按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ge； the natives shut their doors against him； because they had never before seen a white man nor the tin boxes that the men were carrying： 'Who knows；' they said； 'but that these very boxes are the plundering Watuta transformed and come to kill us？ You cannot be admitted。' No persuasion could avail with them； and the party had to proceed to the next village。
The fear thus entertained of alien visitors is often mutual。 Entering a strange land the savage feels that he is treading enchanted ground； and he takes steps to guard against the demons that haunt it and the magical arts of its inhabitants。 Thus on going to a strange land the Maoris performed certain ceremonies to make it common； lest it might have been previously sacred。 When Baron Miklucho…Maclay was approaching a village on the Maclay Coast of New Guinea； one of the natives who accompanied him broke a branch from a tree and going aside whispered to it for a while； then stepping up to each member of the party； one after another； he spat something upon his back and gave him some blows with the branch。 Lastly； he went into the forest and buried the branch under withered leaves in the thickest part of the jungle。 This ceremony was believed to protect the party against all treachery and danger in the village they were approaching。 The idea probably was that the malignant influences were drawn off from the persons into the branch and buried with it in the depths of the forest。 In Australia； when a strange tribe has been invited into a district and is approaching the encampment of the tribe which owns the land； the strangers carry lighted bark or burning sticks in their hands； for the purpose； they say； of clearing and purifying the air。 When the Toradjas are on a head…hunting expedition and have entered the enemy's country； they may not eat any fruits which the foe has planted nor any animal which he has reared until they have first committed an act of hostility； as by burning a house or killing a man。 They think that if they broke this rule they would receive something of the soul or spiritual essence of the enemy into themselves； which would destroy the mystic virtue of their talismans。
Again； it is believed that a man who has been on a journey may have contracted some magic evil from the strangers with whom he has associated。 Hence； on returning home； before he is readmitted to the society of his tribe and friends； he has to undergo certain purificatory ceremonies。 Thus the Bechuanas cleanse or purify themselves after journeys by shaving their heads； etc。； lest they should have contracted from strangers some evil by witchcraft or sorcery。 In some parts of Western Africa； when a man returns home after a long absence； before he is allowed to visit his wife； he must wash his person with a particular fluid； and receive from the sorcerer a certain mark on his forehead； in order to counteract any magic spell which a stranger woman may have cast on him in his absence； and which might be communicated through him to the women of his village。 Two Hindoo ambassadors； who had been sent to England by a native prince and had returned to India； were considered to have so polluted themselves by contact with strangers that nothing but being born again could restore them to purity。 For the purpose of regeneration it is directed to make an image of pure gold of the female power of nature； in the shape either of a woman or of a cow。 In this statue the person to be regenerated is enclosed； and dragged through the usual channel。 As a statue of pure gold and of proper dimensions would be too expensive； it is sufficient to make an image of the sacred Yoni； through which the person to be regenerated is to pass。 Such an image of pure gold was made at the prince's command； and his ambassadors were born again by being dragged through it。
When precautions like these are taken on behalf of the people in general against the malignant influence supposed to be exercised by strangers； it is no wonder that special measures are adopted to protect the king from the same insidious danger。 In the middle ages the envoys who visited a Tartar Khan were obliged to pass between two fires before they were admitted to his presence； and the gifts they brought were also carried between the fires。 The reason assigned for the custom was that the fire purged away any magic influence which the strangers might mean to exercise over the Khan。 When subject chiefs come with their retinues to visit Kalamba （the most powerful chief of the Bashilange in the Congo Basin） for the first time or after being rebellious； they have to bathe； men and women together； in two brooks on two successive days； passing the nights under the open sky in the market…place。 After the second bath they proceed； entirely naked； to the house of Kalamba； who makes a long white mark on the breast and forehead of each of them。 Then they return to the market…place and dress； after which they undergo the pepper ordeal。 Pepper is dropped into the eyes of each of them； and while this is being done the sufferer has to make a confession of all his sins； to answer all questions that may be put to him； and to take certain vows。 This ends the ceremony； and the strangers are now free to take up their quarters in the town for as long as they choose to remain。
2。 Taboos on Eating and Drinking
IN THE OPINION of savages the acts of eating and drinking are attended with special danger； for at these times the soul may escape from the mouth； or be extracted by the magic arts of an enemy present。 Among the Ewe…speaking peoples of the Slave Coast the common belief seems to be that the indwelling spirit leaves the body and returns to it through the mouth； hence； should it have gone out； it behoves a man to be careful about opening his mouth； lest a homeless spirit should take advantage of the opportunity and enter his body。 This； it appears； is considered most likely to take place while the man is eating。 Precautions are therefore adopted to guard against these dangers。 Thus of the Bataks it is said that since the soul can leave the body； they always take care to prevent their soul from straying on occasions when they have most need of it。 But it is only possible to prevent the soul from straying when one is in the house。 At feasts one may find the whole house shut up； in order that the soul may stay and enjoy the good things set before it。 The Zafimanelo in Madagascar lock their doors when they eat； and hardly any one ever sees them eating。 The Warua will not allow any one to see them eating and drinking； being doubly particular that no person of the opposite sex shall see them doing so。 I had to pay a man to let me see him drink； I could not make a man let a woman see him drink。 When offered a drink they often ask that a cloth may be held up to hide them whilst drinking。
If these are the ordinary precautions taken by common people； the precautions taken by kings are extraordinary。 The king of Loango may not be seen eating or drinking by man or beast under pain of death。 A favourite dog having broken into the room where the king was dining； the king ordered it to be killed on the spot。 Once the king's own son； a boy of twelve years old； inadvertently saw the king drink。 Immediately the king ordered him to be finely apparelled and feasted； after which he commanded him to be cut in quarters； and carried about the city with a proclamation that he had seen the king drink。 When the king has a mind to drink； he has a cup of wine brought； he that brings it has a bell in his hand； and as soon as he has delivered the cup to the king； he turns his face from him and rings the bell； on which all present fall down with their faces to the ground； and continue so till the king has drank 。 His eating is much in the same style； for which he has a house on purpose； where his victuals are set upon a bensa or table： which he goes to； and shuts the door： when he has done； he knocks and comes out。 So that none ever see the king eat or drink。 For it is believed that if any one should； the king shall immediately die。 The remnants of his food are buried； doubtless to prevent them from falling into the hands of sorcerers； who by means of these fragments might cast a fatal spell over the monarch。 The rules observed by the neighbouring king of Cacongo were similar； it was thought that the king would die if any of his subjects were to see him drink。 It is a capital offence to see the king of Dahomey at his meals。 When he drinks in public； as he does on extraordinary occasions； he hides himself behind a curtain； or handkerchiefs are held up round his head； and all the people throw themselves with their faces to the earth。 When the king of Bunyoro in Central Africa went to drink milk in the dairy； every man must leave the royal enclosure and all the women had to cover their heads till the king returned。 No one might see him drink。 One wife accompanied him to the dairy and handed him the milk…pot； but she turned away her face while he drained it。
3。 Taboos on Showing the Face
IN SOME of the preceding cases the intention of eating and drinking in strict seclusion may perhaps be to hinder evil influences from entering the body rather than to prevent the escape of the soul。 This certainly is the mo