The use of the bladder is to be noted in the festivals of the Inuits. “Après un superbe vacarme, ils suspendent à des cordes une centaine des vessies, prises à des animaux tous tués à coups de flèche.”—(“Les Primitifs,” Réclus, p. 110, “Les Inoits Occidentaux.”)
The explanation given by Réclus is as follows: “Faut-il expliquer que les vessies, échauffées par la flamme, symbolisent les souffles du printemps?... Qu’elles symbolisent l’esprit de vie qui entre dans les narines?”—(Idem.)
It may be enough to point out the care with which these bladders must be selected; not every bladder will do,—only those from animals killed with arrows.
XLIX.
THE WORSHIP OF COCKS AND HENS.
Only such matter has been admitted into this volume as could prima facie be considered as having the right of entry; the greatest care has been taken to avoid distortion or mutilation of authorities, and much has been excluded that might have been presented without running a risk of being accused of unfairness.
For example, as old an authority as John de Laet calls attention to the great prevalence of intoxication and debauchery among the Indians of Vextipa, near Mexico, who on feast days had the ancient custom of becoming drunk as beasts and committing enormous excesses.[93] And in like manner the first missionaries in Canada complained of the brutal orgies of the natives, in which, under cover of darkness and the cloak of their superstitions, deeds were committed which the pen dared not describe. Ample reference to these has been preserved in the Jesuit relations, and in the exact and interesting American treatises dependent so largely upon them.[94] It is more likely, however, that the Huron and Algonkin saturnalia were, in general terms, scenes of promiscuous licentiousness.
Only two authorities can be cited, Fathers Le Jeune and Sagard, who instance the use of human urine or ordure under spiritual direction; all others leave the inference that the bacchanalia of which they were the reluctant and disgusted observers had no other peculiarity than that of unrestrained sexual intercourse.
It would be hard to find a better example of the tenacity of superstition than that which the subjoined extract from the “Evening Star,” of Washington, D. C., shows as existing under our own noses.