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MAY, 1891.)
BOOK NOTICE.
197
In classical antiquity the scapegoat was largely in marriage customs in more than one part of the used both in Rome and Greece, and took the form world. chiefly of the periodical sacrifice of beings who
The origin of all these customs is the intense were in some way or other divine, and this was
dresd excited in the savage by menstruous accompanied frequently with the beating of t!
blood, exhibited by his practices in all parts of the scapegoat. This last custom did not arise from
world, - Australia, North and South America, a desire to cause pain, but to drive away evil influences, and accounts for many survivals of the
Africa and North Europe; and amonget the
ancient civilized nations of Europe this dread customs of "beating out sickness and beating in health" observable all over modern Europe.
was quite as extravagant. Among morlein Euro
pean peasants, similar ideas are still strongly We are now once more brought back to the entertained. The object then of those who enmain argument of Mr. Frazer, that, even if it tertain these notions is to isolate or, so to speak, be shewn that the killing of the priest of insulate girls at puberty, so that they may do no Nemi as the representative of the spirit of harm to themselves or to those about them; they the grove stood alone 48 a custom in the may not touch the earth or see the sun. They classical world, it can be abundantly shewhare, in fact, kept between heaven and earth, and in answer that the divino man was there out of contact with either, so that the power for sacrificed periodically for other reasons. That mischief with which they are charged by nature customs on a large scale closely allied to the may be kept within bounds. "Rule of the Arician priesthood" existed in Now this uncleanna ag it is called of the Mexico among a people of considerable culture, girls at this period does not to the savago mind we have abundant evidence in the writings of
differ from the sanctity of holy men. They Spaniards at the time of its conquest.
are merely different manifestations of the same Having thus disposed of the questions of - why supernatural energy and the precautions to be had the priest of Nemi to slay his predecessor ?, adopted in both cases must be the same. Both and, why, before doing so, had he to pluck the must be kept between heaven and earth. This is Golden Bough P; we pass on to the questions of generally necessary in the case of all sacred or what was the Golden Bough P, and, why tabued things and beings. The sun must not had each candidate for the Arician priest- Bhine on the head of an Aino while mourning, the hood to pluck it before he could slay the Costa Rica Indian must not go out nor see the sun priest?
while fasting, the Swedish peasant before the Yule
tide pilgrimage must dwell awhile in a dark cellar. In this connection there are two rules of life
North Indian warriors on the war-path must not among the divine kings or priests, which are to
sit on the ground, and their holy ark must never be noticed, vis., they might not touch the
be rested on the earth ; in Loango newly-born ground nor allow the sun to shine on them.
infants must never be placed on the ground, in Both were true of the Mikado of Japan and of the
Aberdeenshire the last bit of standing corn w. ust lie supreme pontiffs of the Zapotecs of Mexico; the
in the "gueedman's” lap after being cut, in former of the King and Queen of Tahiti, the King
Scotland also water from sacred wells to cure the of Dosuma, and the very ancient Kings of Persia;
sick must be carried to them without touching and the latter of the Kings of Colombia in South
the ground, and lastly in the Pañjab things and America and of the Incas of Peru. Both rules
persons in a "sacred" condition can never be are also observed by girls at puberty in many
placed on or touch the earth. parts of the world, leading to cruel seclusions lasting one, four, and even seven years, and often
Now the myth of Balder, the Norse god accompanied by ceremonial beatings, which that was neither of heaven nor of earth, and amongst savages must be severe, - to drive away whom all things had sworn not to injure, the dangerous contagion with which the girl is sup- except the mistletoe, is a reflection of the posed to be infected. It existe almost universally ritual of the time which gave rise to it. The amung Hindus, though shortened to such reason- points of this myth are that Loki, the mischiefable periods as four days and the like. Traces maker, finding that the mistletoe had accidenof the idea are common in European folktales, tally not been sworn not to injure Balder, pulled especially in that class where the maiden becomes it and by its means procured his death, and impregnated by the sun or a sun-beam. The
that after death the god was ceremonially Story of Danaë probably belongs to this cycle, burned. with a Kirgis (Siberian) counterpart, and the From time immemorial fire festivals have been idea of impregnation by the sun is to be seen current in Europe, at which peasants kindle bon
