The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion (Third Edition, Vol. 08 of 12)Frazer, James George
Religion
The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion (Third Edition, Vol. 08 of 12)
Frazer, James George
Magic; Mythology; Religion; Superstition
(M114) Among the Dyaks of North-West Borneo young men and warriors may not
eat venison, because it would make them as timid as deer; but the women
and very old men are free to eat it.(415) However, among the Kayans of the
same region, who share the same view as to the ill effect of eating
venison, men will partake of the dangerous viand provided it is cooked in
the open air, for then the timid spirit of the animal is supposed to
escape at once into the jungle and not to enter into the eater.(416) The
Aino of Japan think that the otter is a very forgetful animal, and they
often call a person with a bad memory an “otter head.” Therefore it is a
rule with them that “the otter’s head must not lightly be used as an
article of food, for unless people are very careful they will, if they eat
it, become as forgetful as that creature. And hence it happens that when
an otter has been killed the people do not usually eat the head. But if
they are seized with a very strong desire for a feast of otter’s head,
they may partake thereof, providing proper precautions are taken. When
eating it the people must take their swords, knives, axes, bows and
arrows, tobacco-boxes and pipes, trays, cups, garden tools, and everything
they possess, tie them up in bundles with carrying slings, and sit with
them attached to their heads while in the act of eating. This feast may be
partaken of in this way, and no other. If this method be carefully adhered
to, there will be no danger of forgetting where a thing has been placed,
otherwise loss of memory will be the result.”(417) On the other hand the
Aino believe that the heart of the water-ousel is exceedingly wise, and
that in speech the bird is most eloquent. Therefore whenever he is killed,
he should be at once torn open and his heart wrenched out and swallowed
before it has time to grow cold or suffer damage of any kind. If a man
swallows it thus, he will become very fluent and wise, and will be able to
argue down all his adversaries.(418) In Northern India people fancy that
if you eat the eyeballs of an owl you will be able like an owl to see in
the dark.(419)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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