Ritual and belief : $b Studies in the history of religionHartland, Edwin Sidney
Religion
Ritual and belief : $b Studies in the history of religion
Hartland, Edwin Sidney
Ethnopsychology; Magic; Religion; Rites and ceremonies
On the other hand, means are often taken, like those of the Breton
smith, to compel a god to grant his suppliant’s wishes, and in default
to inflict indignity and injury. Pietro della Valle tells in his
_Voyages_ of an image of Saint Anthony which was thus treated by
Portuguese sailors. First of all, prayers were addressed to the image
for a favourable wind. The wind not being forthcoming, the {182} image
was taken from its shrine and lashed to the mast, in the beginning
with comparatively slack cords. The bonds were progressively tightened
as the saint delayed to accede to his worshippers’ demands. They were
not in a mood to stand any nonsense. The image before which they had
knelt in prayer only a few hours earlier was now the object of curses
and derision; and every day the wind was delayed a new cord was added
to bind the sacred victim more tightly. At last, however, the wind
changed and blew from the quarter desired; the saint was loosed from
his uncomfortable position and replaced respectfully in his niche; the
sailors thanked him, but mingled with their thanks reproaches for the
obstinacy which had forced them to take severe measures with
him.[182.1] Saint Anthony indeed suffers much from his votaries. The
Spanish population of New Mexico do not hesitate to hang his image
head downwards to urge him to his duty of performing miracles. Other
obstinate saints they simply put away or imprison.[182.2] The modern
Aztecs give their sacred images a whipping when their prayers are not
attended to. The Tarascos of Mexico make San Mateo responsible for the
weather and the crops. When it freezes his image is taken from the
church in the early morning and dumped into cold water as a
punishment. On the other hand, he is rewarded for good crops by a
procession, a big feast, and abundance of brandy and tamales.[182.3]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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