Identifier: historyofmankind01ratz (find matches)
Title: The history of mankind
Year: 1896 (1890s)
Authors: Ratzel, Friedrich, 1844-1904 Butler, Arthur John, 1844-1910
Subjects: Ethnology Anthropology
Publisher: London, Macmillan and co., ltd. New York, The Macmillan co.
Contributing Library: Wellesley College Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Wellesley College Library

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he mysticDuk-Duk system totheir own purposes ;while in Africa it isamong the functionsof the chief to makeatonement for hispeople by magic arts,when they have in-curred the wrath ofhigher Powers, and toobtain for them byprayers or charms ad-vantages of all kinds.This, however, doesnot prevent the influ-ence of the chief frombeing overshadowedby that of a priestwho happens to be in possession of some great fetish. Conversion to Christianityhas almost always destroyed the power of the native chiefs, unless they havecontrived to take the people with them. But the religious sentiment is the onething that has maintained respect for a chiefs children, even when they havebecome slaves. The power of the chief is further heightened when the monopoly of trade iscombined with his magic powers. Since he is the intermediary of trade, he getsinto his own hands everything coveted by his subjects, and becomes the bestowerof good gifts, the fulfiller of the most cherished wishes. This system finds its
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A Dakota chief. (From a photograph.) 134 THE HISTORY OF MANKIND highest development in Africa, where the most wealthy and liberal chief isreckoned the best. In it lies the secure source of great power and often ofbeneficial results. For at this point we must not overlook the fact that one ofthe most conspicuous incitements to progress, or, let us say more cautiously, tochanges in the amount of culture which a race possesses, is to be sought in thewill of prominent individuals. We also find chiefs, however, whose power is firmlybased upon superior knowledge or skill. The Manyema chief Mocnekuss, soattractively depicted by Livingstone, was keen about having his son taughtblacksmithing, and the Namaqua chief, Lamert, was the most efficient smith amonghis tribe. But of course it is in the art of war that accomplishment is most valuedin a chief. In giving judgment, he needs no great abundance of Solomonianwisdom, since in all more serious accusations the culprit is ascertained by meansof m

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