They had kowtowed as a matter of form by the command of the principal.
"Botchan (Master Darling)"
Mr. Kin-nosuke Natsume, trans. by Yasotaro Morri
"He kowtowed profoundly at the mere mention of your charitable occupation and proceeded to depart, remarking that it would indeed be corrupt to disturb so meritorious an exercise with a scheme simply for your earthly enrichment," again reported the message-bearer.
"Kai Lung's Golden Hours"
Ernest Bramah Commentator: Hilaire Belloc
But that was not so bad as the way I was kowtowed to everywhere because my father was making millions by selling cannons.
"Major Barbara"
George Bernard Shaw