s. They are always rich
and aged: therefore they are venerated; but, though they can
exert influence, they cannot wield power; they can advise,
but they cannot command. In some instances, as in that of
Quenqueza, King of the Rembo, the title and empty honors of
royalty are bestowed upon the most influential patriarch in
a district. This is a vestige of higher civilization and of
ancient empire which disappears as one descends among the
lower tribes."[74]

"The African form of government is patriarchal, and,
according to the temperament of the chief, despotic, or
guided by the counsel of the elders of the tribe. Reverence
for loyalty sometimes leads the mass of the people to submit
to great cruelty, and even murder, at the hands of a despot
or madman; but, on the whole, the rule is mild; and the same
remark applies in a degree to their religion."[75]

When a new king is elected, he has first to repair to the pontiff's
house, who--apropos of priests--is more important than the king
himself. The king prostrates himself, and, with loud cries, entreats
the favor of this high priest. At first the old man inside, with a
gruff voice, orders him away, says he cannot be annoyed; but the king
enumerates the presents he has brought him, and finally the door
opens, and the priest appears, clad in white, a looking-glass on his
breast, and long white feathers in his head. The king is sprinkled,
covered with dust, walked over, and then, finally, the priest lies
upon him. He has to swear that he will obey, etc.; and then he is
allowed to go to the coronation. Then follow days and nights of
feasting, and, among some tribes, human sacrifices.

The right of succession is generally kept on the male side of the
family. The crown passes from brother to brother, from uncle to
nephew, from cousin to cousin. Where there are no brothers, the son
takes the sceptre. In all our studies on Africa, we have found only
two women reigning. A woman by the name of Shinga ascended the throne
of the Congo empire in 1640. She rebelled against the ceremonies,
sought to be introduced by Portuguese Catholic priests, who incited
her nephew to treason. Defeated in several pitched battles, she fled
into the Jaga country, where she was crowned with much success. In
1646 she won her throne again, and concluded an honorable peace with
the Portuguese. The other queen was the bloodthirsty Tem