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another as the son of a carpenter。 I shall therefore not draw my examples exclusively from royal personages； as I wish to illustrate the general principle of the deification of living men； in other words； the incarnation of a deity in human form。 Such incarnate gods are common in rude society。 The incarnation may be temporary or permanent。 In the former case； the incarnationcommonly known as inspiration or possessionreveals itself in supernatural knowledge rather than in supernatural power。 In other words； its usual manifestations are divination and prophecy rather than miracles。 On the other hand； when the incarnation is not merely temporary； when the divine spirit has permanently taken up its abode in a human body； the god…man is usually expected to vindicate his character by working miracles。 Only we have to remember that by men at this stage of thought miracles are not considered as breaches of natural law。 Not conceiving the existence of natural law； primitive man cannot conceive a breach of it。 A miracle is to him merely an unusually striking manifestation of a common power。
The belief in temporary incarnation or inspiration is world…wide。 Certain persons are supposed to be possessed from time to time by a spirit or deity； while the possession lasts； their own personality lies in abeyance； the presence of the spirit is revealed by convulsive shiverings and shakings of the man's whole body； by wild gestures and excited looks； all of which are referred； not to the man himself； but to the spirit which has entered into him； and in this abnormal state all his utterances are accepted as the voice of the god or spirit dwelling in him and speaking through him。 Thus； for example； in the Sandwich Islands； the king； personating the god； uttered the responses of the oracle from his concealment in a frame of wicker…work。 But in the southern islands of the Pacific the god frequently entered the priest； who； inflated as it were with the divinity； ceased to act or speak as a voluntary agent； but moved and spoke as entirely under supernatural influence。 In this respect there was a striking resemblance between the rude oracles of the Polynesians； and those of the celebrated nations of ancient Greece。 As soon as the god was supposed to have entered the priest； the latter became violently agitated； and worked himself up to the highest pitch of apparent frenzy； the muscles of the limbs seemed convulsed； the body swelled； the countenance became terrific； the features distorted； and the eyes wild and strained。 In this state he often rolled on the earth； foaming at the mouth； as if labouring under the influence of the divinity by whom he was possessed； and； in shrill cries； and violent and often indistinct sounds； revealed the will of the god。 The priests； who were attending； and versed in the mysteries； received； and reported to the people； the declarations which had been thus received。 When the priest had uttered the response of the oracle； the violent paroxysm gradually subsided； and comparative composure ensued。 The god did not； however； always leave him as soon as the communication had been made。 Sometimes the same taura； or priest； continued for two or three days possessed by the spirit or deity； a piece of a native cloth； of a peculiar kind； worn round one arm； was an indication of inspiration； or of the indwelling of the god with the individual who wore it。 The acts of the man during this period were considered as those of the god； and hence the greatest attention was paid to his expressions； and the whole of his deportment 。 When uruhia （under the inspiration of the spirit）； the priest was always considered as sacred as the god； and was called； during this period； atua； god； though at other times only denominated taura or priest。
But examples of such temporary inspiration are so common in every part of the world and are now so familiar through books on ethnology that it is needless to multiply illustrations of the general principle。 It may be well； however； to refer to two particular modes of producing temporary inspiration； because they are perhaps less known than some others； and because we shall have occasion to refer to them later on。 One of these modes of producing inspiration is by sucking the fresh blood of a sacrificed victim。 In the temple of Apollo Diradiotes at Argos； a lamb was sacrificed by night once a month； a woman； who had to observe a rule of chastity； tasted the blood of the lamb； and thus being inspired by the god she prophesied or divined。 At Aegira in Achaia the priestess of Earth drank the fresh blood of a bull before she descended into the cave to prophesy。 Similarly among the Kuruvikkarans； a class of bird…catchers and beggars in Southern India； the goddess Kali is believed to descend upon the priest； and he gives oracular replies after sucking the blood which streams from the cut throat of a goat。 At a festival of the Alfoors of Minahassa； in Northern Celebes； after a pig has been killed； the priest rushes furiously at it； thrusts his head into the carcase； and drinks of the blood。 Then he is dragged away from it by force and set on a chair； whereupon he begins to prophesy how the rice…crop will turn out that year。 A second time he runs at the carcase and drinks of the blood； a second time he is forced into the chair and continues his predictions。 It is thought that there is a spirit in him which possesses the power of prophecy。
The other mode of producing temporary inspiration； to which I shall here refer； consists in the use of a sacred tree or plant。 Thus in the Hindoo Koosh a fire is kindled with twigs of the sacred cedar； and the Dainyal or sibyl； with a cloth over her head； inhales the thick pungent smoke till she is seized with convulsions and falls senseless to the ground。 Soon she rises and raises a shrill chant； which is caught up and loudly repeated by her audience。 So Apollo's prophetess ate the sacred laurel and was fumigated with it before she prophesied。 The Bacchanals ate ivy； and their inspired fury was by some believed to be due to the exciting and intoxicating properties of the plant。 In Uganda the priest； in order to be inspired by his god； smokes a pipe of tobacco fiercely till he works himself into a frenzy； the loud excited tones in which he then talks are recognised as the voice of the god speaking through him。 In Madura； an island off the north coast of Java； each spirit has its regular medium； who is oftener a woman than a man。 To prepare herself for the reception of the spirit she inhales the fumes of incense； sitting with her head over a smoking censer。 Gradually she falls into a sort of trance accompanied by shrieks； grimaces； and violent spasms。 The spirit is now supposed to have entered into her； and when she grows calmer her words are regarded as oracular； being the utterances of the indwelling spirit； while her own soul is temporarily absent。
The person temporarily inspired is believed to acquire； not merely divine knowledge； but also； at least occasionally； divine power。 In Cambodia； when an epidemic breaks out； the inhabitants of several villages unite and go with a band of music at their head to look for the man whom the local god is supposed to have chosen for his