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they were carried on the shoulders of men of the Buffalo clan； several of whom accompanied any of these royal personages on a journey and took it in turn to bear the burden。 The king sat astride the bearer's neck with a leg over each shoulder and his feet tucked under the bearer's arms。 When one of these royal carriers grew tired he shot the king onto the shoulders of a second man without allowing the royal feet to touch the ground。 In this way they went at a great pace and travelled long distances in a day； when the king was on a journey。 The bearers had a special hut in the king's enclosure in order to be at hand the moment they were wanted。 Among the Bakuba； or rather Bushongo； a nation in the southern region of the Congo； down to a few years ago persons of the royal blood were forbidden to touch the ground； they must sit on a hide； a chair； or the back of a slave； who crouched on hands and feet； their feet rested on the feet of others。 When they travelled they were carried on the backs of men； but the king journeyed in a litter supported on shafts。 Among the Ibo people about Awka； in Southern Nigeria； the priest of the Earth has to observe many taboos； for example； he may not see a corpse； and if he meets one on the road he must hide his eyes with his wristlet。 He must abstain from many foods； such as eggs； birds of all sorts； mutton； dog； bush…buck； and so forth。 He may neither wear nor touch a mask； and no masked man may enter his house。 If a dog enters his house； it is killed and thrown out。 As priest of the Earth he may not sit on the bare ground； nor eat things that have fallen on the ground； nor may earth be thrown at him。 According to ancient Brahmanic ritual a king at his inauguration trod on a tiger's skin and a golden plate； he was shod with shoes of boar's skin； and so long as he lived thereafter he might not stand on the earth with his bare feet。
But besides persons who are permanently sacred or tabooed and are therefore permanently forbidden to touch the ground with their feet； there are others who enjoy the character of sanctity or taboo only on certain occasions； and to whom accordingly the prohibition in question only applies at the definite seasons during which they exhale the odour of sanctity。 Thus among the Kayans or Bahaus of Central Borneo； while the priestesses are engaged in the performance of certain rites they may not step on the ground； and boards are laid for them to tread on。 Warriors； again； on the war…path are surrounded； so to say； by an atmosphere of taboo； hence some Indians of North America might not sit on the bare ground the whole time they were out on a warlike expedition。 In Laos the hunting of elephants gives rise to many taboos； one of them is that the chief hunter may not touch the earth with his foot。 Accordingly； when he alights from his elephant； the others spread a carpet of leaves for him to step upon。
Apparently holiness； magical virtue； taboo； or whatever we may call that mysterious quality which is supposed to pervade sacred or tabooed persons； is conceived by the primitive philosopher as a physical substance or fluid； with which the sacred man is charged just as a Leyden jar is charged with electricity； and exactly as the electricity in the jar can be discharged by contact with a good conductor； so the holiness or magical virtue in the man can be discharged and drained away by contact with the earth； which on this theory serves as an excellent conductor for the magical fluid。 Hence in order to preserve the charge from running to waste； the sacred or tabooed personage must be carefully prevented from touching the ground； in electrical language he must be insulated； if he is not to be emptied of the precious substance or fluid with which he； as a vial； is filled to the brim。 And in many cases apparently the insulation of the tabooed person is recommended as a precaution not merely for his own sake but for the sake of others； for since the virtue of holiness or taboo is； so to say； a powerful explosive which the smallest touch may detonate； it is necessary in the interest of the general safety to keep it within narrow bounds； lest breaking out it should blast； blight； and destroy whatever it comes into contact with。
2。 Not to see the Sun
THE SECOND rule to be here noted is that the sun may not shine upon the divine person。 This rule was observed both by the Mikado and by the pontiff of the Zapotecs。 The latter was looked upon as a god whom the earth was not worthy to hold； nor the sun to shine upon。 The Japanese would not allow that the Mikado should expose his sacred person to the open air； and the sun was not thought worthy to shine on his head。 The Indians of Granada； in South America； kept those who were to be rulers or commanders； whether men or women； locked up for several years when they were children； some of them seven years； and this so close that they were not to see the sun； for if they should happen to see it they forfeited their lordship； eating certain sorts of food appointed； and those who were their keepers at certain times went into their retreat or prison and scourged them severely。 Thus； for example； the heir to the throne of Bogota； who was not the son but the sister's son of the king； had to undergo a rigorous training from his infancy； he lived in complete retirement in a temple； where he might not see the sun nor eat salt nor converse with a woman； he was surrounded by guards who observed his conduct and noted all his actions； if he broke a single one of the rules laid down for him； he was deemed infamous and forfeited all his rights to the throne。 So； too； the heir to the kingdom of Sogamoso； before succeeding to the crown； had to fast for seven years in the temple； being shut up in the dark and not allowed to see the sun or light。 The prince who was to become Inca of Peru had to fast for a month without seeing light。
3。 The Seclusion of Girls at Puberty
NOW it is remarkable that the foregoing two rulesnot to touch the ground and not to see the sunare observed either separately or conjointly by girls at puberty in many parts of the world。 Thus amongst the negroes of Loango girls at puberty are confined in separate huts； and they may not touch the ground with any part of their bare body。 Among the Zulus and kindred tribes of South Africa； when the first signs of puberty show themselves while a girl is walking； gathering wood； or working in the field； she runs to the river and hides herself among the reeds for the day； so as not to be seen by men。 She covers her head carefully with her blanket that the sun may not shine on it and shrivel her up into a withered skeleton； as would result from exposure to the sun's beams。 After dark she returns to her home and is secluded in a hut for some time。 With the Awa…nkonde； a tribe at the northern end of Lake Nyassa； it is a rule that after her first menstruation a girl must be kept apart； with a few companions of her own sex； in a darkened house。 The floor is covered with dry banana leaves； but no fire may be lit in the house； which is called the house of the Awasungu； that is； of maidens who have no hearts。
In New Ireland girls are confined for four or five years in small cages； being kept in th