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le the devil is bolting it； she attaches iron rings and small bells to her child's ankles and hangs iron chains round his neck。 The jingling of the iron and the tinkling of the bells are supposed to prevent the demon； when he has concluded his repast； from entering again into the body of the little sufferer。 Hence many children may be seen in this part of Africa weighed down with iron ornaments。
3。 Sharp Weapons tabooed。
THERE is a priestly king to the north of Zengwih in Burma； revered by the Sotih as the highest spiritual and temporal authority； into whose house no weapon or cutting instrument may be brought。 This rule may perhaps be explained by a custom observed by various peoples after a death； they refrain from the use of sharp instruments so long as the ghost of the deceased is supposed to be near； lest they should wound it。 Thus among the Esquimaux of Bering Strait during the day on which a person dies in the village no one is permitted to work； and the relatives must perform no labour during the three following days。 It is especially forbidden during this period to cut with any edged instrument； such as a knife or an axe； and the use of pointed instruments； like needles or bodkins； is also forbidden。 This is said to be done to avoid cutting or injuring the shade； which may be present at any time during this period； and； if accidentally injured by any of these things； it would become very angry and bring sickness or death to the people。 The relatives must also be very careful at this time not to make any loud or harsh noises that may startle or anger the shade。 We have seen that in like manner after killing a white whale these Esquimaux abstain from the use of cutting or pointed instruments for four days； lest they should unwittingly cut or stab the whale's ghost。 The same taboo is sometimes observed by them when there is a sick person in the village； probably from a fear of injuring his shade which may be hovering outside of his body。 After a death the Roumanians of Transylvania are careful not to leave a knife lying with the sharp edge uppermost so long as the corpse remains in the house； or else the soul will be forced to ride on the blade。 For seven days after a death； the corpse being still in the house； the Chinese abstain from the use of knives and needles； and even of chopsticks； eating their food with their fingers。 On the third； sixth； ninth； and fortieth days after the funeral the old Prussians and Lithuanians used to prepare a meal； to which； standing at the door； they invited the soul of the deceased。 At these meals they sat silent round the table and used no knives and the women who served up the food were also without knives。 If any morsels fell from the table they were left lying there for the lonely souls that had no living relations or friends to feed them。 When the meal was over the priest took a broom and swept the souls out of the house； saying； Dear souls； ye have eaten and drunk。 Go forth； go forth。 We can now understand why no cutting instrument may be taken into the house of the Burmese pontiff。 Like so many priestly kings； he is probably regarded as divine； and it is therefore right that his sacred spirit should not be exposed to the risk of being cut or wounded whenever it quits his body to hover invisible in the air or to fly on some distant mission。
4。 Blood tabooed。
WE have seen that the Flamen Dialis was forbidden to touch or even name raw flesh。 At certain times a Brahman teacher is enjoined not to look on raw flesh； blood； or persons whose hands have been cut off。 In Uganda the father of twins is in a state of taboo for some time after birth； among other rules he is forbidden to kill anything or to see blood。 In the Pelew Islands when a raid has been made on a village and a head carried off； the relations of the slain man are tabooed and have to submit to certain observances in order to escape the wrath of his ghost。 They are shut up in the house； touch no raw flesh； and chew betel over which an incantation has been uttered by the exorcist。 After this the ghost of the slaughtered man goes away to the enemy's country in pursuit of his murderer。 The taboo is probably based on the common belief that the soul or spirit of the animal is in the blood。 As tabooed persons are believed to be in a perilous statefor example； the relations of the slain man are liable to the attacks of his indignant ghostit is especially necessary to isolate them from contact with spirits； hence the prohibition to touch raw meat。 But as usual the taboo is only the special enforcement of a general precept； in other words； its observance is particularly enjoined in circumstances which seem urgently to call for its application； but apart from such circumstances the prohibition is also observed； though less strictly； as a common rule of life。 Thus some of the Esthonians will not taste blood because they believe that it contains the animal's soul； which would enter the body of the person who tasted the blood。 Some Indian tribes of North America； through a strong principle of religion； abstain in the strictest manner from eating the blood of any animal； as it contains the life and spirit of the beast。 Jewish hunters poured out the blood of the game they had killed and covered it up with dust。 They would not taste the blood； believing that the soul or life of the animal was in the blood； or actually was the blood。
It is a common rule that royal blood may not be shed upon the ground。 Hence when a king or one of his family is to be put to death a mode of execution is devised by which the royal blood shall not be spilt upon the earth。 About the year 1688 the generalissimo of the army rebelled against the king of Siam and put him to death after the manner of royal criminals； or as princes of the blood are treated when convicted of capital crimes； which is by putting them into a large iron caldron； and pounding them to pieces with wooden pestles； because none of their royal blood must be spilt on the ground； it being； by their religion； thought great impiety to contaminate the divine blood by mixing it with earth。 When Kublai Khan defeated and took his uncle Nayan； who had rebelled against him； he caused Nayan to be put to death by being wrapt in a carpet and tossed to and fro till he died； because he would not have the blood of his Line Imperial spilt upon the ground or exposed in the eye of Heaven and before the Sun。 Friar Ricold mentions the Tartar maxim： 'One Khan will put another to death to get possession of the throne； but he takes great care that the blood be not spilt。 For they say that it is highly improper that the blood of the Great Khan should be spilt upon the ground； so they cause the victim to be smothered somehow or other。' The like feeling prevails at the court of Burma； where a peculiar mode of execution without bloodshed is reserved for princes of the blood。
The reluctance to spill royal blood seems to be only a particular case of a general unwillingness to shed blood or at least to allow it to fall on the ground。 Marco Polo tells us that in his day persons caught in the streets of Cambaluc （Peking） at unseasonable hours were arrested； and if found guilty of a misdemeanor were beaten with a sti