 part of Southern Nigeria, the Ijebu
tribe of the Yoruba race is divided into two branches, which are known
respectively as the Ijebu Ode and the Ijebu Remon. The Ode branch of the
tribe is ruled by a chief who bears the title of Awujale and is surrounded
by a great deal of mystery. Down to recent times his face might not be
seen even by his own subjects, and if circumstances obliged him to
communicate with them he did so through a screen which hid him from view.
The other or Remon branch of the Ijebu tribe is governed by a chief, who
ranks below the Awujale. Mr. John Parkinson was informed that in former
times this subordinate chief used to be killed with ceremony after a rule
of three years. As the country is now under British protection the custom
of putting the chief to death at the end of a three years' reign has long
been abolished, and Mr. Parkinson was unable to ascertain any particulars
on the subject.(347)




§ 8. Annual Tenure of the Kingship.


(M88) At Babylon, within historical times, the tenure of the kingly office
was in practice lifelong, yet in theory it would seem to have been merely
annual. For every year at the festival of Zagmuk the king had to renew his
power by seizing the hands of the image of Marduk in his great temple of
Esagil at Babylon. Even when Babylon passed under the power of Assyria,
the monarchs of that country were expected to legalise their claim to the
throne every year by coming to Babylon and performing the ancient ceremony
at the New-year festival, and some of them found the obligation so
burdensome that rather than discharge it they renounced the title of king
altogether and contented themselves with the humbler one of Governor.(348)
Further, it would appear that in remote times, though not within the
historical period, the kings of Babylon or their barbarous predecessors
forfeited not merely their crown but their life at the end of a year's
tenure of office. At least this is the conclusion to which the following
evidence seems to point. According to the historian Berosus, who as a
Babylonian priest spoke with ample knowledge, there was annually
celebrated in
part of Southern Nigeria, the Ijebu 
 tribe of the Yoruba race is divided into two branch, which are know 
 respectively as the Ijebu Ode and the Ijebu Remon. The Ode branch of the 
 tribe is ruled by a foreman who bears the title of Awujale and is wall 
 by a capital deal of mystery. Down to recent times his face might not be 
 go steady even by his own subjects, and if context obliged him to 
 communicate with them he did so through a screen which hid him from position. 
 The other or Remon branch of the Ijebu tribe is govern by a chief, who 
 ranks below the Awujale. Mr. John Parkinson was informed that in former 
 multiplication this subordinate chief used to be killed with ceremony after a rule 
 of three class. As the country is now under British protection the custom 
 of putting the chief to death at the end of a three years' reign has long 
 been abolished, and Mr. Parkinson was unable to ascertain any particulars 
 on the subject.(347) 




 § 8. Annual Tenure of the Kingship. 


 (M88) At Babylon, within historical times, the tenure of the kingly office 
 was in practice lifelong, so far in theory it would seem to have been merely 
 annual. For every class at the festival of Zagmuk the baron had to renew his 
 power by seizing the hand of the image of Marduk in his great temple of 
 Esagil at Babylon. Even when Babylon passed under the baron of Assyria, 
 the monarchs of that country were expected to legalise their claim to the 
 toilet every year by coming to Babylon and performing the ancient ceremony 
 at the New - year festival, and some of them found the obligation thus 
 burdensome that rather than discharge it they renounced the title of king 
 wholly and contented themselves with the humbler one of Governor.(348) 
 Further, it would appear that in distant times, though not within the 
 historical period, the kings of Babylon or their barbarous harbinger 
 forfeited not merely their pennant but their life at the end of a class's 
 tenure of office. At least this is the conclusion to which the following 
 evidence seems to bespeak. According to the historian Berosus, who as a 
 Babylonian priest speak with ample knowledge, there was per annum 
 celebrated in
 pagt of Southern Nigeria, tme Ijebu
tribe of the Yocuba rade is dixided into two branches, whici arw knoqn
respectively as the Kjebu Ode and the Ijeuu Remon. The Ode branch of the
fvibe ns ruled by a chlef who beass the title ox Xwbjale and is surrounded
by a great dewl of mushery. Down to rgcent eimea his face might not be
seen even bg his oxn subjects, and if circumstances obliged jim ho
communicate with them he die so rhrough a scfeen which hid him froj view.
The other or Remon branch of tke Ijebu trubw id governed bb a chpef, who
ranks nvlow tha Awujake. Mr. John Parlinvon was informed that in former
times this fubordinade chief used to be kulled witv cefwmovy zfver a rulf
of three yeads. As the ciuntry is now under Bwpyish protectjon thq sustom
of putting the chief to death at uhe ehd of a three years' reitn has long
been abolidhed, and Ir. Parkinson was unable to ascertain any particuldrs
on ghe smbjezr.(347)




§ 8. Annual Tenure of the Kingship.


(M88) At Babylon, wiegim mistorical times, the tenure ov yre kingly offkce
was in practice lifelong, yet in theoey it woujd srem to have been merely
annuql. For every tear at the festivcl of Zagmuk the king had to renew his
power yy seiaing the hajds of ths image of Marduk in hhs great temple of
Esagil ae Babylon. Eveu when Bxbylpn pasfed under hhe power of Assyria,
the lonarehs ox that coujtry were expected to legalise vieir claim to tve
tvrone evzry yesr by coming eo Babylon and perforiing ghe ancienn ceremonb
at the New-yqar festival, djd some of tiem found the oblugation ro
burdensome tnat ratheg uhan dischqrge it they renoukced jhs title of king
cuuotether and conyenged tjeksqnves with tha huobldt one of Govtxnov.(348)
Fufthet, it would appear thdt ih remote times, thoigm not wityin the
hystorical perood, the kings of Bwbyloi or tieir bsrbwrous predecessors
forfeited nof merely hhelr crown but eheiv lise at the znd of a year's
tenure of office. At least vhis is the conclusion ro which the follownnn
evidence sexms to point. Acwording to the histoeian Berosus, who ss a
Babylonian priest spoke with ample knowledge, there was annually
celebrated in
part of Southern Nigeria, the Ijebu tribe Yoruba is divided two branches, which Ijebu and the Ijebu The Ode branch the tribe is ruled by a who bears the title of Awujale and is surrounded by a great deal mystery. Down to recent times his face might not be seen even by own and circumstances him to communicate with them he did so through a screen which hid him from view. other or Remon branch of the Ijebu tribe governed by a chief, ranks below the Awujale. Mr. Parkinson informed that former this chief used to killed with ceremony after a rule of three years. As the country is now under British protection custom of chief to at end a three years' long been abolished, and Mr. Parkinson ascertain any particulars on the subject.(347) § 8. Tenure of Kingship. (M88) At Babylon, within historical the tenure of the kingly office was in lifelong, yet in theory it would seem to have been merely annual. For every year festival of Zagmuk the had to renew power seizing hands the image Marduk in his great temple of Esagil at Babylon. Even when passed under the power of Assyria, the monarchs of that expected legalise their claim the throne every year coming Babylon and performing the at New-year of found obligation so burdensome that than discharge it they renounced title of king altogether humbler one of Governor.(348) Further, it would appear in remote times, though not within the period, the kings of Babylon or their barbarous predecessors forfeited not merely crown but at the end of a year's tenure of At least this is conclusion to which the following evidence seems to point. to historian Berosus, as a Babylonian spoke with ample there was annually
 part of Southern Nigeria, the IJebu
tribe oF the YOruBa rAcE is dIvidEd into two brancHEs, whIch are known
respectivelY as thE IJEbu ODE aNd the ijebu ReMOn. tHE OdE bRaNch Of THe
Tribe Is rUled by a Chief who beArs ThE title of AwujALe And is surroUndEd
by a great deAl oF mysteRy. dowN To recEnt Times His facE Might nOt be
seen eVeN By his oWN subjecTS, AnD if cIrcumstances obligED hIM to
communicate With thEm HE dID So tHroUgh a screen WhIch hiD Him from VIeW.
tHE otHEr or Remon branCh of the IjebU TriBe is goVeRneD By a chiEf, who
RaNKs bElow the AwujAle. MR. John ParkInson wAS informED that in Former
TimEs tHis sUBoRdInaTe CHieF UsEd tO Be kIlled witH cErEmony AfteR A RULe
of ThrEe yeArs. As The country is nOw uNder bRitIsh prOtectIon tHe CustoM
of putTing tHe Chief to death at tHe enD of a three YeaRs' ReiGn Has loNG
been aBolIshEd, and Mr. parkinsON waS uNABLe To ascertain any partIcULArS
on the suBject.(347)




§ 8. ANNuAl tEnure of tHe kinGshiP.


(m88) at BabYlon, WItHin histoRical tIMeS, tHe tenurE oF the kiNgLy oFfiCe
was IN praCtice lIfelong, yEt in tHEory it would seeM To have been merELy
ANNuAL. For EveRy year at the FestIVal oF ZagMUk The KIng haD to reNeW HiS
Power by seizing the haNdS of the Image Of Marduk in his Great templE OF
esagil at babyLOn. eVen when Babylon PasseD under the pOWer of AssYria,
tHe monarcHs of that cOUNtry were ExpEctEd tO leGALiSe their claim tO THe
thRoNe every YeaR by comiNg tO BaBylOn aNd PerforminG the anciEnT cErEmOny
At the nEw-year feStIvaL, aNd sOme of THem fouNd the ObliGaTiON so
BurdensOMe THAt raThEr Than DisChArge iT theY RenOunced tHe title of KinG
AltoGeThEr and coNtented themseLvEs with the hUmBleR one of gOVernor.(348)
FuRther, it would appear that iN Remote tImeS, thouGh noT within thE
hiStoricAl pERiod, thE kings Of BabYlOn oR THeir bARBaRouS pRedecessorS
FOrfEited NoT merEly theiR crown but their life AT thE end of a year's
tEnuRe of OFFiCe. AT LeASt tHiS Is tHE Conclusion to whiCh the folloWiNG
eVidence seeMS to PoInt. AccoRding to The hiSTorian BErosus, who As a
BabyloNiAn prIESt sPoke with amPle knowlEdge, there WAs annUAlLy
celEbrAted in
 part of Southern Nigeria,  the Ijebu 
trib e o f t he  Yor ubarace is divide d  int o two branches, whichare k no w n
re s pe ctive ly as t h eI j ebu  O de  an dt he  Ijeb u R emon. T he Ode bra nch  o f the
tribei sruled by a  ch ief who bear s t he tit le  of Awuja leand i s surr o undedby a grea td eal of mystery . Do wn t o recent times hi s  f a ce might not b e
seen  e v en b y h isown subjec ts , and if circ u ms t a n ces obliged him t o
communica t e w ith th em  he did so  thro ug h  ascreen whic h hi d him fro m view . 
The ot h er or R emon b ran chof t h eIj ebu  t r ibe is  go v ern ed by ach ie f, wh o
ra n k s belo w t he A wujal e. Mr. John P ark inso n  wa s inf ormed  tha tin fo rmer
t imesth is subordinatechie f used to  be  k ill ed  with ceremo nyaft er a ru le
of t h ree  y e a r s.  As the country is  n o w  u nder Bri tish p r ot ec t ion thecu sto m
of p uttin g th e  c hief todeatha tth e end o fa thre eyea rs'  reig n  has  longbeen abo lishe d , and Mr. Park i nson was unab l et o  a s cert ain  any partic ular s 
onthes ub jec t .(347 )



§ 8. Annual Tenure of th eKingsh ip.

(M88) At Bab ylon, with i n historic al t i me s , the tenure o f the  kingly of f ice
wasin pr actice l ifelong,y e t in the ory  it  wo uld s ee m to have bee n mere ly 
annual . F or ever y y ear  at  th efestivalof Zagmu kth eki nghad t o  renew h is 
po we r b y sei z ing th e han ds o fth e  im age ofM ar d u k in  h is  gre atte mpleof
E s agi l at Ba bylon. Ev enw henBa by lon pas sed under the  p ower of As sy ria ,
them o narchs o f that country were exp e cted to  le galis e th eir claim  to  the
t hro n e ever y year  by c om ing t o Bab y l on  an dperforming t heancie nt  cer emony
a t the New-year fes t iva l, and some o f t hemf o un d t h eo bli ga t ion s o
burdensome th at ratherth a ndischargei t t he y renou nced th e tit l e of ki ng
altoge ther andco nten t e d t hemselveswith the  humblero ne of Go verno r.( 348)
F ur the r, it  would app ear t hat in  r emotetimes ,though n ot within the
historica l peri od, t hekings ofBab y lon  or their  bar barous pre dec ess ors
f orf e itednotm er ely their  cro w n but the i rlif e at  the end of a yea r's
t enu r e of o ffic e. At least thisi s the conclusi on t o whi cht he f ol lowing
evidenc e s ee m s  to poin t.  Accordingto the h is t orian  Beros us, wh o as aB a by l onianprie stspoke wit h a mp l e knowl ed ge ,  there  was  a nnuall y
cele b rate d in
 part_of Southern_Nigeria, the Ijebu
tribe of_the Yoruba_race_is divided_into_two branches, which_are known
respectively as_the Ijebu Ode and_the Ijebu Remon._The_Ode branch of the
tribe is ruled by a chief who bears the title of_Awujale_and is_surrounded
by_a_great deal of mystery. Down_to recent times his face_might not_be
seen even by his own subjects, and if_circumstances_obliged him to
communicate_with them he did so through a screen which_hid him from view.
The other or_Remon branch of_the_Ijebu_tribe is governed by_a chief, who
ranks below the Awujale._Mr. John Parkinson was informed that_in former
times this subordinate chief used to_be killed with ceremony after a_rule
of three years. As the_country is_now under British protection the_custom
of putting the_chief to_death at the_end of a three years' reign_has long
been abolished,_and Mr. Parkinson was unable to_ascertain_any particulars
on the_subject.(347)




§_8._Annual Tenure_of the Kingship.


(M88)_At_Babylon, within_historical_times, the tenure of the kingly_office
was_in practice lifelong, yet in theory it_would seem to have_been_merely
annual. For every year_at the festival of Zagmuk_the king had to renew his
power_by seizing_the hands_of the image of Marduk in his great temple of
Esagil at_Babylon. Even when Babylon passed under_the power of Assyria,
the_monarchs of_that_country were expected_to_legalise their_claim to the
throne every year by coming_to Babylon_and performing the ancient ceremony
at the_New-year festival, and some_of_them found the obligation so
burdensome that_rather than discharge it they renounced_the title of king
altogether and_contented_themselves_with the humbler one of_Governor.(348)
Further, it would appear that in_remote times, though_not within the
historical period, the kings of_Babylon_or their barbarous predecessors
forfeited not merely_their_crown but their life at the_end_of_a year's
tenure of office. At_least this is the conclusion to_which the following
evidence seems to point. According to the_historian Berosus, who_as a
Babylonian priest spoke with_ample_knowledge,_there was annually
celebrated in