[1] These figures refer to the bibliography at the end.
[2] Tylor (“On the Game of Patolli,” _Journ. Anthrop. Inst._, Vol. VIII.,
1879, p. 128) cites another certain case of borrowing on the part of
pre-Columbian America from Asia. “Lot-backgammon as represented by tab,
_pachisi_, etc., ranges in the Old World from Egypt across Southern Asia
to Birma. As the _patolli_ of the Mexicans is a variety of lot-backgammon
most nearly approaching the Hindu _pachisi_, and perhaps like it passing
into the stage of dice-backgammon, its presence seems to prove that it
had made its way across from Asia. At any rate, it may be reckoned among
elements of Asiatic culture traceable in the old Mexican civilization,
the high development of which ... seems to be in large measure due to
Asiatic influence.”
[3] See also =2=; =3=; =7=; =8=; =9=; =10=; =16=; =20=; =21=; =24=; =29=;
=30=; =38=; =48=; =49=; =50=; =51=; =61=; =73=; =103=; and =105=.
[4] For proof that it was reached see =3=; =8=; =9=; =10=; =20=; =21=;
=38=; =49=; =50=; =51=; =73=; =102=; =103=; and =105=.
[5] Dr. Fewkes’ discourse is essentially a farrago of meaningless
verbiage. Later on in this communication I shall give a characteristic
sample of the late Professor Keane’s dialectic; but the whole of the
passages referred to should be read by anyone who is inclined to cavil at
my strictures upon such expositions of modern ethnological doctrine. The
obvious course for any serious investigator to pursue is to ignore such
superficial and illogical pretensions: but the ethnological literature of
this country and America is so permeated with ideas such as Fewkes and
Keane express, that it has become necessary bluntly to expose the utter
hollowness of their case.
[6] For if any sense whatever is to be attached to this phrase it implies
that man is endowed with instincts of a much more complex and highly
specialised kind than any insect or bird—instincts moreover which impel
a group of men to perform at the same epoch a very large series of
peculiarly complex, meaningless and fantastic acts that have no possible
relationship to the “struggle for existence,” which is supposed to be
responsible for the fashioning of instincts.
But William McDougall tells us that the distinctive feature of human
instincts is that they are of “the most highly general type.” “They
merely provide a basis for vaguely directed activities in response
to vaguely discriminated impressions from large classes of objects.”
(“Psychology, the Study of Behaviour,” p. 171.) There is nothing vague
about the extraordinary repertoire of the “heliolithic” cult!
[7] It is a curious reflection that the idea of stone living which made
such a fantastic belief possible may itself have arisen from the Egyptian
practices about to be described.
[8] How insistent the desire was to make a statue of the mummy itself is
shown by the repeated attempts made in later times; see the account of
the mummies of Amenophis III. (=86=) and of the rulers and priests of the
XXIst and XXIInd Dynasties (=78= and =87=).
[9] For an account of the geographical distribution of serpent-worship
and a remarkable demonstration of the intimacy of its association with
distinctive “heliolithic” ideas, see Wake (=103=).
[10] Sir William Thiselton Dyer informs me that in all probability it was
not _cedar_ but _juniper_ that was obtained by the Ancient Egyptians from
Syria [and used for embalming]. The material to which reference is made
here would probably be identical with the modern ‘huile de cade,’ and be
obtained from _juniperus excelsa_.
I retain the term “oil of cedar” to facilitate the bibliographical
references, as all the archæologists and historians invariably use this
expression.
[11] Since this memoir has been printed Dr. Alan Gardiner has published
a most luminous and important account of “The Tomb of Amenemhēt” (N. de
Garis Davies and Alan Gardiner, 1915), which throws a flood of light upon
Egyptian ideas concerning the matters discussed in this communication.
[12] Mr. Crooke has called my attention to a similar practice in India.
Leith (Journ. Anthr. Soc. of Bombay, Vol. I., 1886, pp. 39 and 40) stated
that the _Káší Khanda_ contained an account of a Bráhman who preserved
his mother’s corpse. After having it preserved and wrapped he “coated the
whole with pure clay and finally deposited the corpse in a copper coffin.”
[13] Jackson refers the suggestion to Curzon’s “Persia and the Persian
Question,” 1892, where I find (Vol. II., pp. 74, 79, 80, 146, 178 and
192) most conclusive evidence in proof of the fact that the body of Cyrus
was mummified and all the Egyptian rites were observed (see especially
Mr. Cecil Smith’s note on p. 80). In Persia, under Darius (p. 182), the
Egyptian methods of tomb-construction were closely copied, not only in
their general plan, but in minute details of their decoration (see p.
178)—also the bas-relief of Cyrus wearing the Egyptian crown (p. 74).
Cambyses even introduced Egyptian workmen to carry out such work (p. 192).
There are reasons for believing that India also was in turn influenced
by this direct transmission of Egyptian practices to Persia, but only
after (perhaps more than a century after) the Ethiopian modification of
Egyptian embalming had been adopted there.
[14] See, however, p. 69. At some future time I shall explain what an
important link is provided by the ancient culture of the Black Sea
littoral between Egypt and the civilizations of the Western Mediterranean
on the one hand and India on the other.
[15] Reutter (=63=) quotes the statement from Tschirch that Neuhof has
described the embalming of bodies in Asia. In Borneo camphor, areca
nut and the wood of aloes and musk are used; and in China camphor and
sandalwood.
[16] For this and certain other references I have to thank my colleague
Professor S. J. Hickson, F.R.S. So far I have been unable to consult the
full reports of Lorenz’s expedition.
[17] A curious feature of these models is the representation of faces on
the shoulders. Similar practices have been recorded in America (Bancroft,
=3=).
[18] For the whole driving force of the so-called “psychological”
ethnologists is really a reverence for authority and a meaningless creed.
[19] Recent literature has thrown some doubt upon its occurrence in
Western Europe.
[20] It is quite possible this may refer to the relatively modern
incursion of Norsemen and other Europeans into America by the North
Atlantic.