201 Francis Buchanan, “A Journey from Madras through the countries of Mysore, Canara, and Malabar,” in J. Pinkerton’s _Voyages and Travels_, viii. (London, 1811), p. 749. M47 In Travancore the dancing-girls are regularly married to the god. 202 N. Subramhanya Aiyar, in _Census of India, 1901_, vol. xxvi., _Travancore_, Part i. (Trivandrum, 1903), pp. 276 _sq._ I have to thank my friend Mr. W. Crooke for referring me to this and other passages on the sacred dancing-girls of India. M48 Among the Ewe peoples of West Africa the sacred prostitutes are regarded as the wives of the god. 203 A. B. Ellis, _The Ewe-speaking Peoples of the Slave Coast of West Africa_ (London, 1890), pp. 140 _sq._ 204 A. B. Ellis, _op. cit._ p. 142. M49 The human wives of the python-god. 205 A. B. Ellis, _op. cit._ pp. 148 _sq._ Compare Des Marchais, _Voyage en Guinée et à Cayenne_ (Amsterdam, 1731), ii. 144-151; P. Bouche, _La Côte des Esclaves_ (Paris, 1885), p. 128. The Abbé Bouche calls these women _danwés_. 206 A. B. Ellis, _op. cit._ p. 60; Des Marchais, _op. cit._ ii. 149 _sq._ M50 Supposed connexion between the fertility of the soil and the marriage of women to the serpent. 207 Des Marchais, _Voyage en Guinée et à Cayenne_ (Amsterdam, 1731), ii. 146 _sq._ 208 W. Bosman, “Description of the Coast of Guinea,” in J. Pinkerton’s _Voyages and Travels_, xvi. (London, 1814), p. 494. 209 W. Bosman, _l.c._ The name of Whydah is spelt by Bosman as Fida, and by Des Marchais as Juda. M51 Human wives of a snake-god among the Akikuyu. 210 MS. notes, kindly sent to me by the author, Mr. A. C. Hollis, 21st May, 1908. M52 Sacred men as well as women in West Africa: they are thought to be possessed by the deity. 211 A. B. Ellis, _The Ewe-speaking Peoples of the Slave Coast_, pp. 142-144; Le R. P. Baudin, “Féticheurs ou ministres religieux des Nègres de la Guinée,” _Les Missions Catholiques_, No. 787 (4 juillet 1884), p. 322. 212 A. B. Ellis, _op. cit._ pp. 150 _sq._ _ 213 La Côte des Esclaves_, pp. 127 _sq._ 214 A. B. Ellis, _op. cit._ p. 147. M53 Similarly among the Tshi peoples of the Gold Coast there are sacred men and women, who are supposed to be inspired by the deity. 215 A. B. Ellis, _The Tshi-speaking Peoples of the Gold Coast of West Africa_ (London, 1887), pp. 120-138. 216 A. B. Ellis, _op. cit._ p. 121.