NO. 1862 THE PEOPLES OF FORMOSA — ARNOLD 293 



In soliciting the aid of the spirits of their ancestors certain forms 

 are used, as, for instance, three whistles or the pouring of wine on 

 the ground three successive times. 



This idea of appealing to the spirits of their ancestors for aid in 

 whatever undertakings they may be desirous of embarking upon has 

 advanced a step farther in most of the tribes, in that the appeals are 

 made through the interposition of a third person. Generally the old 

 men and women of the various tribes are supposed to possess powers 

 akin to those attributed to witches, and for this reason perform the 

 religious rites for the tribes. 



As the idea of worshiping the spirit of ancestors advanced, there 

 developed a strong hatred for the spirits of others than ancestors. 

 Originally the word for spirit in the various savage dialects or lan- 

 guages conveyed but one idea; gradually the term came to suggest 

 reverence as well as hatred — reverence when the term was applied 

 to the spirit of the ancestors and hatred when applied to other spirits. 



There exists among the various tribes a faith termed "parisi." 

 It embraces the idea of religious purification to dispel evil spirits or 

 the work of such spirits. This ceremony of purification is performed 

 at the time of the ancestral festival. Abstinence from food or drink 

 during sickness and the ceremony of cleansing from evil spirits at 

 the time of death are also classed as acts of "parisi." A neglect to 

 perform the ceremonies of ''parisi" at the required times is consid- 

 ered to be a forerunner of calamity. 



Superstition 



Mr. Ino cites a large number of instances of superstitious ideas 

 which prevail among the various tribes. Probably the most interest- 

 ing among these is that which has to do with head-hunting. He 

 states that the practice of head-hunting originally stood for nothing 

 more than a mark of superiority in combat. Gradually this practice 

 became part of their superstitions. For instance, the tribes of the 

 Atayal group now consider that the spirits of their ancestors will not 

 be satisfied unless a human head is part of the offering made at the 

 ancestral ceremonies. Likewise in the case of a dispute between two 

 or more persons, the spirit of his ancestors will guide and protect the 

 one whose cause is just, so that he may secure the first human head, 

 and thereby win his case. 



