Chapter I: Front Matter

The Legend of Perseus

A STUDY OF TRADITION IN STORY CUSTOM AND BELIEF: BY

Edwin Sidney Hartland F.S.A

VOL. II. THE LIFE-TOKEN

Published by David Nutt in the Strand, London 1895

[IMPRINT]

Edinburgh: T. and A. Constable, Printers to Her Majesty

NOTE

The discussion of the Life-token has proved so important, going down to the very foundations of the savage philosophy of life, that I have found it impossible to bring to a close this study of the Legend of Perseus within the compass of two volumes. A third, however, will complete the task, and will also include a supplementary Bibliographical List and an Index.

I desire to add to the names of friends who have so kindly extended to me their assistance in various ways, those of Mr. Edward Clodd, now president of the Folklore Society, the Rev. W. Gregor, LL.D., Mrs. Fanny D. Bergen, M. J. D. E. Schmeltz, the learned Curator of the Ethnographical Museum at Leiden, and editor of the _Internationales Archiv_, and Mr. W. R. Paton. To Mr. W. H. D. Rouse I have had occasion to refer so frequently for assistance of various kinds, constantly and ungrudgingly rendered, that I hardly know how to thank him.

Highgarth, Gloucester,
_May_ 1895.

CONTENTS

{vi}

CHAPTER VIII.

The Life-token in Tale and Custom

Two classes of life-tokens; the one, originally connected with the hero; the other, arbitrary--Examples given in previous chapters--Examples from _märchen_ outside the Perseus cycle--The magical mirror--The Life-token in mirror and well--Tokens of Fidelity--Connection of the Life-token and External Soul--Birth Ceremonies--Planting of trees and other life-tokens in custom--Divination.

CHAPTER IX

Witchcraft: Sympathetic Magic

Folktale incidents presenting the divisibility of a person, continued sympathy of severed portions of a person with the bulk, and the endowment of the severed portions with consciousness--Modes of witchcraft--Witchcraft upon objects identified with the victim--Severed portions of the body--Footprints--Food--Dress--Objects more remotely associated with the victim--Witchcraft upon arbitrary objects--Name--Defences against witchcraft.

CHAPTER X

Witchcraft: Philtres--Preventive and remedial Leechcraft

Different kinds of love-potions--Hair and other substances taken from the body--Clothing--Footprints--Dangers {vii} of carelessness over severed parts of the body--Cure for warts--Doctrine of Transplantation--Mistaken applications of--Doctrine of Sympathy--Remedies derived from the dead--“A hair of the dog that bit you.”

CHAPTER XI

Sacred Wells and Trees

Ceremonies at wells and trees in the British Islands--On the Continent of Europe--Nails driven into trees and images--Analogous rites elsewhere--Usual explanations discussed--Rites at cairns--True meaning of the rites--Dedication of hair at sacred shrines and graves--Other votive offerings.

CHAPTER XII

Totemism--The Blood Covenant--Customs connected with Saliva

Recapitulation--Union with the god--Totemism--Sacrifices--The Blood Covenant--Its evolution--Its sacramental character--Its decay--Changes in its effect--Saliva customs--Analogy to the Blood Covenant--Spitting on infants--Spitting on various occasions--Against witchcraft--Saliva of sacred personages.

CHAPTER XIII

Funeral Rites

The clan one body--The common meal--Eating the dead in antiquity--Among modern savages--Survivals in modern Europe--Funeral feasts--The Sin-eater--Similar customs in other countries--Eating with the dead--Sacramental union with the dead--Smearing with ashes, etc.--Wearing bones and other relics of {viii} the dead--Cutting oneself for the dead--Mutilation--Gifts of hair to the dead--Burial in a common grave--Custom of Ettá.

CHAPTER XIV

Marriage Rites

Analogy of marriage with admission into the clan--Custom of _Sindra-dán_--Blood-rites--_Confarreatio_--Ritual food shared by all guests--Meaning of the rite--Marriage constitutes a new relationship on the part of the entire kin--Bridal dance and kiss--Nasamonian rite--Group-marriage--Rights of the kin over husband or wife--The Levirate--Reception by marriage into the kin--Consent of the kin.

CHAPTER XV

The Couvade and other illustrations of the strength of the Blood-tie--Conclusion of the inquiry into the theory of the Life-token

The Couvade--Its true meaning--Not found among the lowest savages--Sponsorship--Adoption--Collective responsibility of the clan--The Blood-feud--Medical treatment of the kin for the disease of one member--Solidarity of the family--Cannot be terminated even by death--Sacramental conception of a kindred--The theory of life underlying the Life-token--Conclusion of the inquiry into the Life-token.

Endnotes

Press Notices

Errata

THE LEGEND OF PERSEUS

{1}

{2}