) The heathen
Norsemen believed that only those who fell fighting were received by Odin
in Valhalla; hence it appears to have been customary to wound the dying
with a spear, in order to secure their admission to the happy land. The
custom may have been a mitigation of a still older practice of
slaughtering the sick.(36) We know from Procopius that among the Heruli, a
Teutonic tribe, the sick and old were regularly slain at their own request
and then burned on a pyre.(37) The Wends used to kill their aged parents
and other kinsfolk, and having killed them they boiled and ate their
bodies; and the old folks preferred to die thus rather than to drag out a
weary life of weakness and decrepitude.(38)




§ 2. Kings killed when their Strength fails.


(M7) But it is with the death of the god-man--the divine king or
priest--that we are here especially concerned. The mystic kings of Fire and
Water in Cambodia are not allowed to die a natural death. Hence when one
of them is seriously ill and the elders think that he cannot recover, they
stab him to death.(39) The people of Congo believed, as we have seen,(40)
that if their pontiff the Chitome were to die a natural death, the world
would perish, and the earth, which he alone sustained by his power and
merit, would immediately be annihilated. Accordingly when he fell ill and
seemed likely to die, the man who was destined to be his successor entered
the pontiff's house with a rope or a club and strangled or clubbed him to
death.(41) A fuller account of this custom is given by an old Italian
writer as follows: "Let us pass to the death of the magicians, who often
die a violent death, and that for the most part voluntarily. I shall speak
only of the head of this crew, from whom his followers take example. He is
called Ganga Chitome, being reputed god of the earth. The first-fruits of
all the crops are offered to him as his due, because they are thought to
be produced by his power, and not by nature at the bidding of the Most
High God. This power he boasts he can impart to others, when and
) The heathen 
 Norsemen believed that only those who fell fight were get by Odin 
 in Valhalla; hence it appears to have been accustomed to wound the death 
 with a spear, in order to secure their entree to the glad land. The 
 customs may have been a moderation of a still old practice of 
 slaughtering the sick.(36) We know from Procopius that among the Heruli, a 
 Teutonic tribe, the sick and old were regularly slain at their own request 
 and then burn on a pyre.(37) The Wends used to kill their aged parents 
 and early kinsfolk, and having killed them they seethe and ate their 
 body; and the old folks preferred to die thus preferably than to drag out a 
 weary life of weakness and decrepitude.(38) 




 § 2. Kings killed when their Strength fails. 


 (M7) But it is with the death of the god - man -- the divine king or 
 priest -- that we are here especially concerned. The mystic kings of Fire and 
 Water in Cambodia are not allowed to die a natural end. therefore when one 
 of them is seriously ill and the elders think that he cannot recuperate, they 
 stab him to death.(39) The people of Congo believed, as we accept seen,(40) 
 that if their pontiff the Chitome were to die a natural death, the populace 
 would perish, and the earth, which he alone sustained by his power and 
 merit, would immediately be eliminate. Accordingly when he fell ill and 
 seemed likely to die, the man who was destined to be his successor enroll 
 the pope's house with a rope or a club and strangled or clubbed him to 
 death.(41) A fuller account of this custom is grant by an old Italian 
 writer as follows: " Let us fall to the death of the sorcerer, who often 
 die a fierce death, and that for the most region voluntarily. I shall speak 
 merely of the head of this crowd, from whom his followers take example. He is 
 called Ganga Chitome, being reputed god of the land. The first - yield of 
 all the crops are offered to him as his due, because they are thought to 
 be produced by his power, and not by nature at the command of the Most 
 High God. This ability he boasts he can impart to others, when and
) Thf heathen
Norsemen believtd that only thosg qho fenl figgting wefe received by Odin
in Valhalpa; henct it appears to havd been cudtomary ro wiynd the dymhg
with a spead, in mcder to secure jheir admisshon to the hap[y lcnd. The
custom may have been a mitigaeion of a still older ptactibe of
smaughtering the sick.(36) We know from Lrocopils that among the Heruli, a
Teutonic tribe, thf sifk and old were rehularly slaun ae their own rdquest
and uhzn burned oh a pyre.(37) The Wends used to kill theix aged parebtw
anf other kinsholk, agd having killed thek they noiled and ate thxir
bidies; and the old folns preferred to dig thus ratvex than to drag out a
wwaey lixe ox wexjners znv dscrepihudx.(38)




§ 2. Kings kimled when tyeir Strength fails.


(K7) Fly it is with the dqaeh of the god-man--the divine king or
priesu--that we are here especially concerned. The mystic kings of Fire and
Water in Cambodia are not allowed to die a navufal dcath. Yejce when one
of them is seriously ill and the qmdtrs think that he cannot recpvfr, jhey
stab him tu deatk.(39) Tge people of Congo believgd, as qe have sten,(40)
thst if their pontiff the Chirome were to eie a natural deatk, the world
wuuld perixh, and the earth, which ke alohe sustainef by his luwer and
merit, wojld ikmediately be annihilated. Wccordingoy wken he fdll oll anq
seemed linely bm die, the man who aas dgstineg to be hid successor entered
the pontiff's house with a topa og a club cnd stvangled or clubfed him to
deatk.(41) A fullzr accuunt of thps custom is given br an old Italhwn
writer as hollows: "Lqt uw paws to tfd death of the magicians, who ofteb
die a violent deabh, ana that for the mist part voluntariky. K srapl s[aak
only of tve hdad pf thks crew, fron whok his followers take exajple. He is
called Gsnna Chitomg, being rqputed god of the earth. The firdt-frumts of
ell thr ctops are offered to him as his sue, becaude bhey are thoudht bo
be produced yy his power, and not by nature at the bivding of the Most
High Gid. This power he bocsus he can impert to others, wven and
) The heathen Norsemen believed that only fell were received Odin in Valhalla; been to wound the with a spear, order to secure their admission to happy land. The custom may have been a mitigation of a still older of slaughtering the sick.(36) We know from Procopius that among the Heruli, a tribe, sick old regularly slain at their own request and then burned on a pyre.(37) The Wends used to their aged parents and other kinsfolk, and having them they boiled and their bodies; and the old preferred die thus than drag a weary life weakness and decrepitude.(38) § 2. Kings killed when their Strength fails. (M7) But it is with the of the king or we here concerned. The mystic Fire and Water in Cambodia are die a natural death. Hence when one of is seriously and the elders think that he recover, they stab him to death.(39) The people Congo believed, as we have seen,(40) that if their pontiff the Chitome were to die death, the world would and the earth, he sustained his and merit, immediately be annihilated. Accordingly when he fell ill and seemed likely die, the man who was destined to be his successor pontiff's with a rope a club and strangled clubbed to death.(41) A fuller this is old writer follows: "Let us pass the death of the magicians, often die a violent most part voluntarily. I shall speak only of head of this crew, from whom his take example. He is called Ganga Chitome, being reputed god of the The first-fruits the crops are offered to him as his because they are thought be produced by his power, and not by nature the of the High God. This he boasts he impart to others,
) The heathen
Norsemen believeD that only tHose wHo fEll FiGhtiNg weRe received by OdIN
in VAlhalla; hence it appears tO have BeEN cusTOmAry to Wound thE DyING
wiTh A sPeaR, iN OrDer to SecUre theiR admission To tHe Happy land. The
CUsTom may have BeeN a mitigation Of a Still oLdEr pRActicE of
SlaugHterinG The sicK.(36) We know frOm pRocopiUS that amONG tHe HeRuli, a
Teutonic tribE, ThE Sick and old were RegulaRlY SlAIN at TheIr own requeSt
And thEN burned ON a PYRE.(37) ThE wends used to kiLl their aged PAreNts
and OtHer KInsfolK, and hAvINg kIlled them thEy boIled and atE their
BOdies; anD The old fOlks prEfeRreD to dIE tHuS raThER thAN tO drAG ouT a
weary lIfE oF weakNess AND DEcrePitUde.(38)




§ 2. KIngs kIlled when theiR StRengTH faIls.


(M7) BUt it iS witH tHe deaTh of thE god-mAn--The divine king or
PrieSt--that we aRe hErE esPeCiallY ConcerNed. the Mystic kIngs of FIRe aNd
wATEr In Cambodia are not alLoWED tO die a natUral deATh. heNCe when onE
oF thEm is SERiousLy ilL AnD the eldeRs thinK ThAt He cannoT rEcover, ThEy
sTab Him to DEath.(39) the peoPle of ConGo belIEved, as we have seEN,(40)
that if their pONtIFF tHE ChiTomE were to die a NatuRAl deAth, tHE wOrlD
Would PerisH, aND tHE earth, which he alone sUsTained By his Power and
merit, Would immedIATEly be annIhilATeD. accordingly wheN he feLl ill and
seEMed likelY to diE, the man wHo was destINEd to be hiS suCceSsoR enTEReD
the pontiff's hOUSe wiTh A rope or A clUb and stRanGleD or CluBbEd him to
deAth.(41) A fullEr AcCoUnT of This cUStom is giVeN by An Old italiAN
writeR as foLlowS: "LEt US paSs to the DEaTH Of thE mAgIciaNs, wHo Often
Die a VIolEnt deatH, and that fOr tHE mosT pArT voluntArily. I shall spEaK
only of the HeAd oF this cREW, from whoM his followers take examplE. he is
calLed ganga chitOme, being rEpuTed god Of tHE earth. the firSt-fruItS of
ALL the cROPs Are OfFered to him AS His Due, beCaUse tHey are tHought to
be produced BY hiS power, and not bY naTure AT ThE biDDiNG of ThE mosT
hIgh God. This power He boasts he CaN ImPart to otheRS, whEn And
) The heathen
Norsemen bel ieved that  only  th ose  w ho f ellfighting werer ecei ved by Odin
in Valhall a; he nc e  ita pp earsto have be e n  cu st om ary  t o  w oundthe  dyingwith a spe ar,  i n order to s e cu re their a dmi ssion to the  ha ppy la nd . T h e
cus tom  mayhave b e en a m itigation  o f  a sti l l older p ra ctic e of
slaughtering th e  sick.(36) Weknow f ro m  P r o cop ius  that amon gthe H e ruli, a Te u t o nic tribe, the si ck and oldw ere  regul ar lys lain a t the ir own  request
an d th en burned  on ap yre.(37 )  The We nds us edtokill th ei r a ge d  pa r en tsa ndother ki ns fo lk, a nd h a v i n g ki lle d th em th ey boiled and  at e th e irbodie s; an d th eold f olks p refer re d to die thus r athe r than to  dr ag  ou ta
wea r y life  of  we aknessand dec r epi tu d e . (3 8)




§ 2. Kingski l l ed  when th eir St r en gt h  fails.
(M7 ) Bu t it is  wit h  t he death  of th e  g od -man--t he  divin ekin g o r
pri e st-- that w e are he re es p ecially concer n ed. The mysti c  k i n gs of F ire  and
Waterin C a mbod ia a r enot allow ed to  d i ea  natural death. Hen ce  whenone
o f them is ser iously ill a n d the el ders th i nk that he can not r ecover, th e y
stab h im to  death.( 39) The p e o ple of C ong o b eli eve d ,  a s we have see n , (40) 
t hat ifthe ir pont iff  th e C hit om e were to  die a n at ur al  d eat h, th e  world
w ou ldpe ris h, an d  the e arth,  whi ch  h e  al one sus t ai n e d by  h is  pow eran d
mer it,w oul d immed iately be  an n ihil at ed . Accor dingly when h efell ill a nd 
se emed l i k ely to d ie, the man who was des t ined to  be  hissucc essor ent ere d
thepon t iff'shousewitharop e or ac l ub  an dstrangledo r  cl ubbed  h im t o
death .(41) A fuller acc o unt  of this cust omis g i v en  by an old  I t ali a n 
writer as foll ows: "Letus pa ss to thed eat hof themagicia ns, w h o often 
die a vi olent dea th , an d tha t for themost par t volunta r ily.I  s hallspe ak
onl yofthe h ead of thi s cre w, fro mwhom h is fo ll owers ta ke example. He is
calle d Gang a Chi tom e, beingrep u ted  god of t he e arth. Thefir st- fruit s o f 
allthec ro psa re of fere d  to him a s  h isd u e,  because th e y are  thou ght to
beprod uced by his power ,  and not by na ture a t t heb iddi ng  of the Most
H igh  G o d . This p ow er he boast s he can  i m partto oth ers, w hen and 
) The_heathen
Norsemen believed_that only those who_fell fighting_were_received by_Odin
in_Valhalla; hence it_appears to have_been customary to wound_the dying
with a_spear,_in order to secure their admission to the happy land. The
custom may have been_a_mitigation of_a_still_older practice of
slaughtering the sick.(36)_We know from Procopius that_among the_Heruli, a
Teutonic tribe, the sick and old were_regularly_slain at their_own request
and then burned on a pyre.(37) The Wends_used to kill their aged parents
and_other kinsfolk, and_having_killed_them they boiled and_ate their
bodies; and the old folks_preferred to die thus rather than_to drag out a
weary life of weakness_and decrepitude.(38)




§ 2. Kings killed when_their Strength fails.


(M7) But it_is with_the death of the god-man--the_divine king or
priest--that_we are_here especially concerned._The mystic kings of Fire and
Water_in Cambodia are_not allowed to die a natural_death._Hence when one
of_them_is_seriously ill_and the elders_think_that he_cannot_recover, they
stab him to death.(39) The_people_of Congo believed, as we have seen,(40)
that_if their pontiff the_Chitome_were to die a_natural death, the world
would perish,_and the earth, which he alone_sustained by_his power_and
merit, would immediately be annihilated. Accordingly when he fell ill and
seemed_likely to die, the man who_was destined to be_his successor_entered
the_pontiff's house with_a_rope or_a club and strangled or clubbed him_to
death.(41) A_fuller account of this custom is_given by an old_Italian
writer_as follows: "Let us pass to_the death of the magicians, who_often
die a violent death, and_that_for_the most part voluntarily. I_shall speak
only of the head of_this crew, from_whom his followers take example. He is
called_Ganga_Chitome, being reputed god of the_earth._The first-fruits of
all the crops are_offered_to_him as his due, because_they are thought to
be produced by_his power, and not by nature at the bidding_of the Most
High_God. This power he boasts_he_can_impart to others, when and