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exiled or killed。 Thus； in some parts of West Africa； when prayers and offerings presented to the king have failed to procure rain； his subjects bind him with ropes and take him by force to the grave of his forefathers that he may obtain from them the needed rain。 The Banjars in West Africa ascribe to their king the power of causing rain or fine weather。 So long as the weather is fine they load him with presents of grain and cattle。 But if long drought or rain threatens to spoil the crops； they insult and beat him till the weather changes。 When the harvest fails or the surf on the coast is too heavy to allow of fishing； the people of Loango accuse their king of a bad heart and depose him。 On the Grain Coast the high priest or fetish king； who bears the title of Bodio； is responsible for the health of the community； the fertility of the earth； and the abundance of fish in the sea and rivers； and if the country suffers in any of these respects the Bodio is deposed from his office。 In Ussukuma； a great district on the southern bank of the Victoria Nyanza； the rain and locust question is part and parcel of the Sultan's government。 He； too； must know how to make rain and drive away the locusts。 If he and his medicine…men are unable to accomplish this； his whole existence is at stake in times of distress。 On a certain occasion； when the rain so greatly desired by the people did not come； the Sultan was simply driven out （in Ututwa； near Nassa）。 The people； in fact； hold that rulers must have power over Nature and her phenomena。 Again； we are told of the natives of the Nyanaza region generally that they are persuaded that rain only falls as a result of magic； and the important duty of causing it to descend devolves on the chief of the tribe。 If rain does not come at the proper time； everybody complains。 More than one petty king has been banished his country because of drought。 Among the Latuka of the Upper Nile； when the crops are withering； and all the efforts of the chief to draw down rain have proved fruitless； the people commonly attack him by night； rob him of all he possesses； and drive him away。 But often they kill him。
In many other parts of the world kings have been expected to regulate the course of nature for the good of their people and have been punished if they failed to do so。 It appears that the Scythians； when food was scarce； used to put their king in bonds。 In ancient Egypt the sacred kings were blamed for the failure of the crops； but the sacred beasts were also held responsible for the course of nature。 When pestilence and other calamities had fallen on the land； in consequence of a long and severe drought； the priests took the animals by night and threatened them； but if the evil did not abate they slew the beasts。 On the coral island of Niueˉ or Savage Island； in the South Pacific； there formerly reigned a line of kings。 But as the kings were also high priests； and were supposed to make the food grow； the people became angry with them in times of scarcity and killed them； till at last； as one after another was killed； no one would be king； and the monarchy came to an end。 Ancient Chinese writers inform us that in Corea the blame was laid on the king whenever too much or too little rain fell and the crops did not ripen。 Some said that he must be deposed； others that he must be slain。
Among the American Indians the furthest advance towards civilisation was made under the monarchical and theocratic governments of Mexico and Peru； but we know too little of the early history of these countries to say whether the predecessors of their deified kings were medicine…men or not。 Perhaps a trace of such a succession may be detected in the oath which the Mexican kings； when they mounted the throne； swore that they would make the sun to shine； the clouds to give rain； the rivers to flow； and the earth to bring forth fruits in abundance。 Certainly； in aboriginal America the sorcerer or medicine…man； surrounded by a halo of mystery and an atmosphere of awe； was a personage of great influence and importance； and he may well have developed into a chief or king in many tribes； though positive evidence of such a development appears to be lacking。 Thus Catlin tells us that in North America the medicine…men are valued as dignitaries in the tribe； and the greatest respect is paid to them by the whole community； not only for their skill in their materia medica； but more especially for their tact in magic and mysteries； in which they all deal to a very great extent 。 In all tribes their doctors are conjurersare magiciansare sooth…sayers； and I had like to have said high…priests； inasmuch as they superintend and conduct all their religious ceremonies； they are looked upon by all as oracles of the nation。 In all councils of war and peace； they have a seat with the chiefs； are regularly consulted before any public step is taken； and the greatest deference and respect is paid to their opinions。 Similarly in California the shaman was； and still is； perhaps the most important individual among the Maidu。 In the absence of any definite system of government； the word of a shaman has great weight： as a class they are regarded with much awe； and as a rule are obeyed much more than the chief。
In South America also the magicians or medicine…men seem to have been on the highroad to chieftainship or kingship。 One of the earliest settlers on the coast of Brazil； the Frenchman Thevet； reports that the Indians hold these pages （or medicine…men） in such honour and reverence that they adore； or rather idolise them。 You may see the common folk go to meet them； prostrate themselves； and pray to them； saying； 'Grant that I be not ill； that I do not die； neither I nor my children；' or some such request。 And he answers； 'You shall not die； you shall not be ill；' and such like replies。 But sometimes if it happens that these pages do not tell the truth； and things turn out otherwise than they predicted； the people make no scruple of killing them as unworthy of the title and dignity of pages。 Among the Lengua Indians of the Gran Chaco every clan has its cazique or chief； but he possesses little authority。 In virtue of his office he has to make many presents； so he seldom grows rich and is generally more shabbily clad than any of his subjects。 As a matter of fact the magician is the man who has most power in his hands； and he is accustomed to receive presents instead of to give them。 It is the magician's duty to bring down misfortune and plagues on the enemies of his tribe； and to guard his own people against hostile magic。 For these services he is well paid； and by them he acquires a position of great influence and authority。
Throughout the Malay region the rajah or king is commonly regarded with superstitious veneration as the possessor of supernatural powers； and there are grounds for thinking that he too； like apparently so many African chiefs； has been developed out of a simple magician。 At the present day the Malays firmly believe that the king possesses a personal influence over the works of nature； such as the growth of the crops and the bearing of fruit…trees。 The same prolific virtue is supposed to reside； though in a lesser degree； in his dele