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 their grief being abated, it pleased the relations to “lift up the tree
and raise the dead.” By raising the dead they meant bestowing the name of
the departed upon some one else, who thus became to all intents and
purposes a reincarnation of the deceased, since on the principles of
savage philosophy the name is a vital part, if not the soul, of the man.
When Father Lafitau arrived at St. Louis to begin work among the Iroquois,
his colleagues decided that in order to make a favourable impression on
his flock the new shepherd should assume the native name of his deceased
predecessor, Father Brüyas, “the celebrated missionary,” who had lived
many years among the Indians and enjoyed their high esteem. But Father
Brüyas had been called from his earthly labours to his heavenly rest only
four short months before, and it was too soon, in the phraseology of the
Iroquois, to “raise up the tree.” However, raised up it was in spite of
them; and though some bolder spirits protested that their new pastor had
wronged them by taking the name of his predecessor, “nevertheless,” says
Father Lafitau, “they did not fail to regard me as himself in another form
(_un autre lui-même_), since I had entered into all his rights.” (1384)
(M220) The same mode of bringing a dead man to life again by bestowing his
name upon a living person was practised by the Hurons and other Indian
tribes of Canada. An early French traveller in Canada has described the
ceremony of resurrection as it was observed by a tribe whom he calls the
Attiuoindarons. He says: “The Attiuoindarons practise resurrections of the
dead, principally of persons who have deserved well of their country by
their remarkable services, so that the memory of illustrious and valiant
men revives in a certain way in others. Accordingly they call assemblies
for this purpose and hold councils, at which they choose one of them who
has the same virtues and qualities, if possible, as he had whom they wish
to resuscitate; or at least he must be of irreproachable life, judged by
the standard of a savage people. Wishing, then, to proceed to the
resurrection they all stand up, except him who is to be resuscitated, to
whom they give the name of the deceased, and all letting their hands down
very low they pretend to lift him up from the earth, intending by that to
signify that they draw the great personage deceased from the grave and
restore him to life in the person of this other, who stands up and, after
great acclamations of the people, receives the presents which the
bystanders offer him. They further hold several feasts in his honour and
regard him thenceforth as the deceased whom he represents; and by this
means the memory of virtuous men and of good and valiant captains never
dies among them.”(1385) Among the Hurons the ceremony took place between
the death and the great Festival of the Dead, which was usually celebrated
at intervals of twelve years. When it was resolved to resuscitate a
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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