Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-06-21
0beisanceS.

Speaking of a party of Shoshones
surprised by them, Lewis and Clarke
say: "The other two, an elderly woman
and little girl, seeing we were too near
for them to escape, sat ON the ground,
and holding down their heads seemed as
if reconciled to the death which they
supposed awaited them. The same
habit Of holding down the head and in
viting the enemy to strike when all
chance of escape is gone is preserved in
Egypt to this day." Here we are shown
an effort to propitiate by absolute sub
mission; and from acts so prompted orig
mate obeisances. When, at the outset,
in illustration of the truth that cere-
mony precedes not only social evolution
but even human evolution, 1 named the
behaviour of small dog which throws
itself on its back in presence of an
alarming great dog, probably many
readers thought l was putting on this
behavior somewhat forced construc-
ton. They would not have thought so
had they known that parallel mode of
behavior occurs among human beings.
Describing the Batoka salutation, LiV-
ingstone says: "They throw them
selves ON their backs on the ground,
and, rolling from side to side, slap the
outside of their thighs as expressions
of thankfulness and welcome" Whether
or not consciously adopted for this rea-
son, the assumption of this attitude,
which implies, "You need not subdue
me; [ am subdued already" is the best
means of obtaining safety. Resistance
generates antagonism and arouses the
destructive Instincts; and by prostra-
ton on the back, which perhaps more
than any other position, makes self-de-
fence impracticable, resistance is
negatived. say perhaps, because an
other attitude may be instanced as
equally helpless which more deliberately
displays complete subjugation. cat
Tonga Tabu the common people show
their great chief the greatest respect i'm
aginable by prostrating themselves be-
fore him, and by putting his foot on
their necks." The like occurs in Africa.
Laird says the messengers from the
King of Fundah "each bent down and
put my foot on their heads" And
among historic peoples this position, or
iginated by defeat in battle, became a
position assumed in acknowledging sub
mission. From these primary obeisan-
ces, thus representing. as literally as
may be, the attitudes of the conquered
beneath the conqueror, there come
obeisances which expresses in various
ways the subsection of the slave to the
master-this last being the sequence OF
the first. Of old in the East such sub,
lection was expressed when "Ben-had-
ads servants girded sackcloth on their
loins, and put ropes on their heads, and
came to the King of Israel" In Peru,
where the militant type of organization
was pushed to so great an excess, Care
ilasso tells us that sign of humility
was to have the hands tied and rope
round the neck; that is, there was an as
sumption of those bonds which original
ly marked captives brought from the
battlefield. Along with this mode Of
Stimulating slavery, another mode was
employed when approaching the Ynca
servitude had to be indicated by carry
ing burden; and "this taking up &
load to enter the presence of Atahu.
allpa is a ceremony which was per.
formed by all the lords who have
reigned in that land. -Herbert Spence,
IN F0rtnightky ReVi eaO.