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men relieved； at least in the higher stages of savagery； from the need of earning their livelihood by hard manual toil； and allowed； nay； expected and encouraged； to prosecute researches into the secret ways of nature。 It was at once their duty and their interest to know more than their fellows； to acquaint themselves with everything that could aid man in his arduous struggle with nature； everything that could mitigate his sufferings and prolong his life。 The properties of drugs and minerals； the causes of rain and drought； of thunder and lightning； the changes of the seasons； the phases of the moon； the daily and yearly journeys of the sun； the motions of the stars； the mystery of life； and the mystery of death； all these things must have excited the wonder of these early philosophers； and stimulated them to find solutions of problems that were doubtless often thrust on their attention in the most practical form by the importunate demands of their clients； who expected them not merely to understand but to regulate the great processes of nature for the good of man。 That their first shots fell very far wide of the mark could hardly be helped。 The slow； the never…ending approach to truth consists in perpetually forming and testing hypotheses； accepting those which at the time seem to fit the facts and rejecting the others。 The views of natural causation embraced by the savage magician no doubt appear to us manifestly false and absurd； yet in their day they were legitimate hypotheses； though they have not stood the test of experience。 Ridicule and blame are the just meed； not of those who devised these crude theories； but of those who obstinately adhered to them after better had been propounded。 Certainly no men ever had stronger incentives in the pursuit of truth than these savage sorcerers。 To maintain at least a show of knowledge was absolutely necessary； a single mistake detected might cost them their life。 This no doubt led them to practise imposture for the purpose of concealing their ignorance； but it also supplied them with the most powerful motive for substituting a real for a sham knowledge； since； if you would appear to know anything； by far the best way is actually to know it。 Thus； however justly we may reject the extravagant pretensions of magicians and condemn the deceptions which they have practised on mankind； the original institution of this class of men has； take it all in all； been productive of incalculable good to humanity。 They were the direct predecessors； not merely of our physicians and surgeons； but of our investigators and discoverers in every branch of natural science。 They began the work which has since been carried to such glorious and beneficent issues by their successors in after ages； and if the beginning was poor and feeble； this is to be imputed to the inevitable difficulties which beset the path of knowledge rather than to the natural incapacity or wilful fraud of the men themselves。
2。 The Magical Control ofRain
OF THE THINGS which the public magician sets himself to do for the good of the tribe； one of the chief is to control the weather and especially to ensure an adequate fall of rain。 Water is an essential of life； and in most countries the supply of it depends upon showers。 Without rain vegetation withers； animals and men languish and die。 Hence in savage communities the rain…maker is a very important personage； and often a special class of magicians exists for the purpose of regulating the heavenly water…supply。 The methods by which they attempt to discharge the duties of their office are commonly； though not always； based on the principle of homoeopathic or imitative magic。 If they wish to make rain they simulate it by sprinkling water or mimicking clouds： if their object is to stop rain and cause drought； they avoid water and resort to warmth and fire for the sake of drying up the too abundant moisture。 Such attempts are by no means confined； as the cultivated reader might imagine； to the naked inhabitants of those sultry lands like Central Australia and some parts of Eastern and Southern Africa； where often for months together the pitiless sun beats down out of a blue and cloudless sky on the parched and gaping earth。 They are； or used to be； common enough among outwardly civilised folk in the moister climate of Europe。 I will now illustrate them by instances drawn from the practice both of public and private magic。
Thus； for example； in a village near Dorpat； in Russia； when rain was much wanted； three men used to climb up the fir…trees of an old sacred grove。 One of them drummed with a hammer on a kettle or small cask to imitate thunder； the second knocked two fire…brands together and made the sparks fly； to imitate lightning； and the third； who was called the rain…maker； had a bunch of twigs with which he sprinkled water from a vessel on all sides。 To put an end to drought and bring down rain； women and girls of the village of Ploska are wont to go naked by night to the boundaries of the village and there pour water on the ground。 In Halmahera； or Gilolo； a large island to the west of New Guinea； a wizard makes rain by dipping a branch of a particular kind of tree in water and then scattering the moisture from the dripping bough over the ground。 In New Britain the rain…maker wraps some leaves of a red and green striped creeper in a banana…leaf； moistens the bundle with water； and buries it in the ground； then he imitates with his mouth the plashing of rain。 Amongst the Omaha Indians of North America； when the corn is withering for want of rain； the members of the sacred Buffalo Society fill a large vessel with water and dance four times round it。 One of them drinks some of the water and spirts it into the air； making a fine spray in imitation of a mist or drizzling rain。 Then he upsets the vessel； spilling the water on the ground； whereupon the dancers fall down and drink up the water； getting mud all over their faces。 Lastly； they squirt the water into the air； making a fine mist。 This saves the corn。 In spring…time the Natchez of North America used to club together to purchase favourable weather for their crops from the wizards。 If rain was needed； the wizards fasted and danced with pipes full of water in their mouths。 The pipes were perforated like the nozzle of a watering…can； and through the holes the rain…maker blew the water towards that part of the sky where the clouds hung heaviest。 But if fine weather was wanted； he mounted the roof of his hut； and with extended arms； blowing with all his might； he beckoned to the clouds to pass by。 When the rains do not come in due season the people of Central Angoniland repair to what is called the rain…temple。 Here they clear away the grass； and the leader pours beer into a pot which is buried in the ground； while he says； Master Chauta； you have hardened your heart towards us； what would you have us do？ We must perish indeed。 Give your children the rains； there is the beer we have given you。 Then they all partake of the beer that is left over； even the children being made to sip it。 Next they take branches of trees and dance and sing for rain。 When they return to the village they find a vessel of water set at the doorway by an