Chapter II: Tabooed Days After a Death and on Related Occasions

Prohibition of work and other forms of activity a common regulation
following a death, p. 62.—The animistic explanation of this taboo,
pp. 62, 63.—Belief in the pollution of death, p. 63.—Many instances
of communal taboos imposing abstinence and quiescence to be found
among semi-civilized peoples in various parts of the world: in the
East Indian Archipelago, pp. 63, 64; among the tribes of Borneo, p.
65; in Assam, pp. 65, 66; in India and Tibet, pp. 66, 67; throughout
Africa, pp. 67-70; in Madagascar, p. 70; in North America, especially
among the Eskimo, pp. 70-73; and among some Siberian tribes, pp.
73, 74.—Survivals of such taboos in the funeral observances of
civilized peoples, p. 74.—Similar regulations imposed in connection
with feasts of the dead and ceremonies of demon-expulsion, pp. 74,
75.—The evidence from Africa, pp. 75-78.—Unlucky days observed by
the Athenians in connection with the festivals of the Genesia and
the Anthesteria, pp. 79, 80.—Unlucky days observed by the Romans in
connection with the festivals of the Parentalia and the Lemuria,
pp. 80, 81.—The Hebrew Day of Atonement, pp. 81-83.—The Feast of
Sacrifices in Islam, p. 83.—World-wide diffusion of the custom of
observing tabooed days after a death and on related occasions, p. 84.

CHAPTER III

HOLY DAYS

Characteristics of religious festivals, p. 85.—Festival times often
marked by cessation of labour, pp. 85, 86.—Origin of the conception
of a “holy” day, pp. 86, 87.—Consecration of holy days to particular
divinities, pp. 87, 88.—Connection between tabooed days and holy
days, p. 88.—The taboo element in the festivals observed by Dravidian
peoples of India, pp. 88-90.—The Hebrew Day of First-fruits, pp. 90,
91.—Greek holy days, p. 91.—The Athenian Plynteria, pp. 92, 93.—The
Roman Vestalia, pp. 93, 94.—Ferial days of the Romans as tabooed
days, pp. 94-100.

CHAPTER IV

MARKET DAYS

The observance of periodic rest days confined to agricultural
peoples, pp. 101, 102.—Connection of these days with the institution
of the market, pp. 102, 103.—The evidence for market weeks and market
days in various parts of the world: in New Guinea and Melanesia, pp.
103, 104; in Celebes, Sumatra, Java, and the Malay Peninsula, pp.
104, 105; in Tonkin, Siam, and Assam, pp. 105, 106; throughout the
central parts of Africa, pp. 106-108; among the Congo negroes, pp.
109, 110; and among the Guinea negroes, pp. 110-117.—Origin of the
market week in Africa, pp. 117, 118.—Sabbatarian features of the west
African market day, p. 118.—Market weeks and market days in ancient
Mexico and Peru, pp. 118-120.—The Roman nundinal day, pp. 120-123.