The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion (Third Edition, Vol. 03 of 12)Frazer, James George
Religion
The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion (Third Edition, Vol. 03 of 12)
Frazer, James George
Magic; Mythology; Religion; Superstition
of things for several days; they may not touch iron nor eat salt or fish
with bones, and they may have no intercourse with women.(567)
(M104) In Logea, an island off the south-eastern extremity of New Guinea,
men who have killed or assisted in killing enemies shut themselves up for
about a week in their houses. They must avoid all intercourse with their
wives and friends, and they may not touch food with their hands. They may
eat vegetable food only, which is brought to them cooked in special pots.
The intention of these restrictions is to guard the men against the smell
of the blood of the slain; for it is believed that if they smelt the
blood, they would fall ill and die.(568) In the Toaripi or Motumotu tribe
of south-eastern New Guinea a man who has killed another may not go near
his wife, and may not touch food with his fingers. He is fed by others,
and only with certain kinds of food. These observances last till the new
moon.(569) Among the tribes at the mouth of the Wanigela River, in New
Guinea, “a man who has taken life is considered to be impure until he has
undergone certain ceremonies: as soon as possible after the deed he
cleanses himself and his weapon. This satisfactorily accomplished, he
repairs to his village and seats himself on the logs of sacrificial
staging. No one approaches him or takes any notice whatever of him. A
house is prepared for him which is put in charge of two or three small
boys as servants. He may eat only toasted bananas, and only the centre
portion of them—the ends being thrown away. On the third day of his
seclusion a small feast is prepared by his friends, who also fashion some
new perineal bands for him. This is called _ivi poro_. The next day the
man dons all his best ornaments and badges for taking life, and sallies
forth fully armed and parades the village. The next day a hunt is
organised, and a kangaroo selected from the game captured. It is cut open
and the spleen and liver rubbed over the back of the man. He then walks
solemnly down to the nearest water, and standing straddle-legs in it
washes himself. All the young untried warriors swim between his legs. This
is supposed to impart courage and strength to them. The following day, at
early dawn, he dashes out of his house, fully armed, and calls aloud the
name of his victim. Having satisfied himself that he has thoroughly scared
the ghost of the dead man, he returns to his house. The beating of
flooring-boards and the lighting of fires is also a certain method of
scaring the ghost. A day later his purification is finished. He can then
enter his wife’s house.”(570) Among the Roro-speaking tribes of British
New Guinea homicides were secluded in the warriors’ clubhouse. They had to
pass the night in the building, but during the day they might paint and
decorate themselves and dance in front of it. For some time they might not
eat much food nor touch it with their hands, but were obliged to pick it
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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