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to chastity； but unlike the Vestals they seem to have been often unfaithful。 The custom lasted until Mwanga was converted to Christianity。 The Akikuyu of British East Africa worship the snake of a certain river； and at intervals of several years they marry the snake…god to women； but especially to young girls。 For this purpose huts are built by order of the medicine…men； who there consummate the sacred marriage with the credulous female devotees。 If the girls do not repair to the huts of their own accord in sufficient numbers； they are seized and dragged thither to the embraces of the deity。 The offspring of these mystic unions appears to be fathered on God （ngai）； certainly there are children among the Akikuyu who pass for children of God。 It is said that once； when the inhabitants of Cayeli in Buruan East Indian islandwere threatened with destruction by a swarm of crocodiles； they ascribed the misfortune to a passion which the prince of the crocodiles had conceived for a certain girl。 Accordingly； they compelled the damsel's father to dress her in bridal array and deliver her over to the clutches of her crocodile lover。
A usage of the same sort is reported to have prevailed in the Maldive Islands before the conversion of the inhabitants to Islam。 The famous Arab traveller Ibn Batutah has described the custom and the manner in which it came to an end。 He was assured by several trustworthy natives； whose names he gives； that when the people of the islands were idolaters there appeared to them every month an evil spirit among the jinn； who came from across the sea in the likeness of a ship full of burning lamps。 The wont of the inhabitants； as soon as they perceived him； was to take a young virgin； and； having adorned her； to lead her to a heathen temple that stood on the shore； with a window looking out to sea。 There they left the damsel for the night； and when they came back in the morning they found her a maid no more； and dead。 Every month they drew lots； and he upon whom the lot fell gave up his daughter to the jinnee of the sea。 The last of the maidens thus offered to the demon was rescued by a pious Berber； who by reciting the Koran succeeded in driving the jinnee back into the sea。
Ibn Batutah's narrative of the demon lover and his mortal brides closely resembles a well…known type of folk…tale； of which versions have been found from Japan and Annam in the East to Senegambia； Scandinavia； and Scotland in the West。 The story varies in details from people to people； but as commonly told it runs thus。 A certain country is infested by a many…headed serpent； dragon； or other monster； which would destroy the whole people if a human victim； generally a virgin； were not delivered up to him periodically。 Many victims have perished； and at last it has fallen to the lot of the king's own daughter to be sacrificed。 She is exposed to the monster； but the hero of the tale； generally a young man of humble birth； interposes in her behalf； slays the monster； and receives the hand of the princess as his reward。 In many of the tales the monster； who is sometimes described as a serpent； inhabits the water of a sea； a lake； or a fountain。 In other versions he is a serpent or dragon who takes possession of the springs of water； and only allows the water to flow or the people to make use of it on condition of receiving a human victim。
It would probably be a mistake to dismiss all these tales as pure inventions of the story…teller。 Rather we may suppose that they reflect a real custom of sacrificing girls or women to be the wives of waterspirits； who are very often conceived as great serpents or dragons。
Chapter 13。 The Kings of Rome and Alba。
1。 Numa and Egeria
FROM THE FOREGOING survey of custom and legend we may infer that the sacred marriage of the powers both of vegetation and of water has been celebrated by many peoples for the sake of promoting the fertility of the earth； on which the life of animals and men ultimately depends； and that in such rites the part of the divine bridegroom or bride is often sustained by a man or woman。 The evidence may； therefore； lend some countenance to the conjecture that in the sacred grove at Nemi； where the powers of vegetation and of water manifested themselves in the fair forms of shady woods； tumbling cascades； and glassy lake； a marriage like that of our King and Queen of May was annually celebrated between the mortal King of the Wood and the immortal Queen of the Wood； Diana。 In this connexion an important figure in the grove was the water…nymph Egeria； who was worshipped by pregnant women because she； like Diana； could grant them an easy delivery。 From this it seems fairly safe to conclude that； like many other springs； the water of Egeria was credited with a power of facilitating conception as well as delivery。 The votive offerings found on the spot； which clearly refer to the begetting of children； may possibly have been dedicated to Egeria rather than to Diana； or perhaps we should rather say that the water…nymph Egeria is only another form of the great nature…goddess Diana herself； the mistress of sounding rivers as well as of umbrageous woods； who had her home by the lake and her mirror in its calm waters； and whose Greek counterpart Artemis loved to haunt meres and springs。 The identification of Egeria with Diana is confirmed by a statement of Plutarch that Egeria was one of the oak…nymphs whom the Romans believed to preside over every green oak…grove； for； while Diana was a goddess of the woodlands in general； she appears to have been intimately associated with oaks in particular； especially at her sacred grove of Nemi。 Perhaps； then； Egeria was the fairy of a spring that flowed from the roots of a sacred oak。 Such a spring is said to have gushed from the foot of the great oak at Dodona； and from its murmurous flow the priestess drew oracles。 Among the Greeks a draught of water from certain sacred springs or wells was supposed to confer prophetic powers。 This would explain the more than mortal wisdom with which； according to tradition； Egeria inspired her royal husband or lover Numa。 When we remember how very often in early society the king is held responsible for the fall of rain and the fruitfulness of the earth； it seems hardly rash to conjecture that in the legend of the nuptials of Numa and Egeria we have a reminiscence of a sacred marriage which the old Roman kings regularly contracted with a goddess of vegetation and water for the purpose of enabling him to discharge his divine or magical functions。 In such a rite the part of the goddess might be played either by an image or a woman； and if by a woman； probably by the Queen。 If there is any truth in this conjecture； we may suppose that the King and Queen of Rome masqueraded as god and goddess at their marriage； exactly as the King and Queen of Egypt appear to have done。 The legend of Numa and Egeria points to a sacred grove rather than to a house as the scene of the nuptial union； which； like the marriage of the King and Queen of May； or of the vine…god and the Queen of Athens； may have been annually celebrated as a charm to ensure the fertility not only of the earth but of man and beast。 Now； according to some accounts；