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ame principle。
There is a widespread belief that twin children possess magical powers over nature； especially over rain and the weather。 This curious superstition prevails among some of the Indian tribes of British Columbia； and has led them often to impose certain singular restrictions or taboos on the parents of twins； though the exact meaning of these restrictions is generally obscure。 Thus the Tsimshian Indians of British Columbia believe that twins control the weather； therefore they pray to wind and rain； Calm down； breath of the twins。 Further； they think that the wishes of twins are always fulfilled； hence twins are feared； because they can harm the man they hate。 They can also call the salmon and the olachen or candle…fish； and so they are known by a name which means making plentiful。 In the opinion of the Kwakiutl Indians of British Columbia twins are transformed salmon； hence they may not go near water； lest they should be changed back again into the fish。 In their childhood they can summon any wind by motions of their hands； and they can make fair or foul weather； and also cure diseases by swinging a large wooden rattle。 The Nootka Indians of British Columbia also believe that twins are somehow related to salmon。 Hence among them twins may not catch salmon； and they may not eat or even handle the fresh fish。 They can make fair or foul weather； and can cause rain to fall by painting their faces black and then washing them； which may represent the rain dripping from the dark clouds。 The Shuswap Indians； like the Thompson Indians； associate twins with the grizzly bear； for they call them young grizzly bears。 According to them； twins remain throughout life endowed with supernatural powers。 In particular they can make good or bad weather。 They produce rain by spilling water from a basket in the air； they make fine weather by shaking a small flat piece of wood attached to a stick by a string； they raise storms by strewing down on the ends of spruce branches。
The same power of influencing the weather is attributed to twins by the Baronga； a tribe of Bantu negroes who； inhabit the shores of Delagoa Bay in South…eastern Africa。 They bestow the name of Tilothat is； the skyon a woman who has given birth to twins； and the infants themselves are called the children of the sky。 Now when the storms which generally burst in the months of September and October have been looked for in vain； when a drought with its prospect of famine is threatening； and all nature； scorched and burnt up by a sun that has shone for six months from a cloudless sky； is panting for the beneficent showers of the South African spring； the women perform ceremonies to bring down the longed…for rain on the parched earth。 Stripping themselves of all their garments； they assume in their stead girdles and head…dresses of grass； or short petticoats made of the leaves of a particular sort of creeper。 Thus attired； uttering peculiar cries and singing ribald songs； they go about from well to well； cleansing them of the mud and impurities which have accumulated in them。 The wells； it may be said； are merely holes in the sand where a little turbid unwholesome water stagnates。 Further； the women must repair to the house of one of their gossips who has given birth to twins； and must drench her with water； which they carry in little pitchers。 Having done so they go on their way； shrieking out their loose songs and dancing immodest dances。 No man may see these leaf…clad women going their rounds。 If they meet a man； they maul him and thrust him aside。 When they have cleansed the wells； they must go and pour water on the graves of their ancestors in the sacred grove。 It often happens； too； that at the bidding of the wizard they go and pour water on the graves of twins。 For they think that the grave of a twin ought always to be moist； for which reason twins are regularly buried near a lake。 If all their efforts to procure rain prove abortive； they will remember that such and such a twin was buried in a dry place on the side of a hill。 No wonder； says the wizard in such a case； that the sky is fiery。 Take up his body and dig him a grave on the shore of the lake。 His orders are at once obeyed； for this is supposed to be the only means of bringing down the rain。
Some of the foregoing facts strongly support an interpretation which Professor Oldenberg has given of the rules to be observed by a Brahman who would learn a particular hymn of the ancient Indian collection known as the Samaveda。 The hymn； which bears the name of the Sakvariˉ song； was believed to embody the might of Indra's weapon； the thunderbolt； and hence； on account of the dreadful and dangerous potency with which it was thus charged； the bold student who essayed to master it had to be isolated from his fellow…men； and to retire from the village into the forest。 Here for a space of time； which might vary； according to different doctors of the law； from one to twelve years； he had to observe certain rules of life； among which were the following。 Thrice a day he had to touch water； he must wear black garments and eat black food； when it rained； he might not seek the shelter of a roof； but had to sit in the rain and say； Water is the Sakvariˉ song； when the lightning flashed； he said； That is like the Sakvariˉ song； when the thunder pealed； he said； The Great One is making a great noise。 He might never cross a running stream without touching water； he might never set foot on a ship unless his life were in danger； and even then he must be sure to touch water when he went on board； for in water； so ran the saying； lies the virtue of the Sakvariˉ song。 When at last he was allowed to learn the song itself； he had to dip his hands in a vessel of water in which plants of all sorts had been placed。 If a man walked in the way of all these precepts； the rain…god Parjanya； it was said； would send rain at the wish of that man。 It is clear； as Professor Oldenberg well points out； that all these rules are intended to bring the Brahman into union with water； to make him； as it were； an ally of the water powers； and to guard him against their hostility。 The black garments and the black food have the same significance； no one will doubt that they refer to the rain…clouds when he remembers that a black victim is sacrificed to procure rain； 'it is black； for such is the nature of rain。' In respect of another rain…charm it is said plainly； 'He puts on a black garment edged with black； for such is the nature of rain。' We may therefore assume that here in the circle of ideas and ordinances of the Vedic schools there have been preserved magical practices of the most remote antiquity； which were intended to prepare the rain…maker for his office and dedicate him to it。
It is interesting to observe that where an opposite result is desired； primitive logic enjoins the weather…doctor to observe precisely opposite rules of conduct。 In the tropical island of Java； where the rich vegetation attests the abundance of the rainfall； ceremonies for the making of rain are rare； but ceremonies for the prevention of it are not uncommon。 When a man is about to give a great feast in the rainy season and has invited many people； he goes to a weat