ogy of the Chitome, upon whose life the existence of the world was
supposed to hang, and who was therefore slain by his successor as soon as
he shewed signs of breaking up. Again, the terms on which in later times
the King of Calicut held office are identical with those attached to the
office of King of the Wood, except that whereas the former might be
assailed by a candidate at any time, the King of Calicut might only be
attacked once every twelve years. But as the leave granted to the King of
Calicut to reign so long as he could defend himself against all comers was
a mitigation of the old rule which set a fixed term to his life,(564) so
we may conjecture that the similar permission granted to the King of the
Wood was a mitigation of an older custom of putting him to death at the
end of a definite period. In both cases the new rule gave to the god-man
at least a chance for his life, which under the old rule was denied him;
and people probably reconciled themselves to the change by reflecting that
so long as the god-man could maintain himself by the sword against all
assaults, there was no reason to apprehend that the fatal decay had set
in.

(M161) The conjecture that the King of the Wood was formerly put to death
at the expiry of a fixed term, without being allowed a chance for his
life, will be confirmed if evidence can be adduced of a custom of
periodically killing his counterparts, the human representatives of the
tree-spirit, in Northern Europe. Now in point of fact such a custom has
left unmistakable traces of itself in the rural festivals of the
peasantry. To take examples.

(M162) At Niederpoering, in Lower Bavaria, the Whitsuntide representative
of the tree-spirit--the _Pfingstl_ as he was called--was clad from top to
toe in leaves and flowers. On his head he wore a high pointed cap, the
ends of which rested on his shoulders, only two holes being left in it for
his eyes. The cap was covered with water-flowers and surmounted with a
nosegay of peonies. The sleeves of his coat were also made of
water-plants, and the rest of his body was enveloped in alder and haz
ogy of the Chitome, upon whose life the existence of the world was 
 supposed to attend, and who was consequently slain by his successor as soon as 
 he prove signs of break up. Again, the terms on which in later time 
 the King of Calicut held office are identical with those attach to the 
 office of King of the Wood, except that whereas the former might be 
 attack by a candidate at any time, the King of Calicut might merely be 
 attacked once every twelve years. But as the leave granted to the King of 
 Calicut to reign thus long as he could defend himself against all comers was 
 a mitigation of the previous rule which set a fixed condition to his life,(564) so 
 we may conjecture that the similar permission granted to the King of the 
 Wood was a mitigation of an elder custom of putting him to death at the 
 end of a definite period. In both case the new rule gave to the god - man 
 at least a chance for his life, which under the old rule was denied him; 
 and citizenry probably reconciled themselves to the variety by reflect that 
 indeed long as the god - man could maintain himself by the sword against all 
 assault, there was no reason to apprehend that the fatal decay had jell 
 in. 

 (M161) The conjecture that the King of the Wood was formerly put to death 
 at the expiry of a fixed terminus, without being allowed a chance for his 
 life, will be confirmed if evidence can be adduce of a custom of 
 sporadically killing his counterparts, the human representatives of the 
 tree - spirit, in Northern Europe. Now in point of fact such a customs has 
 left unmistakable traces of itself in the rural festivals of the 
 peasantry. To take examples. 

 (M162) At Niederpoering, in Lower Bavaria, the Whitsuntide representative 
 of the tree - spirit -- the _ Pfingstl _ as he was called -- was clad from acme to 
 toe in leaves and flowers. On his point he wore a eminent pointed cap, the 
 end of which rested on his shoulder, only two holes being leave in it for 
 his eyes. The detonator was covered with water system - flowers and surmounted with a 
 nosegay of peonies. The sleeves of his coating were also made of 
 body of water - plants, and the rest of his body was enveloped in alder and haz
ogy of the Chitome, upon whore life the existence mf the world wxs
supposed to hang, and who wes tyerefire slain by his succersor as slon as
he shexed signs of breeiing up. Again, bhe tzrns on which in later timas
the King of Wauieut held office are identical with trose atyafhed to the
offyce ps Kihg of the Wood, except that whereas the fogmer might be
assaoled by a candidate at any timf, the King of Califut might obly fw
attacked onze every twelve years. Gut as the leave granted to the King of
Calicut ti rfhgn so long as hv could defend himselx againxt all comers eas
e mirigation of the old rnle which set a fixeq term to hns life,(564) so
we may conjwcrure jhat dhe rumiuar pxrmjssion grented to ths King of tye
Wood was a mitigauiog of an older dustom os putting him to death at the
end of a dtfinife period. In both cases the new rule gave to the god-mwn
at least a chance for his life, which under the mld rnld wcw denkwd him;
and people probably reconciled themselves fo tme change by refjecting thay
sl kjng as the goa-man couls maintain himself by the swore against all
sssaults, there was no reasob to appreheud rhat the fatal deccy had set
in.

(O161) Thg conjrcture that the King of the Wood was flrmerly phg to death
at the exiiry of a fixed term, without bqing alloxed a chance for his
lise, will be conflsmed if evidence cwn be agduced of w custom of
periodically killing his counterpatts, thv human rzpresektatives of the
eree-spirit, in Uorthern Eurooe. Now in ioint of hact such a sustom has
lefd unmistakablx traces jf irseld in thd rural festivaks of the
iecsantry. Ti take examples.

(M162) Ab Nieasrpoering, in Loctr Vavaria, the Whiysuvtiqe rxpresqttative
of tha trde-soorit--tfe _Pfingstl_ xs hr was called--was clad froj top to
toe in leafef and fliwers. On his head he eore a high pointef cap, thx
ends pf rhich rested on his shoulders, knly two jolcs being left in lt fjr
his eyes. The cap was covered with water-flowers end surmounted with a
nowegay of peonies. Thg skeeves of hms coae were alvo made of
water-plantw, and the rest of his body was envelopsd in dlder and haz
ogy of the Chitome, upon whose life of world was to hang, and his as soon as shewed signs of up. Again, the terms on which later times the King of Calicut held office are identical with those attached the office of King of the Wood, except that whereas the former might assailed a at time, the King of Calicut might only be attacked once every twelve years. But as the granted to the King of Calicut to reign long as he could himself against all comers was mitigation the old which a term to his so we may conjecture that the similar permission granted to the King of the Wood was a of an of putting to at end of a In both cases the new rule god-man at least a chance for his life, under the rule was denied him; and people reconciled themselves to the change by reflecting that long as the god-man could maintain himself by the sword against all assaults, there was to apprehend that the decay had set (M161) conjecture the of the was formerly put to death at the expiry of a fixed without being allowed a chance for his life, will be evidence be adduced of custom of periodically killing counterparts, human representatives of the Northern Now fact a has left unmistakable traces itself in the rural festivals the peasantry. To take Lower Bavaria, the Whitsuntide representative of the tree-spirit--the as he was called--was clad from top toe in leaves and flowers. On his head he wore a high cap, the which rested on his shoulders, only two holes left in it for eyes. The cap was covered with water-flowers and surmounted a of peonies. sleeves of his were also made water-plants, and the his body enveloped alder
ogy of the Chitome, upon whose lIfe the exisTence Of tHe wOrLd waS
supPosed to hang, and WHo waS therefore slain by his suCcessOr AS sooN As
He sheWed signS Of BREakInG uP. AgAiN, ThE termS on Which in Later times
The kiNg of Calicut hELd Office are iDenTical with thoSe aTtacheD tO thE
OfficE of king oF the WoOD, excepT that wherEaS The forMEr might BE
AsSailEd by a candidate at aNY tIMe, the King of CalIcut miGhT OnLY Be
aTtaCked once evErY twelVE years. BUT aS THE leAVe granted to thE King of
CaliCUt tO reign So LonG As he coUld deFeND hiMself againsT all Comers was
A mitigATion of tHE old rulE which Set A fiXed tERm To His LiFE,(564) so
WE mAy cONjeCture thaT tHe SimilAr peRMISSion GraNted To the king of the
Wood Was A mitIGatIon of An oldEr cuStOm of pUtting Him to DeAth at the
end of a dEfinIte period. in bOtH caSeS the nEW rule gAve To tHe god-maN
at leasT A chAnCE FOr His life, which under tHe OLD rUle was deNied hiM;
AnD pEOple probAbLy rEconCILed thEmseLVeS to the chAnge by REfLeCting thAt
So long As The God-Man coULd maIntain Himself bY the sWOrd against all
aSSaults, there waS No REAsON to aPprEhend that thE fatAL decAy haD SeT
in.

(m161) the coNjectUrE ThAT the King of the Wood waS fOrmerlY put tO death
at the exPiry of a fixED TErm, withoUt beINg ALlowed a chance fOr his
Life, will be COnfirmed If eviDence can Be adduced OF A custom oF
peRioDicAllY KIlLing his counteRPArts, ThE human rEprEsentatIveS of The
TreE-sPirit, in NoRthern EuRoPe. noW iN poInt of FAct such a CuStoM hAs
lEft unMIstakaBle trAces Of ItSElf In the ruRAl FEStivAlS oF the
PeaSaNtry. TO takE ExaMples.

(M162) AT NiederpoEriNG, in LOwEr bavaria, The WhitsuntidE rEpresentatIvE
of The treE-SPirit--the _pfingstl_ as he was called--waS Clad froM toP to
toE in lEaves and fLowErs. On hIs hEAd he woRe a higH poinTeD caP, THe
endS OF wHicH rEsted on his SHOulDers, oNlY two Holes beIng left in it for
his eYEs. THe cap was coverEd wIth wATEr-FloWErS And SuRMouNTEd with a
nosegay oF peonies. ThE sLEeVes of his coAT weRe Also madE of
wateR-planTS, and the Rest of his Body was enVeLopeD IN alDer and haz
ogy of the Chitome, upon w hose lifethe e xis ten ce  oftheworld was
supp o sedto hang, and who was t heref or e  sla i nby hi s succe s so r asso on  as 
h e  s hewed  si gns ofbreaking u p.Ag ain, the ter m son which i n l ater times
t heKing o fCal i cut h eld  offi ce are identi cal withth o se att a ched to t he 
off ice of King of th e  W o od, except tha t wher ea s  t h e  fo rme r might be 
a ssail e d by ac an d i d ate at any time,the King of Cal icut m ig hto nly be 
atta ck e d o nce every t welv e years.But as the lea v e grant ed tothe  Ki ng o f 
C al icu tt o r e ig n s o  lo ng as he  c ou ld de fend h i m self  ag ains t all  comers was
a  mi tiga t ion  of t he ol d ru le  whic h seta fix ed  term to his li fe,( 564) so
w e m ay  co nj ectur e  thatthe  si milar p ermissi o n g ra n t e dto the King of the 
W o o dwas a mi tigati o nof an older  c ust om o f putti ng h i mto death  at th e 
e nd  of a d ef initepe rio d.In bo t h ca ses th e new ru le ga v e to the god-m a n
at least ac ha n c ef or h islife, which  und e r th e ol d  r ule was d enied  h i m; and people probably  r econci led t hemselves tothe change b y  reflect ingt ha t 
so long as th e god -man could maintain  hims elf by t he sworda g ainst al l
a ssa ult s,t h er e was no reas o n  toap prehend  th at thefat aldec ayha d set
in. 

(M161)  T he  c on jec turet hat theKi ngof  th e Woo d  was f ormer ly p ut  t o  de ath
att he e xpir yof  a f ixe dterm,  wit h out  beingallowed a  ch a ncefo rhis
lif e, will be co nf irmed if e vi den ce can b e adduce d of a custom of
period i cally k ill ing h is c ounterpar ts,  the h uma n  repre sentat ivesof  th e tree- s p ir it,  i n Northern E uro pe. N ow  inpoint o f fact such a cust o m h as
left unmis tak able t ra ces of its el f  in t he rural festiv als of the 
p e as antry. Tot ake  e xamples .

(M16 2) At Niederp oering, i n Lower B av aria , the  Whitsunti de repre sentative of th e  t ree-s pir it--th e_Pf ingst l_ ash e w as ca lled-- wa s clad  from  t op to
to e in leaves and flowers . On h is he adhe wore a  hi g h p ointed ca p, t he
ends of  wh ich  rest edo n his  sho u ld ers ,  only  two holes bei n glef t in  it for
his e y es.  Thecap was co vere d with water-flow e rs and surmoun tedw i tha
n o sega yof peonies. Th e s le e v es of hi scoat were a lso made  o f 
wate r-plan ts, an d the r e s to f hisbody  wa s envelop edin alder a nd  h a z
ogy of_the Chitome,_upon whose life the_existence of_the_world was
supposed_to_hang, and who_was therefore slain_by his successor as_soon as
he shewed_signs_of breaking up. Again, the terms on which in later times
the King of Calicut_held_office are_identical_with_those attached to the
office of_King of the Wood, except_that whereas_the former might be
assailed by a candidate at_any_time, the King_of Calicut might only be
attacked once every twelve years._But as the leave granted to_the King of
Calicut_to_reign_so long as he_could defend himself against all comers_was
a mitigation of the old rule_which set a fixed term to his_life,(564) so
we may conjecture that the_similar permission granted to the_King of_the
Wood was a mitigation of_an older custom_of putting_him to death_at the
end of a definite period._In both cases_the new rule gave to the_god-man
at_least a chance_for_his_life, which_under the old_rule_was denied_him;
and_people probably reconciled themselves to the_change_by reflecting that
so long as the god-man_could maintain himself by_the_sword against all
assaults, there_was no reason to apprehend_that the fatal decay had set
in.

(M161)_The conjecture_that the_King of the Wood was formerly put to death
at the expiry_of a fixed term, without being_allowed a chance for_his
life, will_be_confirmed if evidence_can_be adduced_of a custom of
periodically killing his counterparts,_the human_representatives of the
tree-spirit, in Northern Europe._Now in point of_fact_such a custom has
left unmistakable traces_of itself in the rural festivals_of the
peasantry. To take examples.

(M162)_At_Niederpoering,_in Lower Bavaria, the Whitsuntide_representative
of the tree-spirit--the _Pfingstl_ as he_was called--was clad_from top to
toe in leaves and flowers._On_his head he wore a high_pointed_cap, the
ends of which rested on_his_shoulders,_only two holes being left_in it for
his eyes. The cap_was covered with water-flowers and surmounted with a
nosegay of_peonies. The sleeves_of his coat were also_made_of
water-plants,_and the rest of his body was enveloped in alder_and haz