Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review Volumes 32 and 33.djvu/269

Rh high position these animals occupy in the life history of a cattle-tribe.

Akin to the avoidance of contact with a harmful object by means of interposing a body is the interposing of something as a protection against hurtful rays from another person's eyes. In other words, to be seen performing certain actions may be hurtful, and something must be put between. This is found commonly in connection with drinking.

The old kings of Dahomey always had a cloth or several handkerchiefs held round their face if they drank anything at a time when anybody except their wives or other personal attendants were present. The same custom prevails among the far distant Baluba, and also, I think, among their neighbours the Basonge as well. Nobody is allowed to be present when the chief's water is drawn from the stream. Nobody must see it carried up to the chief's house, so a boy goes on ahead to clear the way; and the pot has to be covered with a cloth so that nobody may see the water. As the custom of a chief not being seen drinking prevails also among the Banyoro, I believe, it must be a very widespread one, and no doubt prevails among many intervening tribes.

A last note on this subject I may make is that early travellers relate that the King of Uganda was never allowed to touch any object, not even a present, until it had been exorcised. Such a practice can only indicate that the king was possessed of a special sanctity, and accordingly had to be protected from any defilement.

In connection with the chiefly office, therefore, non-contact may be classified under three heads:

1. Sanctity of his person.

2. His dignity.

3. His arrogance.