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reads 〃ephod〃 for ark； while in 1 Chronicles xiii。 3 David says
that 〃we sought not unto it ＇the ark＇ in the days of Saul。〃
Nor does Samuel seem to have paid any regard to the ark after
its return from Philistia； though； in his childhood； he is said
to have slept in 〃the temple of Jahveh； where the ark of Elohim
was〃 （1 Sam。 iii。 3）； at Shiloh and there to have been the seer
of the earliest apparitions vouchsafed to him by Jahveh。
The space between the cherubim or winged images on the canopy or
cover （Kapporeth） of this holy chest was held to be the
special seat of Jahvehthe place selected for a temporary
residence of the Supreme Elohim who had； after Aaron and
Phineas； Eli and his sons for priests and seers。 And； when the
ark was carried to the camp at Eben…ezer； there can be no doubt
that the Israelites； no less than the Philistines； held that
〃Elohim is come into the camp〃 （iv。 7）； and that the one； as
much as the other； conceived that the Israelites had summoned to
their aid a powerful ally in 〃these （or this） mighty Elohim〃
elsewhere called Jahve…Sabaoth； the Jahveh of Hosts。 If the
〃temple〃 at Shiloh was the pentateuchal tabernacle； as is
suggested by the name of 〃tent of meeting〃 given to it in
1 Samuel ii。 22； it was essentially a large tent； though
constituted of very expensive and ornate materials； if； on the
other hand； it was a different edifice； there can be little
doubt that this 〃house of Jahveh〃 was built on the model of an
ordinary house of the time。 But there is not the slightest
evidence that； during the reign of Saul； any greater importance
attached to this seat of the cult of Jahveh than to others。
Sanctuaries； and 〃high places〃 for sacrifice； were scattered all
over the country from Dan to Beersheba。 And； as Samuel is said
to have gone up to one of these high places to bless the
sacrifice； it may be taken for tolerably certain that he knew
nothing of the Levitical laws which severely condemn the high
places and those who sacrifice away from the sanctuary hallowed
by the presence of the ark。
There is no evidence that； during the time of the Judges and of
Samuel； any one occupied the position of the high priest of
later days。 And persons who were neither priests nor Levites
sacrificed and divined or 〃inquired of Jahveh；〃 when they
pleased and where they pleased； without the least indication
that they； or any one else in Israel at that time； knew they
were doing wrong。 There is no allusion to any special observance
of the Sabbath； and the references to circumcision are indirect。
Such are the chief articles of the theological creed of the old
Israelites； which are made known to us by the direct evidence of
the ancient record to which we have had recourse； and they are
as remarkable for that which they contain as for that which is
absent from them。 They reveal a firm conviction that； when death
takes place； a something termed a soul or spirit leaves the body
and continues to exist in Sheol for a period of indefinite
duration； even though there is no proof of any belief in
absolute immortality； that such spirits can return to earth to
possess and inspire the living； that they are； in appearance and
in disposition； likenesses of the men to whom they belonged； but
that； as spirits； they have larger powers and are freer from
physical limitations； that they thus form a group among a number
of kinds of spiritual existences known as Elohim； of whom
Jahveh； the national God of Israel； is one； that； consistently
with this view； Jahveh was conceived as a sort of spirit； human
in aspect and in senses； and with many human passions； but with
immensely greater intelligence and power than any other Elohim；
whether human or divine。 Further； the evidence proves that this
belief was the basis of the Jahveh…worship to which Samuel and
his followers were devoted； that there is strong reason for
believing； and none for doubting； that idolatry； in the shape of
the worship of the family gods or teraphim； was practised by
sincere and devout Jahveh…worshippers； that the ark； with its
protective tent or tabernacle； was regarded as a specially； but
by no means exclusively； favoured sanctuary of Jahveh； that the
ephod appears to have had a particular value for those who
desired to divine by the help of Jahveh； and that divination by
lots was practised before Jahveh。 On the other hand； there is
not the slightest evidence of any belief in retribution after
death； but the contrary； ritual obligations have at least as
strong sanction as moral； there are clear indications that some
of the most stringent of the Levitical laws were unknown even to
Samuel； priests often appear to be superseded by laymen； even in
the performance of sacrifices and divination； and no line of
demarcation can be drawn between necromancer； wizard； seer；
prophet； and priest； each of whom is regarded； like all the
rest； as a medium of communication between the world of Elohim
and that of living men。
The theological system thus defined offers to the anthropologist
no feature which is devoid of a parallel in the known theologies
of other races of mankind； even of those who inhabit parts of
the world most remote from Palestine。 And the foundation of the
whole； the ghost theory； is exactly that theological speculation
which is the most widely spread of all； and the most deeply
rooted among uncivilised men。 I am able to base this statement；
to some extent； on facts within my own knowledge。 In December
1848； H。M。S。 Rattlesnake； the ship to which I then
belonged； was anchored off Mount Ernest； an island in Torres
Straits。 The people were few and well disposed； and； when a
friend of mine （whom I will call B。） and I went ashore； we made
acquaintance with an old native； Paouda by name。 In course of
time we became quite intimate with the old gentleman； partly by
the rendering of mutual good offices； but chiefly because Paouda
believed he had discovered that B。 was his father…in…law。
And his grounds for this singular conviction were very
remarkable。 We had made a long stay at Cape York hard by；
and； in accordance with a theory which is widely spread among
the Australians； that white men are the reincarnated spirits of
black men； B。 was held to be the ghost； or narki； of a
certain Mount Ernest native； one Antarki； who had lately died；
on the ground of some real or fancied resemblance to the latter。
Now Paouda had taken to wife a daughter of Antarki's； named
Domani； and as soon as B。 informed him that he was the ghost of
Antarki； Paouda at once admitted the relationship and acted upon
it。 For； as all the women on the island had hidden away in fear
of the ship； and we were anxious to see what they were like； B。
pleaded pathetically with Paouda that it would be very unkind
not to let him see his daughter and grandchildren。 After a good
deal of hesitation and the exaction of pledges of deep secrecy；
Paouda consented to take B。； and myself as B。's friend； to see
Domani and the three daughters； by whom B。 was received quite as
one of the family； while I was courteously welcomed on
his account。
This scene made an impression upon me which is not yet effaced。
It left no question on my mind of the sincerity of the strange
ghost theory of these savages； and of the influence which their
belief has on their practical life。 I had it in my mind； as well
as many a like result of subsequent anthropological studies；
when； in 1869； I wrote as follows：
There are savages without God in any proper sense of the word；
but none without ghosts。 And the Fetishism； Ancestor…worship；
Hero…worship； and Demonology of primitive savages are all； I
believe； different manners of expression of their belief in
ghosts； and of the anthropomorphic interpretation of out…of…the…
way events which is its concomitant。 Witchcraft and sorcery are
the practical expressions of these beliefs； and they stand in
the same relation to religious worship as the simple
anthropomorphism of children or savages does to theology。
I do not quote myself with any intention of making a claim to
originality in putting forth this view； for I have since
discovered that the same conception is virtually contained in
the great 〃Discours sur l'Histoire Universelle〃 of Bossuet； now
more than two centuries old：
Le culte des hommes morta faisoit presque tout le fond de
l'idolatrie； presque tous les hommes sacrificient aux manes；
c'est…a…dire aux ames des morts。 De si anciennes erreurs nous
font voir a la verite combien etoit ancienne la croyance de
l'immortalite de l'ame； et nous montrent qu'elle doit etre
rangee parmi les premieres traditions du genre humain。
Mais l'homme； qui gatoit tout； en avoit etrangement abuse；
puisqu'elle le portoit a sacrificer aux morts。 On alloit meme
jusqu'a cet exces； de leur sacrifier des hommes vivans； ou tuoit
leurs