Bowing, as a salute of reverence, appears in its ex treme in oriental custom, as among the ancient Israelites : "bowed himself to the ground seven times." The Chinese according to the degree of respect implied bow kneeling or standing. The bowing salutation, varying in Europe from something less than the Eastern salaam down to the slightest inclination of the head, is given mutually. Uncovering is a common mode of salutation, originally a sign of disarming or defencelessness or destitution in the presence of a superior. Taking off the hat by men has for ages been the accepted mode in the Western world. Some Eastern nations are apt to see disrespect in baring the head, but insist on the feet being uncovered. Europeans have been called on to conform to a native custom by taking off their shoes to enter the royal presence. In Burma it is respectful to squat in the presence of a superior; elsewhere the inferior should stand. Handshaking.—Grasping hands appears in antiquity as a legal act symbolic of the parties joining in compact, peace or friendship. In marriage, the hand grasp was part of the ancient Hindu ceremony, as was the "dextrarum iunctio" in Rome, which passed on into the Christian rite and became a mere salutation.
As to words of salutation, even among the lower races certain ordinary phrases have passed into formal greetings. Many formulas express difference of rank and conse quent respect, as where the Basuto salute their chiefs with "Tama sevata!" i.e., "Greeting, wild beast!" Congo negroes returning from a journey salute their wives with an affectionate "Okowe!" but they, meekly kneeling round him, may not repeat the word, but must say "Ka! ka!" Among cultured nations, salutations are apt to be expressions of peace and goodwill. Such
formulas run on from age to age, and the latter may be traced on to the Muslim greeting, "Salam ealaikum!" ("The peace be on you"), to which the reply is "Wa-talaikum as-salcim!" ("And on you be the peace," sc. "of God!"). This greeting is a password among fellow believers, for it may not be used by or to an infidel. The Babylonian form, "0 king, live for ever!" (Dan. iii. 9), represents a series of phrases, which continue still in the "Vivat rex!" ("Long live the king !"). The Greeks said "Be joyful!" both at meeting and parting. The Romans applied "Salve !" ("Be in health !") especially at meeting, and "Vale!" ("Be well at parting. In the modern civilized world, everywhere,
the old inquiry after health appears, the "How do you do?" becoming so formal as often to be said on both sides, without either waiting for an answer. Hardly less wide in range is the set of phrases "Good day!" "Good night!" etc., varying according to the hour and translated into every language of Christendom. Among other European phrases, some correspond to our "Welcome!" and "Farewell!" while the religious element is exemplified by our "Good-bye!" ("God be with you !") and French "Adieu!" Such half-meaningless forms of salutation serve the purpose of keeping up social intercourse.