The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion (Vol. 1 of 2)Frazer, James George
Religion
The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion (Vol. 1 of 2)
Frazer, James George
Magic; Mythology; Religion; Superstition
If a light is needed for his pipe, the burning ember taken from the
fire must be thrown away as soon as it is used; for the pipe becomes
sacred because it has touched his mouth; the coal becomes sacred because
it has touched the pipe; and if a particle of the sacred cinder were
replaced on the common fire, the fire would also become sacred and could
no longer be used for cooking.(672) Some Maori chiefs, like other
Polynesians, object to go down into a ship’s cabin from fear of people
passing over their heads.(673) Dire misfortune was thought by the Maoris
to await those who entered a house where any article of animal food was
suspended over their heads. “A dead pigeon, or a piece of pork hung from
the roof was a better protection from molestation than a sentinel.”(674)
If I am right, the reason for the special objection to having animal food
over the head is the fear of bringing the sacred head into contact with
the spirit of the animal; just as the reason why the Flamen Dialis might
not walk under a vine was the fear of bringing his sacred head into
contact with the spirit of the vine.
When the head was considered so sacred that it might not even be touched
without grave offence, it is obvious that the cutting of the hair must
have been a delicate and difficult operation. The difficulties and dangers
which, on the primitive view, beset the operation are of two kinds. There
is first the danger of disturbing the spirit of the head, which may be
injured in the process and may revenge itself upon the person who molests
him. Secondly, there is the difficulty of disposing of the shorn locks.
For the savage believes that the sympathetic connection which exists
between himself and every part of his body continues to exist even after
the physical connection has been severed, and that therefore he will
suffer from any harm that may befall the severed parts of his body, such
as the clippings of his hair or the parings of his nails. Accordingly he
takes care that these severed portions of himself shall not be left in
places where they might either be exposed to accidental injury or fall
into the hands of malicious persons who might work magic on them to his
detriment or death. Such dangers are common to all, but sacred persons
have more to fear from them than ordinary people, so the precautions taken
by them are proportionately stringent. The simplest way of evading the
danger is of course not to cut the hair at all; and this is the expedient
adopted where the danger is thought to be more than usually great. The
Frankish kings were not allowed to cut their hair.(675) A Haida
medicine-man may neither cut nor comb his hair, so it is always long and
tangled.(676) Amongst the Alfoers of Celebes the _Leleen_ or priest who
looks after the rice-fields may not cut his hair during the time that he
exercises his special functions, that is, from a month before the rice is
sown until it is housed.(677) In Ceram men do not cut their hair: if
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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