All the nations of the world have customs of their own, which bear a
curious resemblance to each other. For instance, when a Zulu has to
undertake the dangerous job of crawling up to a lion, he likes to
dress himself in his war-paint before beginning.
That same sort of idea is to be found in other parts of the world.
Even in our own country, not one hundred years ago, our sailors,
before going into action with an enemy, always liked to wash and shave
themselves, tie their pigtails nattily, and put on their best
neckerchiefs. And even now in Canada the Cree Indians, when they are
hunting a bear, put on their best clothes and decorate themselves
before tackling the danger.
[Illustration: THE "SWASTIKA."]
So you see we are all alike in some ways in different parts of the
world. If you sneeze in Scotland people say: "God bless you." If you
sneeze in Masailand (British East-Africa) a native will say: "Good
health to you!"
There are hundreds of these little customs which are used by people in
different corners of the earth who have never had anything to do with
each other.
But perhaps the most wonderful of all is the sign of the "Swastika,"
which we Scouts use as our "Badge of Brotherhood."
Nobody knows the exact history of where it came from, or what it
means; but it is found in almost every part of the world, and is very,
very old.
Rudyard Kipling believes it was made by a man in ancient days, who put
two twigs crossed on the ground and trod them down into the mud so as
to leave a mark to act as a guide to others, like a Scout's
ground-mark.
But another story is this:
Where the Atlantic Ocean now is, people in old days believed that
there was a great land called Atlantis, which has since sunk under the
sea.
This land was watered by four great rivers, which ran across the whole
in different directions--north, south, east, and west. This cross is
meant for the four rivers, and is the crest of the Continent of
Atlantis.
But whatever the meaning of it was, the Swastika Cross is found in all
parts of the world as an ancient mark.
Thus, in Norway it appears on the sword-scabbard of the ancient
Norsemen as a sign to bring good luck; also in Iceland, Germany, and
France on old pottery.
In the south it is found in West Africa, in Greece, and Egypt.
In the west it is found in America, in Arizona, and Mexico, and South
America.
And in the east in India, Tibet, Japan, China, and Persia.
Thus, it stands for Europe, Asia, Africa, and America--all the world;
and it is, in each of them, considered to be a sign of friendliness
and good wishes.
That is how we come to use it in the Scouts, whose business is to do
good turns and to help other people wherever we may be.
When, therefore, we want to show particular goodwill to anyone,
especially those who have done us a good turn, we give to them a
"Swastika," or "Badge of Brotherhood," to wear. This makes them
members of the brotherhood of Scouts, although they are not actual
Scouts themselves; and when they show their badge to a Scout he will
do all he can to help them in whatever part of the world they may be.
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