The Golden Bough (Third Edition, Vol. 7 of 12) - Mirrors

§ 2. Killing the Corn-spirit. 269and loaded with the hoes, steps forward alone and kneels downin front of his house-door. The flag-bearers wave their bannersover him, and the women of the household come out and kneelon their left knees, first toward the east, and after a little while [228]toward each of the other cardinal points, west, south, and north.In conclusion the flags are waved in front of the house. The fatherthen rises and the people untie him, whereupon he first salutesthe women with the usual greeting, ‘Kwīra!’ or ‘Kwirevá!’ Nowthey all go into the house, and the man makes a short speechthanking them all for the assistance they have given him, for howcould he have gotten through his work without them? They haveprovided him with a year's life (that is, with the wherewithal tosustain it), and now he is going to give them tesvino. He gives adrinking-gourd full to each one in the assembly, and appoints oneman among them to distribute more to all. The same ceremonyis performed after the ploughing and after the harvesting. On thefirst occasion the tied man may be made to carry the yoke of theoxen, on the second he does not carry anything.” 689 The meaningof these Mexican ceremonies is not clear. Perhaps the customof tying up the farmer at hoeing, ploughing, and reaping is aform of expiation or apology offered to the spirits of the earth,who are naturally disturbed by agricultural operations. 690 Whenthe Yabim of Simbang in German New Guinea see that the taroplants in their fields are putting forth leaves, they offer sacrificeof sago-broth and pork to the spirits of the former owners ofthe land, in order that they may be kindly disposed and not doharm but let the fruits ripen. 691 Similarly when the Alfoors orToradjas of Central Celebes are planting a new field, they offerrice, eggs, and so forth to the souls of the former owners of theland, hoping that, mollified by these offerings, the souls will689 C. Lumholtz, Unknown Mexico (London, 1903), i. 214 sq.690 Compare Adonis, Attis, Osiris, Second Edition, pp. 75 sq.691 K. Vetter, Komm herüber und hilf uns! Heft 2 (Barmen, 1898), p. 7.