CHAPTER VI—Magicians as Kings

[1193] The government of the western islanders of Torres Straits is similar. See A. C. Haddon, in _Reports of the Cambridge Anthropological Expedition to Torres Straits_, v. 263 _sq._ So, too, the Bantoc Igorot of the Philippines have no chiefs and are ruled by councils of old men. See A. E. Jenks, _The Bantoc Igorot_ (Manila; 1905), pp. 32 _sq._, 167 _sq._

[1194] Spencer and Gillen, _Native Tribes of Central Australia_, pp. 9–15, 154, 159–205; _id._, _Northern Tribes of Central Australia_, pp. 20–27, 285–297, 309 _sq._, 316; A. W. Howitt, _Native Tribes of South-East Australia_, pp. 320–326.

[1195] A. W. Howitt, _op. cit._ p. 303.

[1196] A. W. Howitt, _op. cit._ p. 313.

[1197] A. W. Howitt, _op. cit._ p. 314.

[1198] A. W. Howitt, _op. cit._ pp. 297–299. For more examples of headmen who are also magicians see _ib._ pp. 301 _sq._, 302, 317.

[1199] Scott Nind, “Description of the Natives of King George’s Sound (Swan River Colony),” _Journal of the R. Geographical Society_, i. (1832) p. 41.

[1200] Sir W. MacGregor, _British New Guinea_ (London, 1897), p. 41.

[1201] Le R. P. Guis, “Les Papous,” _Les Missions Catholiques_, xxxvi. (1904) p. 334.

[1202] J. Chalmers, “Toaripi,” _Journal of the Anthropological Institute_, xxvii. (1898) p. 334.

[1203] E. Beardmore, “The Natives of Mowat Daudai, New Guinea,” _Journal of the Anthropological Institute_, xix. (1890) p. 464.

[1204] C. G. Seligmann, _The Melanesians of British New Guinea_ (Cambridge, 1910), pp. 455 _sq._

[1205] M. Krieger, _Neu-Guinea_ (Berlin, n.d.), p. 334.

[1206] R. H. Codrington, _The Melanesians_ (Oxford, 1891), p. 46.

[1207] R. H. Codrington, _op. cit._ p. 52. As to the _mana_ or supernatural power of chiefs and others, see _ibid._ pp. 118 _sqq._; above, pp. 227 _sq._ I have pointed out (p. 111, note 2) that this supernatural power supplies, as it were, the physical basis of magic.

[1208] Father A. Deniau, “Croyances religieuses et mœurs des indigènes de l’île Malo (Nouvelles-Hébrides),” _Les Missions Catholiques_, xxxiii. (1901) p. 347.

[1209] R. H. Codrington, _op. cit._ p. 56.

[1210] C. Ribbe, _Zwei Jahren unter den Kannibalen der Salomo-Inseln_ (Dresden-Blasewitz, 1903), pp. 173 _sq._

[1211] C. G. Seligmann, _The Melanesians of New Guinea_ (Cambridge, 1910), p. 702.

[1212] G. Brown, D.D., _Melanesians and Polynesians_ (London, 1910), p. 270.

[1213] Rev. G. Brown, _op. cit._ p. 429.

[1214] G. Turner, _Samoa_, pp. 320–322.

[1215] See above, p. 175.

[1216] O. Baumann, _Durch Massailand zur Nilquelle_ (Berlin, 1894), pp. 187 _sq._

[1217] O. Baumann, _op. cit._ p. 173.

[1218] H. Cole, “Notes on the Wagogo of German East Africa,” _Journal of the Anthropological Institute_, xxxii. (1902) p. 321.

[1219] Sir Harry Johnston, _The Uganda Protectorate_ (London, 1902), ii. 830.

[1220] O. Baumann, _Durch Massailand zur Nilquelle_, p. 164.

[1221] Baron C. C. von der Decken, _Reisen in Ost-Afrika_, ii. (Leipsic and Heidelberg, 1871) p. 24.

[1222] M. Merker, _Die Masai_ (Berlin, 1904), pp. 18 _sq._ I have slightly abridged the writer’s account.

[1223] M. Merker, _Die Masai_, p. 21. As to the medicine-men of the Masai, see further A. C. Hollis, _The Masai_ (Oxford, 1905), pp. 324–330.

[1224] O. Baumann, _Durch Massailand zur Nilquelle_, p. 164.

[1225] A. C. Hollis, _The Nandi_ (Oxford, 1909), pp. 49 _sq._

[1226] Sir H. Johnston, _The Uganda Protectorate_, ii. 851.

[1227] Sir H. Johnston, _The Uganda Protectorate_, ii. 779.

[1228] W. E. R. Cole, “African Rain-making Chiefs, the Gondokoro District, White Nile,” _Man_, x. (1910) pp. 90–92; Yuzbashi, “Tribes on the Upper Nile,” _Journal of the African Society_, No. 14 (January, 1905), pp. 228 _sq._; Brun-Rollet, _Le Nil Blanc et le Soudan_ (Paris, 1855), pp. 227 _sq._; F. Spire, “Rain-making in Equatorial Africa,” _Journal of the African Society_, No. 17 (October, 1905), pp. 15–21.

[1229] Emin Pasha, quoted by Fr. Stuhlmann, _Mit Emin Pascha ins Herz von Afrika_ (Berlin, 1894), pp. 778–780.

[1230] F. Spire, “Rain-making in Equatorial Africa,” _Journal of the African Society_, No. 17 (October, 1905), pp. 16–18, 21.

[1231] G. Schweinfurth, _The Heart of Africa_³ (London, 1878), i. 144 _sq._

[1232] E. D. Pruyssenaere, “Reisen und Forschungen im Gebiete des Weissen und Blauen Nil,” _Petermanns Mittheilungen, Ergänzungsheft_, No. 50 (Gotha, 1877), pp. 27 _sq._

[1233] Sir H. Johnston, _The Uganda Protectorate_, ii. 555.

[1234] G. Casati, _Ten Years in Equatoria_ (London and New York, 1891), ii. 57, compare i. 134.

[1235] Ch. Wunenberger, “La Mission et le royaume de Humbé, sur les bords du Cunène,” _Les Missions Catholiques_, xx. (1888) p. 262.

[1236] E. Torday and T. A. Joyce, “Notes on the Ethnography of the Ba-Yaka,” _Journal of the Anthropological Institute_, xxxvi. (1906) pp. 48, 51.

[1237] E. Torday and T. A. Joyce, “On the Ethnology of the South-Western Congo Free State,” _Journal of the R. Anthropological Institute_, xxxvii. (1907) p. 140.

[1238] O. Lenz, _Skizzen aus Westafrika_ (Berlin, 1878), p. 87.

[1239] A. Mansfeld, _Urwald-Dokumente, Vier Jahre unter den Crossflussnegern Kameruns_ (Berlin, 1908), p. 161.

[1240] Ch. Partridge, _Cross River Natives_ (London, 1905), pp. 201 _sq._ The care taken of the chief’s cut hair and nails is a precaution against the magical use that might be made of them by his enemies. See _The Golden Bough_, Second Edition, i. 375 _sqq._

[1241] Dudley Kidd, _The Essential Kafir_ (London, 1904), p. 114. “The chief collects to himself all medicines of known power; each doctor has his own special medicine or medicines, and treats some special form of disease, and the knowledge of such medicines is transmitted as a portion of the inheritance to the eldest son. When a chief hears that any doctor has proved successful in treating some case where others have failed, he calls him and demands the medicine, which is given up to him. Thus the chief becomes the great medicine-man of his tribe, and the ultimate reference is to him. If he fail, the case is given up as incurable” (H. Callaway, _Religious System of the Amazulu_, part iv. pp. 419 _sq._, note). The medicines here referred to are probably for the most part magical rather than medicinal in our sense of the term.

[1242] Dudley Kidd, _op. cit._ p. 115.

[1243] W. Grant, “Magato and his Tribe,” _Journal of the Anthropological Institute_, xxxv. (1905) p. 267.

[1244] L. Decle, _Three Years in Savage Africa_ (London, 1898), p. 154.

[1245] R. Moffat, _Missionary Labours and Scenes in Southern Africa_ (London, 1842), p. 306.

[1246] E. A. Maund, “Zambesia, the new British Possession in Central South Africa,” _Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society_, 1890, p. 651.

[1247] Father C. Croonenberghs, in _Annales de la Propagation de la Foi_, liii. (1881) pp. 262 _sq._, 267 _sq._

[1248] See above, pp. 344, 345, 346.

[1249] J. B. Labat, _Relation historique de l’Éthiopie occidentale_ (Paris, 1732), ii. 172–176.

[1250] H. Hecquard, _Reise an der Küste und in das Innere von West Afrika_ (Leipsic, 1854), p. 78.

[1251] A. Bastian, _Die deutsche Expedition an der Loango-Küste_, i. 354, ii. 230.

[1252] J. Leighton Wilson, _Western Africa_ (London, 1856), pp. 129 _sq._; Miss Mary H. Kingsley, in _Journal of the Anthropological Institute_, xxix. (1899) p. 62.

[1253] P. Kollmann, _The Victoria Nyanza_ (London, 1899), p. 168.

[1254] Mgr Livinhac, in _Annales de la Propagation de la Foi_, lx. (1888) p. 110.

[1255] D’Unienville, _Statistique de l’Ile Maurice_ (Paris, 1838) iii. 285 _sq._

[1256] A. van Gennep, _Tabou et Totémisme à Madagascar_ (Paris, 1904), p. 118, quoting Leguével de Lacombe, _Voyage à Madagascar_ (Paris, 1840), i. 229 _sq._ Probably the Antimoirona are identical with the Antimores.

[1257] Emin Pasha, quoted by Fr. Stuhlmann, _Mit Emin Pascha ins Herz von Afrika_ (Berlin, 1894), pp. 779 _sq._

[1258] Schol. on Apollonius Rhodius, _Argon._ ii. 1248 καὶ Ἡρόδωρος ξένως περὶ τῶν δεσμῶν τοῦ Προμηθέως ταῦτα. εῖναι γὰρ αὐτὸν Σκυθῶν βασιλέα φησί· καί μὴ δυνάμενον παρέχειν τοῖς ὑπηκόοις τὰ ἐπιτήδεια, διὰ τὸν καλούμενον Ἀετὸν ποταμὸν ἐπικλύζειν τὰ πεδία, δεθῆναι ὑπὸ τῶν Σκυθῶν.

[1259] Ammianus Marcellinus, xxviii. 5. 14.

[1260] Plutarch, _Isis et Osiris_, 73.

[1261] G. Turner, _Samoa_, pp. 304 _sq._

[1262] A. Pfizmayer, “Nachrichten von den alten Bewohnern des heutigen Corea,” _Sitzungsberichte der philos.-histor. Classe der kais. Akademie der Wissenschaften_ (Vienna), lvii. (1868) pp. 483 _sq._ It would seem that the Chinese reported similarly of the Roman emperors. See Hirth, _China and the Roman Orient_, pp. 41, 44, 52, 58, 70, 78.

[1263] N. B. Dennis, _Folklore of China_ (London and Hongkong, 1876), p. 125. An account of the _Peking Gazette_, the official publication of the Chinese government, may be read in _Lettres édifiantes et curieuses_, Nouvelle Edition, xxi. 95–182.

[1264] Mgr Havard, in _Annales de la Propagation de la Foi_, vii. (1834) pp. 470–473.

[1265] Gio. Filippo de Marini, _Historia et relatione del Tunchino et del Giappone_ (Rome, 1665), pp. 137 _sq._; _Relation nouvelle et curieuse des royaumes de Tunquin et de Lao_, traduite de l’Italien du P. Mariny (_sic_) Romain (Paris, 1666), pp. 258 _sq._

[1266] H. H. Bancroft, _The Native Races of the Pacific States_, ii. 146.

[1267] Geo. Catlin, _Manners, Customs, and Conditions of the North American Indians_⁴ (London, 1844), i. 40 _sq._

[1268] W. L. Hardisty, “The Loucheux Indians,” _Report of the Smithsonian Institution for 1866_, pp. 312, 316.

[1269] Rev. J. Jetté, “On the Medicine-Men of the Ten’a,” _Journal of the R. Anthropological Institute_, xxxvii. (1907) p. 163. By the Ten’a the writer means the tribe which is variously known as the Tinneh, Déné, Dindjie, etc., according to the taste and fancy of the speller.

[1270] Roland B. Dixon, “The Northern Maidu,” _Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History_, vol. xvii. part iii. (New York, 1905) p. 267.

[1271] Roland B. Dixon, _op. cit._ pp. 328, 331.

[1272] S. Powers, _Tribes of California_ (Washington, 1877), pp. 372 _sq._

[1273] S. Power, _op. cit._ pp. 380 _sq._

[1274] F. A. Thevet, _Les Singularitez de la France Antarctique, autrement nommée Amérique_ (Antwerp, 1558), p. 65 [wrongly numbered 67].

[1275] C. F. Phil. v. Martius, _Zur Ethnographie Amerikas, zumal Brasiliens_ (Leipsic, 1867), p. 76.

[1276] G. Kurze, “Sitten und Gebräuche der Lengua-Indianer,” _Mitteilungen der Geographischen Gesellschaft zu Jena_, xxiii. (Jena, 1905) pp. 19, 29.

[1277] Sir R. Schomburgk, _Reisen in Britisch-Guiana_, i. 169 _sq._, compare _id._ i. 423, ii. 431; (Sir) Everard F. im Thurn, _Among the Indians of Guiana_ (London, 1883), pp. 211, 223 _sq._, 328, 333 _sq._, 339 _sq._

[1278] W. W. Skeat and C. O. Blagden, _Pagan Races of the Malay Peninsula_ (London, 1906), ii. 196 _sq._

[1279] W. W. Skeat, _Malay Magic_ (London, 1900), p. 36.

[1280] G. Maan, “Enige mededeelingen omtrent de zeden en gewoonten der Toerateya ten opzichte van de rijstbouw,” _Tijdschrift voor Indische Taal- Land- en Volkenkunde_, xlvi. (1903) p. 339. The name Toorateya or “inlander” is only another form of Toradja.

[1281] H. Low, _Sarawak_ (London, 1848), pp. 259 _sq._

[1282] W. W. Skeat, _Malay Magic_, p. 59.

[1283] T. J. Newbold, _Political and Statistical Account of the British Settlements in the Straits of Malacca_, ii. 193; W. W. Skeat, _Malay Magic_, pp. 23–29.

[1284] G. J. Harrebomée, “Een ornamentenfeest van Gantarang (Zuid-Celebes),” _Mededeelingen van wege het Nederlandsche Zendelinggenootschap_, xix. (1875) pp. 344–351; G. K. Niemann, “De Boegineezen en Makassaren,” _Bijdragen tot de Taal- Land- en Volkenkunde van Nederlandsch-Indië_, xxxviii. (1889) pp. 270 _sq._; D. F. van Braam Morris, in _Tijdschrift voor Indische Taal- Land- en Volkenkunde_, xxxiv. (1891) pp. 215 _sq._; A. C. Kruijt, “Van Paloppo naar Posso,” _Mededeelingen van wege het Nederlandsche Zendelinggenootschap_, xlii. (1898) pp. 18, 25 _sq._; L. W. C. van den Berg, “De Mohammedaansche Vorsten in Nederlandsch-Indië,” _Bijdragen tot de Taal- Land- en Volkenkunde van Nederlandsch-Indië_, liii. (1901) pp. 72–80.

[1285] A. Moret, _Le Rituel du culte divin journalier en Égypte_ (Paris 1902) pp. 94 _sq._

[1286] Sir William MacGregor, “Lagos, Abeokuta, and the Alake,” _Journal of the African Society_, No. 12 (July, 1904), p. 472.

[1287] E. Perregaux, _Chez les Achanti_ (Neuchatel, 1906), p. 140.

[1288] J. Spieth, _Die Ewe-Stämme_ (Berlin, 1906), pp. 76, 78, compare pp. 101 _sq._

[1289] A. Bastian, _Völkerstämme am Brahmaputra_ (Berlin, 1883), p. xi.

[1290] Herodotus, iv. 5–7. Compare K. Neumann, _Die Hellenen im Skythenlande_, i. (Berlin, 1855) pp. 269 _sq._

[1291] Pausanias, ix. 40. 11 _sq._

[1292] Apollodorus, _Bibliotheca_, ed. R. Wagner, p. 185. On public talismans in antiquity see Ch. A. Lobeck, _Aglaophamus_, pp. 278 _sqq._; and my note on Pausanias, viii. 40. 11.

[1293] _The Laws of Manu_, ix. 246 _sq._, translated by G. Bühler, p. 385 (_Sacred Books of the East_, vol. xxv.).

[1294] Homer, _Odyssey_, ii. 409, iv. 43, 691, vii. 167, viii. 2, xviii. 405; _Iliad_, ii. 335, xvii. 464, etc.

[1295] Homer, _Odyssey_, xix. 109–114. The passage was pointed out to me by my friend Prof. W. Ridgeway. Naturally this view was not shared by the enlightened Greeks of a later age. See Sophocles, _Oedipus Tyrannus_, 31 _sqq._; Polybius, Hist. vi. 6 _sq._

[1296] Nicolaus Damascenus, bk. vi. frag. 49, in _Fragmenta historicorum Graecorum_, ed. C. Müller, iii. 381, Ἡν γὰρ δὴ κακίστος, καί ἄλλως βασιλεύοντος αὐτοῦ ηὔχμησεν ἡ γῆ.

[1297] Apollodorus, _Bibliotheca_, iii. 5. 1.

[1298] Ammianus Marcellinus, xxviii. 5. 14.

[1299] Snorro Starleson, _Chronicle of the Kings of Norway_ (trans. by S. Laing), saga i. chs. 18, 47. Compare F. Liebrecht, _Zur Volkskunde_ (Heilbronn, 1879), p. 7; J. Scheffer, _Upsalia_ (Upsala, 1666), p. 137. In 1814 a pestilence broke out among the Chukchees of north-eastern Siberia, which carried off many of the people and spread its ravages among the herds of reindeer. The shamans declared that the spirits were angry and would not stay the plague till the virtuous Kotchène, one of the most venerated chiefs, had been offered to them in sacrifice. No one was found hardy enough to raise a sacrilegious hand against him, and the shamans had to force the chief’s own son to cut his father’s throat. See De Wrangell, _Le Nord de la Sibérie_ (Paris, 1843), i. 265–267.

[1300] Saxo Grammaticus, _Historia Danica_, bk. xiv. p. 779, ed. P. E. Müller.

[1301] P. W. Joyce, _Social History of Ancient Ireland_ (London, 1903), i. 56 _sq._; J. O’Donovan, _The Book of Rights_ (Dublin, 1847), p. 8, note. Compare Bérenger-Féraud, _Superstitions et survivances_, i. 492.

[1302] S. Johnson, _Journey to the Western Islands_ (Baltimore, 1815), p. 115.

[1303] J. G. Campbell, _Superstitions of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland_ (Glasgow, 1900), p. 5. As to the banner see also Th. Pennant, “Second Tour in Scotland,” in Pinkerton’s _Voyages and Travels_, iii. 321 _sq._

[1304] J. G. Dalyell, _The Darker Superstitions of Scotland_ (Edinburgh, 1834), pp. 62 _sqq._

[1305] _Memoirs of John Evelyn, Esq._, New Edition (London, 1827), ii. 151 _sq._, under July 6th, 1660. Angel gold were gold coins with the figure of an angel stamped on them. As to Charles’s triumphal entrance into London, see Evelyn, _op. cit._ ii. 148 _sq._

[1306] _Memoirs of Samuel Pepys, Esq._, edited by Lord Braybrook, Second Edition (London, 1828), i. 187, compare _ib._ p. 110, iii. 192.

[1307] T. B. Macaulay, _History of England_, chap. xiv. vol. iii. pp. 478–481 (First Edition, London, 1855).

[1308] J. Boswell, _Life of Samuel Johnson_, Ninth Edition (London, 1822), i. 18 _sq._

[1309] T. J. Pettigrew, _Superstitions connected with the History and Practice of Medicine and Surgery_ (London, 1844), pp. 117–154; W. G. Black, _Folk-Medicine_ (London, 1883), pp. 140 _sqq._; W. E. H. Lecky, _History of England in the Eighteenth Century_ (London, 1892), i. 84–90. Down to the end of the eighteenth century it was believed in the Highlands of Scotland that some tribes of Macdonalds had the power of curing a certain disease by their touch and the use of a particular set of words. Hence the disease, which attacked the chest and lungs, was called “the Macdonald’s disease.” We are told that the faith of the people in the touch of a Macdonald was very great. See Rev. Dr. Th. Bisset, “Parish of Logierait,” in Sir John Sinclair’s _Statistical Account of Scotland_, iii. (Edinburgh, 1792) p. 84.

[1310] Baron Roger, “Notice sur le gouvernement, les mœurs et les superstitions du pays de Walo,” _Bulletin de la Société de Géographie_ (Paris), viii. (1827) p. 351.

[1311] W. Mariner, _An Account of the Natives of the Tonga Islands_, Second Edition (London, 1818), i. 434, note.

[1312] To this subject we shall recur later on. Meantime I may refer the reader to _The Golden Bough_, Second Edition, i. 319 _sqq._, 343; _Psyche’s Task_, pp. 5 _sqq._

[1313] A Roman name for jaundice was “the royal disease” (_morbus regius_). See Horace, _Ars poetica_, 453; Celsus, _De medicina_, iii. 24. Can this have been because the malady was believed to be caused and cured by kings? Did the sight or touch of the king’s red or purple robe ban the yellow tinge from the skin of the sufferer? As to such homoeopathic cures of jaundice, see above, pp. 79 _sqq._

[1314] Proyart’s “History of Loango, Kakongo, and other Kingdoms in Africa,” in Pinkerton’s _Voyages and Travels_, xvi. 573.