The Open court . presentation of the animal depictedthereon (Fig. 9, compare Fig. 7). Some tribes believe that at this time the novice undergoes anew birth and becomes a new creature. His hair is plucked, certain SAVAGE LIFE AND CUSTOM. 669 teeth are extracted, and he is given a new name which must be kepta profound secret; otherwise any person who wishes him harmwould be able to exert a magical influence over him. Henceforthhe is forbidden to partake of certain foods, and so powerful is theforce of this taboo. no power on earth will, as a rule, force himto eat the forbidden article, even to t
The Open court . presentation of the animal depictedthereon (Fig. 9, compare Fig. 7). Some tribes believe that at this time the novice undergoes anew birth and becomes a new creature. His hair is plucked, certain SAVAGE LIFE AND CUSTOM. 669 teeth are extracted, and he is given a new name which must be kepta profound secret; otherwise any person who wishes him harmwould be able to exert a magical influence over him. Henceforthhe is forbidden to partake of certain foods, and so powerful is theforce of this taboo. no power on earth will, as a rule, force himto eat the forbidden article, even to the point of starvation. One of the most mysterious and, at the same time, most re-markable rites undergone at this period is the custom so well knownto us from Biblical sources (Lev. xii. 3). At one time it was heldto be the peculiar, if not the exclusive, ceremony of the Jews; butit is practised by savages all over the world. Its origin is wrapt inmystery ; no reason can be given for the custom even by those who. Fig. 10. MYSTERY RITE OR NLONGO CUSTOM AT KIBOKOLO, UPPER CONGO.(By the courtesy of the Baptist Missionary Society.) continually practise it. No physical or sanitary reason exists for theoperation, and that there is no real necessity to the health or wel-fare of the negro race is shown by the increase of vigorous tribeslike the Kru boys of West Africa who entirely repudiate the idea. On the Upper Congo, to undergo this ceremony, the lads livein lodges built for the purpose. When it is necessary for them tovisit the village for any purpose, such as to obtain food, masks areworn as shown in Figure 10. Until he has undergone this rite, heis not held to be a man, women would despise him as being a childand would in many cases refuse to marry him. In East Africa, lads go into the bush and disguise themselvesin grotesque masks of wood and cloth, with grass, horns, and skins 670 THE OPEN COURT. of wild beasts. On their return, they dance with the girls one by one,in the cent
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade188, booksubjectreligion, bookyear1887
