# File rexml/element.rb, line 177
  def namespace prefix=nil
			if prefix.nil?
				prefix = prefix()
			end
			if prefix == ''
				prefix = "xmlns"
			else
				prefix = "xmlns:#{prefix}" unless prefix[0,5] == 'xmlns'
			end
			ns = attributes[ prefix ]
			ns = parent.namespace(prefix) if ns.nil? and parent
			return ns
		end