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
(M64) “This great solemnity is concluded with a general dance by
torch-light. Upwards of two hundred torches of dried canes, each of the
thickness of a child, are lighted round the place, where the men and women
often continue dancing till daylight; and the following is the disposition
of their dance. A man places himself on the ground with a pot covered with
a deer-skin, in the manner of a drum, to beat time to the dancers; round
him the women form themselves into a circle, not joining hands, but at
some distance from each other; and they are inclosed by the men in another
circle, who have in each hand a chichicois, or calabash, with a stick
thrust through it to serve for a handle. When the dance begins, the women
move round the men in the centre, from left to right, and the men
contrariwise from right to left, and they sometimes narrow and sometimes
widen their circles. In this manner the dance continues without
intermission the whole night, new performers successively taking the place
of those who are wearied and fatigued.
(M65) “Next morning no person is seen abroad before the Great Sun comes
out of his hut, which is generally about nine o’clock, and then upon a
signal made by the drum, the warriors make their appearance distinguished
into two troops, by the feathers which they wear on their heads. One of
these troops is headed by the Great Sun, and the other by the chief of
war, who begin a new diversion by tossing a ball of deer-skin stuffed with
Spanish beard from the one to the other. The warriors quickly take part in
the sport, and a violent contest ensues which of the two parties shall
drive the ball to the hut of the opposite chief. The diversion generally
lasts two hours, and the victors are allowed to wear the feathers of
superiority till the following year, or till the next time they play at
the ball. After this the warriors perform the war dance; and last of all
they go and bathe; an exercise which they are very fond of when they are
heated or fatigued.
“The rest of that day is employed as the preceding; for the feast holds as
long as any of the corn remains. When it is all eat up, the Great Sun is
carried back in his litter, and they all return to the village, after
which he sends the warriors to hunt both for themselves and him.”(225)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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