Volume 1

—
364 PENITENTIAL MUTILATION AND PERAMBULATION.
particularly of the left hand, and it is not uncommon to see
only the two fore-fingers and thumbs entire. Amputation
is performed for the loss of a near relation, and likewise
during the days of penance, on which they display
their fortitude and courage in the following manner: When
a young man has attained the age of 20 years, he generally,
in the depth of winter, performs his penance by setting out
entirely naked and alone, with only two or three pairs of
shoes, the iron barb of an arrow, and no means of making
a fire. In this condition he repairs to a certain high hill,
a day's journey from the village. On this hill he must
remain as many days as his strength will permit, during
which time he neither eats, drinks, nor sleeps, but passes
the time in dancing, bawling, howling, and lamenting.
Here also he amputates a finger with the iron barb brought
for that purpose. Some have been known to be absent
seven days in the severest weather. This may appear
incredible, but I have it from several eye-witnesses of such
pilgrimages, and do not doubt it. After several days
more or fewer—the penitent makes his appearance, coming
at full speed, and as there is continually somebody upon
the huts, information is instantly given of his return. He
•is met by a particular friend, who has kept account of the
number of days he has been absent, and for every day has
been prepared a bull's head, to which has been fastened lyi
fathoms of cord. The other end of this is affixed to an incision
in the penitent's back or shoulders, by pinching up a
fold of skin and flesh, through which is thrust the barb of
an arrow ; as many days as he has been absent, so many
must be the incisions, and the number of heads must also
tally with them. He must then walk around the village,
howling and bawling, with all those bulls' heads trailing
on the ground ; in some places, where the ground is rough,
the poor fellow must pull and tug hard to get through, as
the
into
horns continually catch in uneven spots, and often fall
some of the empty corn pits, where they would hold
until the skin gave way or the cord broke, were they not