I cannot dismiss without some natural regret a task which has occupied and amused me at intervals for many years. But the regret is tempered by thankfulness and hope. I am thankful that I have been able to conclude at least one chapter of the work I projected a long time ago. I am hopeful that I may not now be taking a final leave of my indulgent readers, but that, as I am sensible of little abatement in my bodily strength and of none in my ardour for study, they will bear with me yet a while if I should attempt to entertain them with fresh subjects of laughter and tears drawn from the comedy and the tragedy of man's endless quest after happiness and truth.
J.G. FRAZER.
CAMBRIDGE, 17th October 1913.
CONTENTS
PREFACE, Pp. v-xii
[CHAPTER I.—BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH, Pp. 1-21]
[§ 1. Not to touch the Earth, pp. 1-18].—[The priest of Aricia and the Golden Bough, 1 sq.]; [sacred kings and priests forbidden to touch the ground with their feet, 2-4]; [certain persons on certain occasions forbidden to touch the ground with their feet, 4-6]; [sacred persons apparently thought to be charged with a mysterious virtue which will run to waste or explode by contact with the ground, 6 sq.]; [things as well as persons charged with the mysterious virtue of holiness or taboo and therefore kept from contact with the ground, 7]; [festival of the wild mango, which is not allowed to touch the earth, 7-11]; [other sacred objects kept from contact with the ground, 11 sq.]; [sacred food not allowed to touch the earth, 13 sq.]; [magical implements and remedies thought to lose their virtue by contact with the ground, 14 sq.]; [serpents' eggs or snake stones, 15 sq.]; [medicinal plants, water, etc., not allowed to touch the earth, 17 sq.]
[§ 2. Not to see the Sun, pp. 18-21].—[Sacred persons not allowed to see the sun, 18-20]; [tabooed persons not allowed to see the sun, 20]; [certain persons forbidden to see fire, 20 sq.]; [the story of Prince Sunless, 21.]
[CHAPTER II.—THE SECLUSION OF GIRLS AT PUBERTY, Pp. 22-100]
[§ 1. Seclusion of Girls at Puberty in Africa, pp. 22-32].—[Girls at puberty forbidden to touch the ground and see the sun, 22]; [seclusion of girls at puberty among the Zulus and kindred tribes, 22]; [among the A-Kamba of British East Africa, 23]; [among the Baganda of Central Africa, 23 sq.]; [among the tribes of the Tanganyika plateau, 24 sq.]; [among the tribes of British Central Africa, 25 sq.]; [abstinence from salt associated with a rule of chastity in many tribes, 26-28]; [seclusion of girls at puberty among the tribes about Lake Nyassa and on the Zambesi, 28 sq.]; [among the Thonga of Delagoa Bay, 29 sq.]; [among the Caffre tribes of South Africa, 30 sq.]; [among the Bavili of the Lower Congo, 31 sq.]