It is still sometimes danced before their communal hunting and fishing parties.

In these mimetic rehearsals of events with the object of causing them to occur we may perhaps discern the origin of the arts both of acting and dancing.

Another, and perhaps later form, was the reproduction of important events, or those which had influenced history.

For to the primitive mind, as already seen, the results were not conceived of as instrumentally caused by the event, but as part of the event itself and of its life and personality.

Hence by the re-enactment of the event the beneficial results would be again obtained or at least preserved in undiminished potency and vigour.