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s； nor repair to an assembly of women at Seaghais； nor sit in autumn on the sepulchral mounds of the wife of Maine； nor contend in running with the rider of a grey one…eyed horse at Ath Gallta between two posts。 The king of Ulster was forbidden to attend the horse fair at Rath Line among the youths of Dal Araidhe； to listen to the fluttering of the flocks of birds of Linn Saileach after sunset； to celebrate the feast of the bull of Daire…mic…Daire； to go into Magh Cobha in the month
of March； and to drink of the water of Bo Neimhidh between two darknesses。 If the kings of Ireland strictly observed these and many other customs； which were enjoined by immemorial usage； it was believed that they would never meet with mischance or misfortune； and would live for ninety years without experiencing the decay of old age； that no epidemic or mortality would occur during their reigns； and that the seasons would be favourable and the earth yield its fruit in abundance； whereas； if they set the ancient usages at naught； the country would be visited with plague； famine； and bad weather。
The kings of Egypt were worshipped as gods； and the routine of their daily life was regulated in every detail by precise and unvarying rules。 The life of the kings of Egypt； says Diodorus； was not like that of other monarchs who are irresponsible and may do just what they choose； on the contrary； everything was fixed for them by law； not only their official duties； but even the details of their daily life 。 The hours both of day and night were arranged at which the king had to do； not what he pleased； but what was prescribed for him 。 For not only were the times appointed at which he should transact public business or sit in judgment； but the very hours for his walking and bathing and sleeping with his wife； and； in short； performing every act of life were all settled。 Custom enjoined a simple diet； the only flesh he might eat was veal and goose； and he might only drink a prescribed quantity of wine。 However； there is reason to think that these rules were observed； not by the ancient Pharaohs； but by the priestly kings who reigned at Thebes and Ethiopia at the close of the twentieth dynasty。
Of the taboos imposed on priests we may see a striking example in the rules of life prescribed for the Flamen Dialis at Rome； who has been interpreted as a living image of Jupiter； or a human embodiment of the sky…spirit。 They were such as the following： The Flamen Dialis might not ride or even touch a horse； nor see an army under arms； nor wear a ring which was not broken； nor have a knot on any part of his garments； no fire except a sacred fire might be taken out of his house； he might not touch wheaten flour or leavened bread； he might not touch or even name a goat； a dog； raw meat； beans； and ivy； he might not walk under a vine； the feet of his bed had to be daubed with mud； his hair could be cut only by a free man and with a bronze knife and his hair and nails when cut had to be buried under a lucky tree； he might not touch a dead body nor enter a place where one was burned； he might not see work being done on holy days； he might not be uncovered in the open air； if a man in bonds were taken into his house； the captive had to be unbound and the cords had to be drawn up through a hole in the roof and so let down into the street。 His wife； the Flaminica； had to observe nearly the same rules； and others of her own besides。 She might not ascend more than three steps of the kind of staircase called Greek； at a certain festival she might not comb her hair； the leather of her shoes might not be made from a beast that had died a natural death； but only from one that had been slain or sacrificed； if she heard thunder she was tabooed till she had offered an expiatory sacrifice。
Among the Grebo people of Sierra Leone there is a pontiff who bears the title of Bodia and has been compared； on somewhat slender grounds； to the high priest of the Jews。 He is appointed in accordance with the behest of an oracle。 At an elaborate ceremony of installation he is anointed； a ring is put on his ankle as a badge of office； and the door…posts of his house are sprinkled with the blood of a sacrificed goat。 He has charge of the public talismans and idols； which he feeds with rice and oil every new moon； and he sacrifices on behalf of the town to the dead and to demons。 Nominally his power is very great； but in practice it is very limited； for he dare not defy public opinion； and he is held responsible； even with his life； for any adversity that befalls the country。 It is expected of him that he should cause the earth to bring forth abundantly； the people to be healthy； war to be driven far away； and witchcraft to be kept in abeyance。 His life is trammelled by the observance of certain restrictions or taboos。 Thus he may not sleep in any house but his own official residence； which is called the anointed house with reference to the ceremony of anointing him at inauguration。 He may not drink water on the highway。 He may not eat while a corpse is in the town； and he may not mourn for the dead。 If he dies while in office； he must be buried at dead of night； few may hear of his burial； and none may mourn for him when his death is made public。 Should he have fallen a victim to the poison ordeal by drinking a decoction of sassywood； as it is called； he must be buried under a running stream of water。
Among the Todas of Southern India the holy milkman； who acts as priest of the sacred dairy； is subject to a variety of irksome and burdensome restrictions during the whole time of his incumbency； which may last many years。 Thus he must live at the sacred dairy and may never visit his home or any ordinary village。 He must be celibate； if he is married he must leave his wife。 On no account may any ordinary person touch the holy milkman or the holy dairy； such a touch would so defile his holiness that he would forfeit his office。 It is only on two days a week； namely Mondays and Thursdays； that a mere layman may even approach the milkman； on other days if he has any business with him； he must stand at a distance （some say a quarter of a mile） and shout his message across the intervening space。 Further； the holy milkman never cuts his hair or pares his nails so long as he holds office； he never crosses a river by a bridge； but wades through a ford and only certain fords； if a death occurs in his clan； he may not attend any of the funeral ceremonies； unless he first resigns his office and descends from the exalted rank of milkman to that of a mere common mortal。 Indeed it appears that in old days he had to resign the seals； or rather the pails； of office whenever any member of his clan departed this life。 However； these heavy restraints are laid in their entirety only on milkmen of the very highest class。
2。 Divorce of the Spiritual from the Temporal Power
THE BURDENSOME observances attached to the royal or priestly office produced their natural effect。 Either men refused to accept the office； which hence tended to fall into abeyance； or accepting it； they sank under its weight into spiritless creatures； cloistered recluses； from whose nerveless fingers the reins of government slipped into the firmer grasp of men who were often content to wield the reality of sovereignty without its name。 In some countries this rift in the supreme power deepened into a total and permanent separation of the spiritual and temporal powers； the old royal house retaining their purely religious functions； while the civil government passed into the hands of a younger and more vigorous race。
To take examples。 In a previous part of this work we saw that in Cambodia it is often necessary to force the kingships of Fire and Water upon the reluctant successors； and that in Savage Island the monarchy actually came to an end because at last no one could be induced to accept the dangerous distinction。 In some parts of West Africa； when the king dies； a family council is secretly held to determine his successor。 He on whom the choice falls is suddenly seized； bound； and thrown into the fetish…house； where he is kept in durance till he consents to accept the crown。 Sometimes the heir finds means of evading the honour which it is sought to thrust upon him； a ferocious chief has been known to go about constantly armed； resolute to resist by force any attempt to set him on the throne。 The savage Timmes of Sierra Leone； who elect their king； reserve to themselves the right of beating him on the eve of his coronation； and they avail themselves of this constitutional privilege with such hearty goodwill that sometimes the unhappy monarch does not long survive his elevation to the throne。 Hence when the leading chiefs have a spite at a man and wish to rid themselves of him； they elect him king。 Formerly； before a man was proclaimed king of Sierra Leone； it used to be the custom to load him with chains and thrash him。 Then the fetters were knocked off； the kingly robe was placed on him； and he received in his hands the symbol of royal dignity； which was nothing but the axe of the executioner。 It is not therefore surprising to read that in Sierra Leone； where such customs have prevailed； 〃except among the Mandingoes and Suzees； few kings are n