Manchester Memoirs, Vol. xlvi. (1902), No. 13. 11 



Moreover, he added that the Demons taught them to make ointments 

 from toads and snakes, to cause the death of those whom they hate. If he 

 tells the truth, there is no doubt they have communications with the Devil. 

 I believe that from this superstition or notion has sprung a custom the 

 Savages observe, of having a little bag so especially for their own use, that 

 no one else would dare look inside of it; they would be greatly offended 

 thereat, perhaps even so much as to kill the other. They are unwilling that 

 any one should see this stone, or similar object, if they have one ; and one 

 of them said to me one day, " In this way thou wilt know whether a Savage 

 really desires to believe in Gol, if, having one of these stones, he gives it to 

 thee." (xii., 9 ff.) 



This passage serves as an illustration of Fetishism, 

 the " doctrine of spirits embodied in or attached to or 

 conveying influence through certain material objects." 



Similar practices to those described in the passages 

 quoted are to be found amongst savages in different parts 

 of the earth. Very often the wizard or sorcerer works by 

 getting hold of something belonging to the person to be 

 injured — his nail clippings, hair, blood, &c., upon which 

 the spirits can be set to work. There are different sorts 

 of spirits. There are the ghosts or souls of the dead — 

 mostly insignificant, as in life, but some of them powerful. 

 Then there are spirits of a higher order, not ghosts of 

 dead men. Such with the Indians are the Genii of the 

 Light, the Manitous and Okis, beneficent if you know the 

 way to get them on your side. 



It is a common belief that the soul or spirit is in 

 the blood. The blood is sacred and dangerous. Many 

 savages abstain from blood. In other cases sacred persons 

 such as the Flamen Dialis at Rome, have to abstain from 

 blood. Conversely, blood is sometimes drunk for purposes 

 of inspiration — to get the spirit into a man — or, as with 

 the Indians, the blood of a brave enemy is drunk to get 

 his courage. In the Odyssey* of Homer, Odysseus 

 revives the feeble ghosts of the dead by giving them blood 

 to drink, because the blood is the life. 

 • a/., xi., 35. 



