The Medicine-Men of the Apache. (1892 N 09 / 1887-1888 (pages 443-604))Bourke, John Gregory
Religion
The Medicine-Men of the Apache. (1892 N 09 / 1887-1888 (pages 443-604))
Bourke, John Gregory
Apache Indians -- Medicine; Apache Indians -- Religion; Apache Indians -- Rites and ceremonies; Shamans -- New Mexico
"The wild Andamanese, who live only on the fruits of their forests and
on fish, so far revere their progenitors that they adorn their women
and children with necklaces and such like, formed out of the finger
and toe-nails of their ancestors."[137]
Bancroft says[138] that the Californians did not generally scalp, but
they did cut off and keep the arms and legs of a slain enemy or,
rather, the hands and feet and head. They also had the habit of
plucking out and preserving the eyes.
Kohl assures us that he has been informed that the Ojibwa will
frequently cut fingers, arms, and limbs from their enemies and
preserve these ghastly relics for use in their dances. Sometimes the
warriors will become so excited that they will break off and swallow a
finger.[139]
Tanner says of the Ojibwa: "Sometimes they use sacks of human skin to
contain their medicines, and they fancy that something is thus added
to their efficacy."[140]
Of the savages of Virginia we read: "Mais d'autres portent pour plus
glorieuse parure une main seiche de quelqu'un de leurs ennemis."[141]
Of the Algonkin we read: "Il y en a qui ont une partie du bras et la
main de quelque Hiroquois qu'ils ont tué; cela est si bien vuidée que
les ongles restent toutes entieres."[142]
The Mohawk "place their foe against a tree or stake and first tear all
the nails from his fingers and run them on a string, which they wear
the same as we do gold chains. It is considered to the honor of any
chief who has vanquished or overcome his enemies if he bite off or cut
off some of their members, as whole fingers."[143]
The Cenis (Asinai) of Texas, were seen by La Salle's expedition in
1687-1690, torturing a captive squaw. "They then tore out her hair,
and cut off her fingers."[144]
In volume 2 of Kingsborough's Mexican Antiquities, in the plates of
the Vatican manuscript, is to be seen a representation of an Aztec
priest or other dignitary holding out in his hands two human arms. In
plate 76 of the same is a priest offering up a human sacrifice, the
virile member of the victim cut off.
Teoyamaqui, the wife of Huitzlipochtli, the Aztec god of war, was
depicted with a necklace of human hands.[145] Squier also says that
Darga or Kali, the Hindu goddess, who corresponds very closely to her,
was represented with "a necklace of skulls" and "a girdle of
dissevered human hands."
The Hindu goddess Kali was decorated with a necklace of human
skulls.[146] In the Propaganda collection, given in Kingsborough,[147]
are to be seen human arms and legs.
"On the death of any of the great officers of state, the finger bones
and hair are also preserved; or if they have died shaven, as sometimes
occurs, a bit of their mbŭgŭ dress will be preserved in place of the
hair."[148] "Their families guard their tombs."[149]
The principal war fetiches of Uganda "consist of dead lizards, bits
of wood, hide, nails of dead people, claws of animals, and beaks of
birds." Stanley saw them displayed before King Mtesa.[150]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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