[217] In the _Japanese_ (_vide_ p. 269) version of the legend of the _bull_ breaking the mundane egg (_vide_ p. 396), a _gourd_ or pumpkin is also broken which contained the first man.--_Vide_ Bryant's "Mythology," iii. 579. "I have mentioned that _the ark_ was looked upon as the mother of mankind, and styled Da-Mater, and it was on this account figured under the semblance of a _pomegranate_," "as it abounds with seed"--Bryant, ii. 380. _Vide_ also plate (Bryant, ii. 410), where Juno (_vide_, p. 395) holds a _dove_ in one hand and a _pomegranate_ in the other. BURTON, ii. 35. It must be remembered that at Dahome, royalty as there represented has absorbed and monopolized the most important parts of the ceremonial: it is natural, therefore, to expect that the conspicuous figures in the original (or in the Mandan), which conflicted or would not consort with royalty, would be thrown into the background. Accordingly I am only able to get a glimpse of the conspicuous figures opposite in the following passage:--"The jesters were followed by a dozen _pursuivants_ armed with gong-gongs, who advanced bending towards the throne, and shouted the 'strong names' or titles. Conspicuous amongst them was an _oldster_ in a crimson sleeveless tunic and yellow shorts: his head was red with dust, he carried a large _bill-hook_,[218] and he went about attended by _four_ drums and one cymbal." [218] Compare also _sup._, p. 210, with Saturn. "Ipsius autem canities," &c., and "cum falce messis insigne." It will be remembered (if my readers have read Mr Catlin, p. 11, 12) that the first thing "the aged white man" does on entering the mystery lodge is to call on the chiefs "to furnish him with _four_ men," and the next is to "receive at the door of every Mandan's wigwam _some edged tool_ to be given to the water as a sacrifice, as it was with _such tools_ that the "big canoe" was built.[219] [219] Compare again these two figures, one figuring in the Dahoman procession, the other in the Mandan bull dance. CATLIN, p. 10.