Scatalogic Rites of All Nations: A dissertation upon the employment of excrementitious remedial agents in religion, therapeutics, divination, witchcraft, love-philters, etc., in all parts of the globe — John Shaqi
Scatalogic Rites of All Nations: A dissertation upon the employment of excrementitious remedial agents in religion, therapeutics, divination, witchcraft, love-philters, etc., in all parts of the globeBourke, John Gregory
Religion
Scatalogic Rites of All Nations: A dissertation upon the employment of excrementitious remedial agents in religion, therapeutics, divination, witchcraft, love-philters, etc., in all parts of the globe
Bourke, John Gregory
Scatology
Von Stralenburg says of the Koraks that they use the same tubs as urinals
and for the purpose of holding drinking water (see citation on page 152
of this volume).
HUMAN ORDURE EATEN BY EAST INDIAN FANATICS.
Speaking of the remnants of the Hindu sect of the Aghozis, an English
writer observes:—
“In proof of their indifference to worldly objects they eat and drink
whatever is given to them, even ordure and carrion. They smear their
bodies also with excrement, and carry it about with them in a wooden cup,
or skull, either to swallow it, if by so doing they can get a few pice,
or to throw it upon the persons or into the houses of those who refuse to
comply with their demands.”—(“Religious Sects of the Hindus,” in “Asiatic
Researches,” vol. xvii. p. 205, Calcutta, India, 1832.)
Another writer confirms the above. The Abbé Dubois says that the
Gurus, or Indian priests, sometimes, as a mark of favor, present to
their disciples “the water in which they had washed their feet, which
is preserved and sometimes drunk by those who receive it” (Dubois,
“People of India,” London, 1817, p. 64). This practice, he tells us,
is general among the sectaries of Siva, and is not uncommon with many
of the Vishnuites in regard to their vashtuma. “Neither is it the most
disgusting of the practices that prevail in that sect of fanatics, as
they are under the reproach of eating as a hallowed morsel the very
ordure that proceeds from their Gurus, and swallowing the water with
which they have rinsed their mouths or washed their faces, with many
other practices equally revolting to nature” (idem, p. 71).
Again, on page 331, Dubois alludes to the Gymnosophists “or naked
Samyasis of India ... eating human excrement, without showing the
slightest symptom of disgust.”
As bearing not unremotely upon this point, the author wishes to say that
in his personal notes and memoranda can be found references to one of the
medicine-men of the Sioux who assured his admirers that everything about
him was “medicine,” even his excrement, which could be transmuted into
copper cartridges.
“I was informed that vast numbers of Shordrus drank the water in which a
Brahmin has dipped his foot, and abstain from food in the morning till
this ceremony be over. Some persons do this every day.... Persons may be
seen carrying a small quantity of water in a cup and entreating the first
Brahmin they see to put his toe in it.... Some persons keep water thus
sanctified in their houses.”—(Ward, quoted by Southey in his “Commonplace
Book,” London, 1849, 2d series, p. 521.)
VIII.
THE ORDURE OF THE GRAND LAMA OF THIBET.
That the same disgusting veneration was accorded the person of the Grand
Lama of Thibet, was once generally believed. Maltebrun asserts it in
positive terms: “It is a certain fact that the refuse excreted from his
body is collected with sacred solicitude, to be employed as amulets and
infallible antidotes to disease.”
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