The Origin of the Werewolf SuperstitionStewart, Caroline Taylor
History
The Origin of the Werewolf Superstition
Stewart, Caroline Taylor
Werewolves
We can see how at first the man in animal disguise or an animal robe
would go quietly to work, like the Pawnee scout;[80] how though, as
soon as the element of magic enters in, he would try to keep up the
illusion. At this stage, when the original defensive measure had become
tainted with superstition, men would go about in the night time howling
and holding their vile revels.[81] Andree,[82] narrates how a soldier
in Northeast Africa shot at a hyena, followed the traces of blood and
came to the straw hut of a man who was widely famed as a magician. No
hyena was to be seen, only the man himself with a fresh wound. Soon
he died, however the soldier did not survive him long. Doubtless one
of the magician class was responsible for the death of the soldier,
just as we to-day put to death the man who so violates our laws, as to
become a menace to our society, or as formerly kings killed those who
stood in their way; or as religious sects murder those who dissent
from their faith. These magicians, supposed to be men who could assume
animal form, as a matter of fact do often form a class, are greatly
feared by other natives, often dwell with their disciples in caves and
at _night_ come forth to plunder and kill.[83] It is to their interest
to counterfeit well, for if suspected of being malevolent, they were
put to death or outlawed, like criminals to-day.[84] Their frenzies
were, as said above, in some cases genuine delusions; in other cases
they offered, as one may readily imagine, excellent opportunities for
personal gain or vengeance.[85]
[80] Ante p. 12 fol.
[81] Ethn. Rep. 1885-86, p. 152: It is impossible to imagine
the horrible howlings, and strange contortions that these
jugglers (shamans) or conjurers make of their bodies, when they
are disposing themselves to conjure.
[82] Page 71.
[83] Andree, p. 70, gives an account of the chief magician
(Abyssinia), who demands as yearly tribute of his subordinate
animal-men the teeth of the persons whom they have killed
during the year, with which he decorates his palace. See also
pp. 72, 75, etc.: Ethn. Rep. 1885-86, p. 151, about sorcery
among American Indians: Societies existed. The purposes of
the society are twofold; 1. To preserve the traditions of
Indian genesis and cosmogony, etc. 2. To give a certain class
of ambitious men and women sufficient influence through
their acknowledged power of exorcism and necromancy to lead
a comfortable life at the expense of the credulous. Page
162: “Each tribe has its medicine men and women, an order of
priesthood consulted and employed in all times of sickness. It
is to their interest to lead these credulous people to believe
that they can at pleasure hold intercourse with the munedoos,”
etc. Sometimes one family constitutes the class. See note 65;
Andree, p. 69.
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