, it appeared to be equally clumsy ;] ; and as the bridge 

 is high, the water rapid, and you a gentleman, you would not have 

 thought of giving me less than a musket. &quot; 



Even more startling is a kindred practice in Africa, 

 among the people of Darfur. &quot; If the Sultan, being on 

 horseback, happens to fall off, all his followers must fall off 

 likewise; and should anyone omit this formality, however 

 great he may be, he is laid down and beaten.&quot; 



