POLITICAL HEADS CHIEFS, KINGS, ETC. 363 



monly acquired by superiority of strength, or courage, or 

 sagacity, or possessions, or the experience accompanying age. 



In such groups, and in tribes somewhat more advanced, 

 two kinds of superiority conduce more than all others to 

 predominance that of the warrior and that of the medicine 

 man. Usually separate, but sometimes united in the same 

 person, and then greatly strengthening him, both of these 

 superiorities tending to initiate political headship, continue 

 thereafter to be important factors in developing it. 



At first, however, the supremacy acquired by great natural 

 power, or supposed supernatural power, or both, is transitory 

 ceases with the life of one who has acquired it. So long 

 as the principle of efficiency alone operates, political headship 

 does not become settled. It becomes settled only when there 

 cooperates the principle of inheritance. 



The custom of reckoning descent through females, which 

 characterizes many rude societies and survives in others that 

 have made considerable advances, is less favourable to esta 

 blishment of permanent political headship than is the custom 

 of reckoning descent through males; and in sundry semi- 

 civilized societies distinguished by permanent political head 

 ships, inheritance through males has been established in the 

 ruling house while inheritance through females survives in 

 the society at large. 



Beyond the fact that reckoning descent through males 

 conduces to a more coherent family, to a greater culture of 

 subordination, and to a more probable union of inherited 

 position with inherited capacity, there is the more important 

 fact that it fosters ancestor-worship, and the consequent re 

 inforcing of natural authority by supernatural authority. 

 Development of the ghost-theory, lea/iing as it does to special 

 fear of the ghosts of powerful men, until, where many tribes 

 have been welded together by a conqueror, his ghost acquires 

 in tradition the pre-eminence of a god, produces two effects. 

 In the first place his descendant, ruling after him, is supposed 

 to partake of his divine nature ; and in the second place, by 



