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is only shows that he was in the usual chrysalis state through which beast…gods regularly pass before they emerge as full…blown anthropomorphic gods。 The ram； therefore； was killed； not as a sacrifice to Ammon； but as the god himself； whose identity with the beast is plainly shown by the custom of clothing his image in the skin of the slain ram。 The reason for thus killing the ram…god annually may have been that which I have assigned for the general custom of killing a god and for the special Californian custom of killing the divine buzzard。 As applied to Egypt； this explanation is supported by the analogy of the bull…god Apis； who was not suffered to outlive a certain term of years。 The intention of thus putting a limit to the life of the human god was； as I have argued； to secure him from the weakness and frailty of age。 The same reasoning would explain the customprobably an older oneof putting the beast…god to death annually； as was done with the ram of Thebes。
One point in the Theban ritualthe application of the skin to the image of the goddeserves particular attention。 If the god was at first the living ram； his representation by an image must have originated later。 But how did it originate？ One answer to this question is perhaps furnished by the practice of preserving the skin of the animal which is slain as divine。 The Californians； as we have seen； preserved the skin of the buzzard； and the skin of the goat； which is killed on the harvest…field as a representative of the corn…spirit； is kept for various superstitious purposes。 The skin in fact was kept as a token or memorial of the god； or rather as containing in it a part of the divine life； and it had only to be stuffed or stretched upon a frame to become a regular image of him。 At first an image of this kind would be renewed annually； the new image being provided by the skin of the slain animal。 But from annual images to permanent images the transition is easy。 We have seen that the older custom of cutting a new May…tree every year was superseded by the practice of maintaining a permanent May…pole； which was； however； annually decked with fresh leaves and flowers； and even surmounted each year by a fresh young tree。 Similarly when the stuffed skin； as a representative of the god； was replaced by a permanent image of him in wood； stone； or metal； the permanent image was annually clad in the fresh skin of the slain animal。 When this stage had been reached； the custom of killing the ram came naturally to be interpreted as a sacrifice offered to the image； and was explained by a story like that of Ammon and Hercules。
3。 Killing the Sacred Serpent
WEST AFRICA appears to furnish another example of the annual killing of a sacred animal and the preservation of its skin。 The negroes of Issapoo； in the island of Fernando Po； regard the cobra…capella as their guardian deity； who can do them good or ill； bestow riches or inflict disease and death。 The skin of one of these reptiles is hung tail downwards from a branch of the highest tree in the public square； and the placing of it on the tree is an annual ceremony。 As soon as the ceremony is over； all children born within the past year are carried out and their hands made to touch the tail of the serpent's skin。 The latter custom is clearly a way of placing the infants under the protection of the tribal god。 Similarly in Senegambia a python is expected to visit every child of the Python clan within eight days after birth； and the Psylli； a Snake clan of ancient Africa； used to expose their infants to snakes in the belief that the snakes would not harm true…born children of the clan。 4。 Killing the Sacred Turtles
IN THE CALIFORNIAN； Egyptian； and Fernando Po customs the worship of the animal seems to have no relation to agriculture； and may therefore be presumed to date from the hunting or pastoral stage of society。 The same may be said of the following custom； though the Zuni Indians of New Mexico； who practise it； are now settled in walled villages or towns of a peculiar type； and practise agriculture and the arts of pottery and weaving。 But the Zuni custom is marked by certain features which appear to place it in a somewhat different class from the preceding cases。 It may be well therefore to describe it at full length in the words of an eye…witness。
With midsummer the heat became intense。 My brother ＇i。e。 adopted Indian brother＇ and I sat； day after day； in the cool under…rooms of our house；the latter ＇sic＇ busy with his quaint forge and crude appliances； working Mexican coins over into bangles； girdles； ear…rings； buttons； and what not； for savage ornament。 Though his tools were wonderfully rude； the work he turned out by dint of combined patience and ingenuity was remarkably beautiful。 One day as I sat watching him； a procession of fifty men went hastily down the hill； and off westward over the plain。 They were solemnly led by a painted and shell…bedecked priest； and followed by the torch…bearing Shu…lu…wit…si or God of Fire。 After they had vanished； I asked old brother what it all meant。
'They are going；' said he； 'to the city of Ka…ka and the home of our others。'
Four days after； towards sunset； costumed and masked in the beautiful paraphernalia of the Ka…k'ok…shi； or 'Good Dance；' they returned in file up the same pathway； each bearing in his arms a basket filled with living； squirming turtles； which he regarded and carried as tenderly as a mother would her infant。 Some of the wretched reptiles were carefully wrapped in soft blankets； their heads and forefeet protruding；and； mounted on the backs of the plume…bedecked pilgrims； made ludicrous but solemn caricatures of little children in the same position。 While I was at supper upstairs that evening； the governor's brother…in…law came in。 He was welcomed by the family as if a messenger from heaven。 He bore in his tremulous fingers one of the much abused and rebellious turtles。 Paint still adhered to his hands and bare feet； which led me to infer that he had formed one of the sacred embassy。
'So you went to Ka…thlu…el…lon； did you？' I asked。
'E'e；' replied the weary man； in a voice husky with long chanting； as he sank； almost exhausted； on a roll of skins which had been placed for him； and tenderly laid the turtle on the floor。 No sooner did the creature find itself at liberty than it made off as fast as its lame legs would take it。 Of one accord； the family forsook dish； spoon； and drinking…cup； and grabbing from a sacred meal…bowl whole handfuls of the contents； hurriedly followed the turtle about the room； into dark corners； around water…jars； behind the grinding…troughs； and out into the middle of the floor again； praying and scattering meal on its back as they went。 At last； strange to say； it approached the foot…sore man who had brought it。
'Ha！' he exclaimed with emotion； 'see it comes to me again； ah； what great favours the fathers of all grant me this day；' and； passing his hand gently over the sprawling animal； he inhaled from his palm deeply and long； at the same time invoking the favour of the gods。 Then he leaned his chin upon his hand； and with large； wistful eyes regarded his ugly captive as it sprawled about； blinking its meal…bedim