The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion (Third Edition, Vol. 09 of 12)Frazer, James George
Religion
The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion (Third Edition, Vol. 09 of 12)
Frazer, James George
Magic; Mythology; Religion; Superstition
oppressed Bassa tribe, the members of which are reputed to possess high
magical powers. The mode of expulsion consists in drumming and dancing for
several days. Then the village is enclosed by ropes made of creepers in
order that the disease may not return. Over the principal paths arches of
bent poles are made, and fowls are buried as sacrifices. Plants of various
sorts and the mushroom-shaped nests of termite ants are hung from the
arches, and a dog, freshly killed, is suspended over the middle of the
entrance.(334) The Gallas try to drive away fever by firing guns,
shouting, and lighting great fires.(335) When sickness was prevalent in a
Huron village, and all other remedies had been tried in vain, the Indians
had recourse to the ceremony called _Lonouyroya_, “which is the principal
invention and most proper means, so they say, to expel from the town or
village the devils and evil spirits which cause, induce, and import all
the maladies and infirmities which they suffer in body and mind.”
Accordingly, one evening the men would begin to rush like madmen about the
village, breaking and upsetting whatever they came across in the wigwams.
They threw fire and burning brands about the streets, and all night long
they ran howling and singing without cessation. Then they all dreamed of
something, a knife, dog, skin, or whatever it might be, and when morning
came they went from wigwam to wigwam asking for presents. These they
received silently, till the particular thing was given them which they had
dreamed about. On receiving it they uttered a cry of joy and rushed from
the hut, amid the congratulations of all present. The health of those who
received what they had dreamed of was believed to be assured; whereas
those who did not get what they had set their hearts upon regarded their
fate as sealed.(336)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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