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me of Maripi； which signified a knife； hence a new word （nekra） for knife was introduced； and the old one became obsolete。 Elsewhere the word for water （wai） had to be changed； because it chanced to be the name of the chief； and would have been desecrated by being applied to the vulgar fluid as well as to his sacred person。 This taboo naturally produced a plentiful crop of synonyms in the Maori language； and travellers newly arrived in the country were sometimes puzzled at finding the same things called by quite different names in neighbouring tribes。 When a king comes to the throne in Tahiti； any words in the language that resemble his name in sound must be changed for others。 In former times； if any man were so rash as to disregard this custom and to use the forbidden words； not only he but all his relations were immediately put to death。 But the changes thus introduced were only temporary； on the death of the king the new words fell into disuse； and the original ones were revived。
In ancient Greece the names of the priests and other high officials who had to do with the performance of the Eleusinian mysteries might not be uttered in their lifetime。 To pronounce them was a legal offence The pedant in Lucian tells how he fell in with these august personages haling along to the police court a ribald fellow who had dared to name them； though well he knew that ever since their consecration it was unlawful to do so； because they had become anonymous； having lost their old names and acquired new and sacred titles。 From two inscriptions found at Eleusis it appears that the names of the priests were committed to the depths of the sea； probably they were engraved on tablets of bronze or lead； which were then thrown into deep water in the Gulf of Salamis。 The intention doubtless was to keep the names a profound secret； and how could that be done more surely than by sinking them in the sea？ what human vision could spy them glimmering far down in the dim depths of the green water？ A clearer illustration of the confusion between the incorporeal and the corporeal； between the name and its material embodiment； could hardly be found than in this practice of civilised Greece。
5。 Names of Gods tabooed。
PRIMITIVE man creates his gods in his own image。 Xenophanes remarked long ago that the complexion of negro gods was black and their noses flat； that Thracian gods were ruddy and blue…eyed； and that if horses； oxen； and lions only believed in gods and had hands wherewith to portray them； they would doubtless fashion their deities in the form of horses； and oxen； and lions。 Hence just as the furtive savage conceals his real name because he fears that sorcerers might make an evil use of it； so he fancies that his gods must likewise keep their true name secret； lest other gods or even men should learn the mystic sounds and thus be able to conjure with them。 Nowhere was this crude conception of the secrecy and magical virtue of the divine name more firmly held or more fully developed than in ancient Egypt； where the superstitions of a dateless past were embalmed in the hearts of the people hardly less effectually than the bodies of cats and crocodiles and the rest of the divine menagerie in their rock…cut tombs。 The conception is well illustrated by a story which tells how the subtle Isis wormed his secret name from Ra； the great Egyptian god of the sun。 Isis； so runs the tale； was a woman mighty in words； and she was weary of the world of men； and yearned after the world of the gods。 And she meditated in her heart； saying； Cannot I by virtue of the great name of Ra make myself a goddess and reign like him in heaven and earth？ For Ra had many names； but the great name which gave him all power over gods and men was known to none but himself。 Now the god was by this time grown old； he slobbered at the mouth and his spittle fell upon the ground。 So Isis gathered up the spittle and the earth with it； and kneaded thereof a serpent and laid it in the path where the great god passed every day to his double kingdom after his heart's desire。 And when he came forth according to his wont； attended by all his company of gods； the sacred serpent stung him； and the god opened his mouth and cried； and his cry went up to heaven。 And the company of gods cried； What aileth thee？ and the gods shouted； Lo and behold！ But he could not answer； his jaws rattled； his limbs shook； the poison ran through his flesh as the Nile floweth over the land。 When the great god had stilled his heart； he cried to his followers； Come to me； O my children； offspring of my body。 I am a prince； the son of a prince； the divine seed of a god。 My father devised my name； my father and my mother gave me my name； and it remained hidden in my body since my birth； that no magician might have magic power over me。 I went out to behold that which I have made； I walked in the two lands which I have created； and lo！ something stung me。 What it was； I know not。 Was it fire？ was it water？ My heart is on fire； my flesh trembleth； all my limbs do quake。 Bring me the children of the gods with healing words and understanding lips； whose power reacheth to heaven。 Then came to him the children of the gods； and they were very sorrowful。 And Isis came with her craft； whose mouth is full of the breath of life； whose spells chase pain away； whose word maketh the dead to live。 She said； What is it； divine Father？ what is it？ The holy god opened his mouth； he spake and said； I went upon my way； I walked after my heart's desire in the two regions which I have made to behold that which I have created； and lo！ a serpent that I saw not stung me。 Is it fire？ is it water？ I am colder than water； I am hotter than fire； all my limbs sweat； I tremble； mine eye is not steadfast； I behold not the sky； the moisture bedeweth my face as in summer…time。 Then spake Isis； Tell me thy name； divine Father； for the man shall live who is called by his name。 Then answered Ra； I created the heavens and the earth； I ordered the mountains； I made the great and wide sea； I stretched out the two horizons like a curtain。 I am he who openeth his eyes and it is light； and who shutteth them and it is dark。 At his command the Nile riseth； but the gods know not his name。 I am Khepera in the morning； I am Ra at noon； I am Tum at eve。 But the poison was not taken away from him； it pierced deeper； and the great god could no longer walk。 Then said Isis to him； That was not thy name that thou spakest unto me。 Oh tell it me； that the poison may depart； for he shall live whose name is named。 Now the poison burned like fire； it was hotter than the flame of fire。 The god said； I consent that Isis shall search into me； and that my name shall pass from my breast into hers。 Then the god hid himself from the gods； and his place in the ship of eternity was empty。 Thus was the name of the great god taken from him； and Isis； the witch； spake； Flow away； poison； depart from Ra。 It is I； even I； who overcome the poison and cast it to the earth； for the name of the great god hath been taken away from him。 Let Ra live and let the poison die。 Thus spake great Isis； the queen of the gods； she who knows Ra and his true name。
From this story it appears that the rea