Life and Language 
salutation whatever that may be. Young people 
prostrate themselves to the aged and sons to 
their mothers and senior female relatives. 
Women kneel only, and it is done very grace¬ 
fully. All forms of salutation are modified by • 
rank. I have seen old women kneel to boys 
because the latter had royal blood in their veins. 
The aristocracy are very proud of their ancient 
lineage and keep the memory of it before the 
people by the use of Agoons. These are men 
fantastically dressed and entirely disguised who 
speak in gutteral tones as if they were visitors 
from the dead. These claim to be the departed 
ancestors of the man. No one can prove to the 
contrary for it is death for a native to touch one. 
One man in Ejahyay could send out fifteen 
Agoons. 
At that time there was a singular character in 
Yoruba who was not required to prostrate to 
any one, not even the king. He was called the 
“Father of the king,” because to him belonged 
the prerogative of appointing a successor to a 
deceased king. It was said, however, that he 
was too modest to avail himself of his special 
privileges, and that there was often an amusing 
contest between him and King Ardayloo as to 
which should secretly creep up and prostrate first. 
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